Apparatus and method for transmitting data

An apparatus for transmitting data from a transmitter in a first communication network to a receiver in a second communication network, the second communication network being a safety-critical communication network, the apparatus comprising:

• an input buffer;
• an output buffer;
• a waiting unit;
• and
• a testing unit,
• wherein the input buffer is configured to provide the data to be transmitted,
• wherein the waiting unit is configured to:
• record a time of receipt of the data to be transmitted;
• determine a dwell time based on information relating to the data to be transmitted;
• and
• store the data to be transmitted, a check value for the data to be transmitted, or the data to be transmitted and the check value for the data to be transmitted,
• wherein the testing unit is configured to check the data to be transmitted after expiry of the dwell time using a test pattern that is up-to-date after expiry of the dwell time,
• wherein the output buffer is configured to provide the data for the receiver when the data is considered to be harmless during the check, and
• wherein the transmitter pre-registers the data to be transmitted by temporarily providing the data to be transmitted only for the purpose of recording the time of receipt and determining the dwell time, and by providing the data to be transmitted for transmission again after expiry of the dwell time.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor to transmit data from a transmitter in a first communication network to a receiver in a second, safety-critical communication network, the instructions comprising:

• providing, by the transmitter, data to be transmitted;
• recording a time of receipt of the data to be transmitted;
• determining a dwell time based on information relating to the data to be transmitted;
• storing the data to be transmitted, a check value for the data to be transmitted, or the data to be transmitted and the check value for the data to be transmitted in a dwell memory;
• checking, after expiry of the dwell time, the data to be transmitted using a test pattern that is up-to-date after expiry of the dwell time;
• and
• providing the data for the receiver when the data is considered to be harmless during the check,
• wherein the transmitter pre-registers the data to be transmitted by temporarily providing the data to be transmitted only for the purpose of recording the time of receipt and determining the dwell time, and by providing the data to be transmitted for transmission again after expiry of the dwell time.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions executable by a processor to transmit data from a transmitter in a first communication network to a receiver in a second, safety-critical communication network, the instructions comprising:

• providing, by the transmitter, data to be transmitted;
• recording a time of receipt of the data to be transmitted;
• determining a dwell time based on information relating to the data to be transmitted;
• storing the data to be transmitted, a check value for the data to be transmitted, or the data to be transmitted and the check value for the data to be transmitted in a dwell memory;
• checking, after expiry of the dwell time, the data to be transmitted using a test pattern that is up-to-date after expiry of the dwell time;
• and
• providing the data for the receiver when the data is considered to be harmless during the check,
• wherein the transmitter pre-registers the data to be transmitted by temporarily providing the data to be transmitted only for the purpose of recording the time of receipt and determining the dwell time, and by providing the data to be transmitted for transmission again after expiry of the dwell time.