Message passing framework for audio/video streaming in a topology of devices

• US 10,564,910 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kambhatla, Srikanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Randy A
• Application Number:
  US15/285,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20170060515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709220, 709221, 709225, 709227, 710 10, 710 11, 710104, 710106, 370218, 370244, 370252
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4221 being an input/output bus, e.g. ISA bus, EISA bus, PCI bus, SCSI bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2350/00 Solving problems of bandwidth in display systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2352/00 Parallel handling of streams of display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/10 Use of a protocol of communication by packets in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1089 by adding media; by removing media
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio

Abstract

Resources may be managed in a topology for audio/video streaming. The topology includes audio/video sources and sinks and intervening branch devices. Messages between these sources, sinks, and branch devices may be used for resource management.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for execution by a processor in a video source device, the instructions to cause the processor to:

send an enum_path_resources message to one or more branch devices, the message to be sent over an AUX channel separate from a data channel, the one or more branch devices comprising at least part of a path between the video source and a video sink, wherein the message comprises a path message to determine available bandwidth of a downstream link of at least one branch device in the path; and

receive, from the at least one branch device, an indication, sent in response to the enum_path_resources message, of available bandwidth of the downstream link of the at least one branch device.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of available bandwidth of the downstream link is received over the AUX channel.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the path message comprises a down action path message.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a message in accordance with a DisplayPort standard.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a processor to send an enum_path_resources message to one or more branch devices, the message to be sent over an AUX channel separate from a data channel, the one or more branch devices comprising at least part of a path between the video source and a video sink, wherein the message comprises a path message to determine available bandwidth of a downstream link of at least one branch device in the path, and to receive, from the at least one branch device, an indication, sent in response to the enum_path_resources message, of available bandwidth of the downstream link of the at least one branch device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the indication of available bandwidth of the downstream link is received over the AUX channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the path message comprises a down action path message.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the message comprises a message in accordance with a DisplayPort standard.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

storage coupled to the processor, the storage to store the enum_path_resources message.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

a display coupled to the processor, the display to present a video stream.

11. A method comprising:

sending, by a processor, an enum_path_resources message to one or more branch devices, the message to be sent over an AUX channel separate from a data channel, the one or more branch devices comprising at least part of a path between the video source and a video sink, wherein the message comprises a path message to determine available bandwidth of a downstream link of at least one branch device in the path; and

receiving, by a processor from the at least one branch device, an indication, sent in response to the enum_path_resources message, of available bandwidth of the downstream link of the at least one branch device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication of available bandwidth of the downstream link is received over the AUX channel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the path message comprises a down action path message.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the message comprises a message in accordance with a DisplayPort standard.

15. A system comprising:

a processor;

a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter to transmit an enum_path_resources message to one or more branch devices, the message to be sent over an AUX channel separate from a data channel, the one or more branch devices comprising at least part of a path between the video source and a video sink, wherein the message comprises a path message to determine available bandwidth of a downstream link of at least one branch device in the path; and

a receiver coupled to the processor, the receiver to receive, from the at least one branch device, an indication, sent in response to the enum_path_resources message, of available bandwidth of the downstream link of the at least one branch device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the indication of available bandwidth of the downstream link is received over the AUX channel.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the path message comprises a down action path message.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the message comprises a message in accordance with a DisplayPort standard.