Method and apparatus for non-centralized network bandwidth management
First Claim
1. A method of communicating video and/or audio streams between devices over a distributed network comprising:
- generating cycle start signals over said network when cycle start signals are not detected;
wherein the period between two start cycles defines a cycle;
reserving portions of said cycle for isochronous communications;
generating dummy transmissions on unused isochronous time slots of said cycle to reserve the isochronous transmission bandwidth from use by asynchronous devices;
arbitrating for isochronous time slots, performed independently by each asynchronous transmitter, to obtain sufficient isochronous time slots for transmitting a stream; and
transmitting a stream using said isochronous time slots over said network for receipt by a recipient.
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Abstract
A system and method of providing distributed video and/or audio communication over a network, such as a power-line communications (PLC) network. By way of example, the network is divided into periodic cycles wherein each cycle comprises a number of time slots. The timing of the cycles is determined by a cycle master that assumes the position when it desires to send a transmission and is unable to detect valid cycles on the network. A portion of each cycle is reserved for the transmission of asynchronous data, the remainder being utilized for isochronous streams. Before transmitting a new stream a transmitter wins one or more open slots by arbitration, wherein the winner is selected based on the priority of the stream to be sent. Transmitters may obtain extra slots to improve quality, integrity, or security of the stream. The mechanisms of the invention are compatible with legacy CDMA devices.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of communicating video and/or audio streams between devices over a distributed network comprising:
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generating cycle start signals over said network when cycle start signals are not detected; wherein the period between two start cycles defines a cycle; reserving portions of said cycle for isochronous communications; generating dummy transmissions on unused isochronous time slots of said cycle to reserve the isochronous transmission bandwidth from use by asynchronous devices; arbitrating for isochronous time slots, performed independently by each asynchronous transmitter, to obtain sufficient isochronous time slots for transmitting a stream; and transmitting a stream using said isochronous time slots over said network for receipt by a recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of communicating video and/or audio streams between devices over a distributed power-line network, comprising:
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generating cycle start signals over said network when cycle start signals are not detected; wherein the period between two start signals defines a cycle; wherein said cycle start signal is generated by a transmitter connected to said network thereby becoming the cycle master, when no other cycle master activity is detected; reserving portions of said cycle for isochronous communications in response to an arbitration process of said cycle master; arbitrating for isochronous time slots, performed independently by each asynchronous transmitter, to obtain sufficient isochronous time slots for transmitting a stream, by (i) generating an isochronous time slot request in reference to the cycle start signals, (ii) monitoring for higher priority requests for said isochronous time slot, (iii) obtaining said isochronous time slot for use if no higher priority requests are detected, or backing off from use and requesting a different isochronous time slot if higher priority isochronous time slot requests are detected; generating dummy transmissions on any unused isochronous time slots of said cycle to reserve the isochronous transmission bandwidth from use by asynchronous devices; and transmitting a stream using said isochronous time slots over said network for receipt by a recipient. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification