Synchronized control of sensors in an Ethernet network

1. An apparatus for controlling a sensor over a network, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver, configured to communicate over a network; and

a processor, configured to:

receive or generate control data for controlling a sensor connected to the network;

generate a packet comprising (i) the control data and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network between the apparatus and the sensor; and

transmit the packet using the transceiver over the network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

wake-up a peer device in accordance with a schedule; and

include in the packet a transport timestamp, the transport timestamp indicative of an additional future time at which, in accordance with the schedule, a link with the peer device will be awake, and send the packet to the peer device at a transmission time corresponding to the additional future time.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

4. An apparatus for controlling a sensor over a network, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver, configured to communicate over a network;

a sensor interface, configured to communicate with a sensor over a local link that does not traverse the network;

a memory; and

a processor, configured to:

receive from a controller, over the network, using the transceiver, a packet comprising (i) control data for controlling the sensor and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network between the controller and the sensor;

buffer at least the control data in the memory until a delivery time corresponding to the future time indicated in the trigger timestamp; and

at the delivery time, retrieve the control data from the memory and send the control data to the sensor over the local link.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

6. A method for controlling a sensor over a network, the method comprising:

receiving or generating control data for controlling a sensor connected to the network;

generating a packet comprising (i) the control data and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network to the sensor; and

transmitting the packet over the network.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

waking-up a peer device in accordance with a schedule; and

including in the packet a transport timestamp, the transport timestamp indicative of an additional future time at which, in accordance with the schedule, a link with the peer device will be awake, and sending the packet to the peer device at a transmission time corresponding to the additional future time.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

9. A method for controlling a sensor over a network, the method comprising:

communicating packets over a network, and communicating with a sensor over a local link that does not traverse the network;

receiving from the network a packet comprising (i) control data for controlling the sensor and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network to the sensor;

buffering at least the control data in a memory until a delivery time corresponding to the future time indicated in the trigger timestamp; and

at the delivery time, retrieving the control data from the memory and sending the control data to the sensor over the local link.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.