Module for an ethernet node, ethernet node, communication system, and method

A module for a first Ethernet node of a group of Ethernet nodes, the module comprising:

• a media access control (MAC) interface,
• a physical coding sublayer (PCS) interface, and
• a priority manager (PM) interface,
• wherein the module is configured to receive and transmit sequences of a cycle over the interfaces,
• wherein the cycle comprises a start sequence, a series of multiple priority sequences, an announcement sequence, and a data sequence,
• wherein the start sequence includes a sequence of a predefined start symbol and a predefined advertisement symbol,
• wherein each priority sequence includes a sequence of a predefined commit symbol and a dedicated priority symbol, which is assigned to the respective priority sequence and indicates a priority of an Ethernet frame ready to be sent by one of the group of Ethernet nodes,
• wherein the announcement sequence includes a sequence of the start symbol, a predefined commit symbol and a winner node symbol indicating one of the Ethernet nodes being ready to send the Ethernet frame having the highest priority, and
• wherein the data sequence comprises the Ethernet frame having the highest priority.

A method for a module for a first Ethernet node of a group of Ethernet nodes, the module comprising a media access control (MAC) interface, a physical coding sublayer (PCS) interface, and a priority manager (PM) interface, wherein the method including the following steps:

• creating a start sequence of a cycle at the module, wherein the start sequence includes a predefined start symbol and the subsequent, predefined advertisement symbol, and wherein the cycle comprises the start sequence, a series of multiple priority sequences, an announcement sequence, and a data sequence;
• transmitting the start sequence via the PCS interface of the module 100;
• receiving a priority message, in particular a priority sequence, indicating a priority of an Ethernet frame ready to be sent by a first Ethernet node;
• receiving multiple priority sequences via the PCS interface of the module, wherein each priority sequence includes a sequence of a predefined commit symbol and a dedicated priority symbol, which is assigned to the respective priority sequence and indicates a priority of a further Ethernet frame ready to be sent by another Ethernet node;
• creating the announcement sequence consisting of a sequence of the start symbol, a predefined commit symbol and a winner symbol, which indicates one of the Ethernet nodes being ready to send the Ethernet frame having the highest priority;
• transmitting the announcement sequence via the PCS interface of the module;
• and
• receiving the data sequence comprising the Ethernet frame having the highest priority.