Method and apparatus for accessing video data in memory across flow-controlled interconnects

• US 6,961,801 B1
• Filed: 04/03/1998
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Frink, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/054,933
• Time in Patent Office: 2,769 Days
• Field of Search: 725/87, 725/89, 725/91, 725/92, 725/98, 725/141, 725/153, 345/520, 345/522, 345/530, 345/531, 345/547, 345/564, 345/565, 709/231, 709/250, 710/5, 710/305, 710/26, 710/308, 710/313
• US Class Current: 710/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65

Abstract

Command data may be embedded in the data transmitted over an interconnect between video devices to specify memory addresses in a destination device. Using an embedded address allows address-dependent data to be transmitted over the interconnect without losing these attributes. For example, compressed video may be transferred from a disk controller to a memory device using this interconnection protocol without losing address attributes of the bus architecture. The address information may be used either to read data from or to write data to a device over the interconnect into randomly-accessible memory locations.

Claims

1. An output interface for a sender of video data, comprising:

a first output for providing data,

a second output for providing a valid data signal associated with the data output by the first output and indicating whether the output data includes valid video data,

a third output for providing a valid command signal indicating whether the data output by the first output includes command data, and wherein the command data includes a memory address at a receiver,

wherein the first, second and third outputs are in parallel; and

wherein, in response to a request signal received from the receiver, the output interface transfers one of valid video data and command data and asserts one of the valid data signal and the valid command signal to the receiver.

2. An input interface for a receiver of video data, comprising:

a first input for receiving data,

a second input for receiving a valid data signal associated with the data received by the first input and indicating whether the received data includes valid video data,

a third input for receiving a valid command signal indicating whether the data received by the first input includes command data, and wherein the command data includes a memory address at the receiver,

wherein the first, second and third inputs are in parallel;

wherein the input interface stores command data received by the first input in memory of the receiver; and

wherein the input interface transfers video data received by the first input to the memory address specified in the command data in the memory of the receiver.

3. A device for sending video data to a memory in another device, comprising:

an output interface, comprising a first output for providing data, a second output for providing a valid data signal associated with the data output by the first output and indicating whether the output data includes valid video data, a third output for providing a valid command signal indicating whether the data output by the first output includes command data, and wherein the command data includes a memory address in the memory in the other device, wherein the first, second and third outputs are in parallel, and an input for receiving a request signal from the other device; and

wherein, in response to the request signal being received from the other device, the output interface transfers one of valid video data and command data to the other device and asserts one of the valid data signal and the valid command signal.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a memory; and

an input interface comprising a first input for receiving data, and a second input for receiving a valid data signal associated with the data received by the first input and indicating whether the received data includes valid video data, and a third input for receiving a valid command signal indicating whether the data received by the first input includes command data, wherein the command data includes a memory address in the memory of the device, wherein the first, second and third inputs are in parallel, wherein the input interface stores command data received by the first input in memory of the device, and wherein the input interface transfers valid video data received by the first input to the memory address specified in the command data in the memory of the device.

5. A device for receiving video data from another device, comprising:

a memory for storing the video data;

an input interface comprising a first input for receiving data, a second input for receiving a valid data signal indicating whether the data received by the first input includes valid video data, a third input for receiving a valid command signal indicating whether the data received by the first input includes command data, wherein the command data includes a memory address in the device, wherein the first, second and third inputs are in parallel, wherein the input interface stores command data received by the first input at the device, and wherein the input interface stores video data received by the first input from the other device in the memory in the device at the memory address specified in the command data stored at the device; and

an output interface having an output for providing a request signal, wherein the other device transfers the video data to the device in response to the request signal.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

an output interface comprising a first output for providing data, a second output for providing a valid data signal associated with the data output by the first output and indicating whether the output data includes valid video data, a third output for providing a valid command signal indicating whether the data output by the first output includes command data, and wherein the command data includes a memory address in the memory in a third device, wherein the first, second and third outputs are in parallel, and an input for receiving a request signal from the third device; and

wherein, in response to the request signal being received from the third device, the output interface transfers one of valid video data and command data to the other device and asserts one of the valid data signal and the valid command signal.