Video switching system utilizing a prioritized common network

• US 20080019388A1
• Filed: 04/21/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UTAH Scientific, Inc. (Artel Video Systems Corp.)
• Original Assignee: UTAH Scientific, Inc. (Artel Video Systems Corp.)
• Inventors: Thrnblad, Roger, Levie, Jeff, Harmon, Tom, Morrell, Garn
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/412
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/3065 for real time traffic

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system controllers and larger systems incorporating such that can dynamically prioritize critical digital video data streams traveling across a network backbone over other non-priority video data and make the selection of which video streams are to be connected and prioritized through real-time use of video control panel equipment. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system controller for controlling the routing and prioritization of live digital video streams in a packet switched network, wherein a digital video stream may optionally include encoded audio or other stream data, the packet switched network including at least one router device operable to accelerate delivery of prioritized packets over the delivery of other non-prioritized packets, the delivery of video streams being configured in a matrix of possible video connections between video sources and video consumers, the matrix being determined by the operation and configuration of at least one video switch, the matrix being alterable through the selection of video connections at a control device, the system controller comprising:

a processor;

a control interface connectable to a control device, wherein the control interface is further configured to receive video matrix switching commands to alter the video matrix;

a video switch interface connectable to a video switch, wherein the video switch interface is operable to transmit video switching commands to a video switch to alter the video connection matrix;

a priority control interface connectable to a router device, wherein the priority control interface is further configured to transmit communications to the router device to prioritize the delivery of a prioritized video stream over the delivery of other network traffic; and

wherein the processor is further configured to receive video matrix switching commands through said control interface and to process those received commands, wherein said processor is further configured to translate received video matrix switching commands into one or more video switching actions and one or more priority control actions, wherein said processor is further configured to transmit video switching commands corresponding to the video switching actions to one or more connected video switches;

wherein said processor is further configured to transmit concurrently with the video switching commands priority control commands corresponding to the priority control actions to one or more connected router devices in the packet switched network.

2. A system controller according to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to send a priority control command of a type selected from the group comprising (i) a modification of QOS service levels, (ii) a prioritization of a queue carrying prioritized video packet traffic, (iii) ingress queue management of a port carrying prioritized video traffic, (iv) egress queue management of a port carrying prioritized video traffic, (v) higher managed bandwidth for a port carrying prioritized traffic, (vi) higher negotiated bandwidth for a port carrying prioritized traffic, (vii) throttling ports not carrying prioritized traffic, (viii) creation of a VLAN encapsulating prioritized video traffic and (ix) identification of prioritized video stream traffic.

3. A system controller according to claim 1 further comprising a monitoring facility that displays impacts on bandwidth to a user.

4. A system controller according to claim 1 further comprising a router component operable to accelerate delivery of prioritized packets over the delivery of other non-prioritized packets, further wherein said processor delivers the priority control commands corresponding to the priority control actions to said router component.

5. A system controller according to claim 4 wherein said router component and said processor are co-located in the same cabinet.

6. A system for controlling the routing and prioritization of digital video streams configured in a video connection matrix in a packet switched network, wherein a digital video stream may optionally include encoded audio or other stream data, comprising:

one or more video switches connected through the packet switched network to a plurality of video sources and video consumers, the delivery of video streams from said video sources to said video consumers being configured in a matrix of possible video connections, the matrix being determined by the operation and configuration of said video switches;

a system controller for controlling the routing and prioritization of live video streams in a packet switched network, including a control interface configured to receive video matrix switching commands to alter the video matrix, said system controller further including a video switch interface connected to said one or more video switches, wherein the video switch interface is operable to transmit video switching commands to said video switches to alter the video connection matrix, said system controller further including a priority control interface configured to transmit communications to a connected router device to prioritize the delivery of a prioritized video stream over the delivery of other network traffic, further wherein said system controller is configured to receive video matrix switching commands through said control interface and to process those received commands, wherein said system controller is further configured to translate received video matrix switching commands into one or more video switching actions and one or more priority control actions, wherein said system controller is further configured to transmit video switching commands corresponding to the video switching actions to one or more connected video switches;

wherein said system controller is further configured to transmit concurrently with the video switching commands priority control commands corresponding to the priority control actions to one or more connected router devices in the packet switched network;

a control device connected to the control interface of said system controller, the control device operable to transmit video matrix switching commands over said control interface; and

one or more router devices embedded in the packet-switched network, said router devices being operable to accelerate delivery of prioritized packets over the delivery of other non-prioritized packets, wherein said router devices are further connected to said priority control interface.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configured to prioritize video traffic by QOS service levels, and wherein said router devices are configured to change the QOS service level of packets identified for a prioritized video stream to a higher QOS service level as dynamically configured by said system controller through said priority control interface.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configured to prioritize video traffic by QOS service levels, and wherein said video switches alter the QOS level on packets to a higher QOS service level for prioritized video traffic.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configured for ingress queue management and further wherein said router devices are dynamically configurable through said priority control interface to prioritize a port carrying a prioritized video stream.

10. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configured for egress queue management and further wherein said router devices are dynamically configurable through said priority control interface to prioritize a port carrying a prioritized video stream.

11. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configurable to select the maximal negotiated bandwidth to achieve port bandwidth management and further wherein said router devices are dynamically configurable through said priority control interface to set a port not carrying a prioritized video stream to a lower bandwidth.

12. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configurable to selectively throttle port bandwidth to achieve port bandwidth management and further wherein said router devices are dynamically configurable through said priority control interface to set a port not carrying a prioritized video stream to a lower bandwidth.

13. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configured to identify prioritized video stream traffic and to prioritize the transmission of that priority traffic over non-priority traffic, and further wherein said router devices are dynamically configurable through said priority control interface to receive identifying characteristics of a prioritized video stream.

14. A system according to claim 6, wherein said control device includes manual controls.

15. A system according to claim 6, wherein said control device is an automated control system.

16. A system according to claim 6, wherein said system controller and one of said video switches are located in the same cabinet.

17. A system according to claim 6, wherein said system controller and said control devices are located in the same cabinet.

18. A system according to claim 6, wherein said system controller is a modular component that is separate from said video switches and said control device.

19. A system according to claim 6, wherein said priority control interface utilizes a protocol that is machine-based for efficient network usage.

20. A system according to claim 6, wherein said priority control interface does not utilize a protocol designed for human interaction.

21. A system according to claim 6, wherein said control device is software-based and uses a graphical interface for user interaction.

22. A system according to claim 6, wherein said router devices are configured for VLAN communication and further wherein said router devices are dynamically configurable through said priority control interface to create a VLAN that carries prioritized video stream.

23. A system according to claim 6, wherein the system is configured to efficiently use a high-speed network backbone.

24. A system according to claim 6, wherein the system includes a monitoring function wherein impacts on bandwidth can be monitored and displayed to a user.

25. A system for controlling the routing and prioritization of digital video streams configured in a video connection matrix in a packet switched network, wherein a digital video stream may optionally include encoded audio or other stream data, said system comprising:

a packet switched network including a high-speed backbone;

one or more video switches connected through said packet switched network to a plurality of video sources and video consumers, the delivery of video streams from said video sources to said video consumers being configured in a matrix of possible video connections, the matrix being determined by the operation and configuration of said video switches;

a system controller for controlling the routing and prioritization of live video streams across the high-speed backbone of said packet switched network, including a control interface configured to receive video matrix switching commands to alter the video matrix, said system controller further including a video switch interface connected to said one or more video switches, wherein the video switch interface is operable to transmit video switching commands to said video switches to alter the video connection matrix, said system controller further including a priority control interface configured to transmit communications to a connected router device to prioritize the delivery of a prioritized video stream over the delivery of other network traffic, further wherein said system controller is further configured to receive video matrix switching commands through said control interface and to process those received commands, wherein said system controller is further configured to translate received video matrix switching commands into one or more video switching actions and one or more priority control actions, wherein said system controller is further configured to transmit video switching commands corresponding to the video switching actions to one or more connected video switches;

wherein said system controller is further configured to transmit concurrently with the video switching commands priority control commands corresponding to the priority control actions to one or more connected router devices in said packet switched network;

a control device connected to the control interface of said system controller, the control device operable to transmit video matrix switching commands over said control interface; and

one or more router devices embedded in said packet-switched network, said router devices being operable to accelerate delivery of prioritized packets across said backbone over the delivery of other non-prioritized packets, wherein said router devices are further connected to said priority control interface.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein said system controller is configured to send a priority control command of a type selected from the group comprising (i) a modification of QOS service levels, (ii) a prioritization of a queue carrying prioritized video packet traffic, (iii) ingress queue management of a port carrying prioritized video traffic, (iv) egress queue management of a port carrying prioritized video traffic, (v) higher managed bandwidth for a port carrying prioritized traffic, (vi) higher negotiated bandwidth for a port carrying prioritized traffic, (vii) throttling ports not carrying prioritized traffic, (viii) creation of a VLAN encapsulating prioritized video traffic and (ix) identification of prioritized video stream traffic.

27. A system according to claim 25, wherein said priority control interface utilizes a protocol that is machine-based for efficient network usage.