METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING DATA STREAMS VIA A HETEROGENEOUS NETWORK

• US 20150052257A1
• Filed: 09/22/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mora, Matthew Xavier, Butterworth, Ashley Ian, Yanowitz, Andrew, Warren, Niel David
• Application Number:
  US14/493,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0012 High speed serial bus, e.g. IEEE P1394
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40052 High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus bus transfer protocol on a daisy chain bus using an embedded synchronisation G06F13/426
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40097 Interconnection with other networks LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; single bridge functionality H04L12/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that enable a community of devices having differing underlying protocols to stream media data such as video or audio data. In one exemplary embodiment, this invention enables IEEE 1394-compliant (“FireWire” enabled) devices to communicate across an Ethernet infrastructure, such as one enabled by the Ethernet AVB Standard(s). This enhances connectivity, and also supports obviating one or more physical ports within the device(s). In another embodiment, or more wireless transports are utilized.

Claims

1-2. -2. (canceled)

3. An apparatus configured to interoperate with a heterogeneous fabric, comprising:

an interface to the heterogeneous fabric, the heterogeneous fabric configured to support multiple different device protocols;

a user interface;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable apparatus having a storage medium with at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program configured to, when executed on the processor, cause the apparatus to;

responsive to a connection to the heterogeneous fabric, register the apparatus with a network daemon;

identify one or more other devices connected to the heterogeneous fabric via the network daemon; and

responsive to a user request via the user interface, initiate a data connection to at least a target device of the one or more other devices within a user session.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user session is initiated and terminated based at least in part on user input received by the user interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the interface to the heterogeneous fabric is configured to format packets of a first protocol into packets of a second protocol, the second protocol being native to the heterogeneous fabric.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first protocol is native to the target device.