System and Method for Adjusting Compression for Computing Clients Based on a Latency Level

• US 20110145442A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diab, Wael William
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting a level of compression for endpoint devices. Endpoint devices in a network can stream audio/video traffic over a network. Such a connection between the endpoint devices can be reserved with guarantees of latency being obtained. Latency guarantees across multiple intermediary switches can be used to define a compression level for the end devices.

Claims

1. A network communication method, comprising:

prior to a transport of an audio/video stream, reserving a connection with a guaranteed level of latency for said transport between a first endpoint device and a second endpoint device, said reservation being performed across one or more bridge devices between said first and second endpoint devices;

prior to an initiation of said transport, choosing a compression level having an associated latency level that can be accommodated by said reserved level of latency of said connection;

compressing said audio/video stream at said chosen level of compression; and

transmitting said compressed audio/video stream from said first endpoint device to said second endpoint device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said reserving comprises performing a time synchronization for a link across said one or more bridge devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said reserving comprises reserving a connection bandwidth.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said choosing comprises choosing a maximum level of compression that would enable said transport to fit in an end to end delay budget.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said audio/video stream is a video conferencing stream.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second endpoint devices are computing devices.

7. A network device, comprising:

a controller that identifies a level of latency that has been reserved for an Ethernet connection between the network device and an endpoint device, said level of latency being reserved across one or more Ethernet switches between the network device and said endpoint device; and

a compression module designed to compress traffic for transmission over said Ethernet connection, said compression module being responsive to said controller in choosing a compression level based on said level of latency that has been reserved across said one or more Ethernet switches.

8. The network device of claim 7, wherein said traffic is an audio/video stream.

9. The network device of claim 7, wherein said traffic is a video conference.

10. The network device of claim 7, wherein said compression module is a graphics subsystem.

11. The network device of claim 7, wherein said compression module is a processor.

12. A network communication method, comprising:

requesting a reservation for a connection that traverses one or more bridge devices between a first and a second endpoint device, said request including an identified level of latency; and

if said request is denied, compressing said audio/video stream at a second level of compression different from said first level of compression.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising performing a time synchronization for said connection.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said audio/video stream is a video conference.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said first endpoint device is a computing device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said requesting comprises requesting a reservation of connection bandwidth.