Method and system for fault resilience in networks with Audio/Video Bridging aware Shortest Path Bridging

• US 7,860,011 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oren, Amit, Kim, Yongbum, Diab, Wael William
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ng; Fan
• Application Number:
  US11/963,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/10 Use of a protocol of communication by packets in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/176 the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for fault resilience in Audio/Video Bridging (AVB) aware Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) networks are provided. In this regard, a path cost, which may be based at least on AVB compatibility, may be determined for each network path discovered between a first network node and a second network node. Additionally, a plurality of network paths may be selected based on the determined path cost, and a plurality of network connections may be established over the selected plurality of network paths. Also, a plurality of data streams may be transmitted and/or received via the established network connections, wherein at least one of data streams comprises data that is redundant to a first data stream. Furthermore, a primary data stream may be conveyed via a first network connection and one or more redundant data streams may be conveyed via a second network connection.

Claims

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

determining a path cost for each of a plurality of network paths discovered between a first network node and a second network node, wherein said determined path cost for each one of said plurality of discovered network paths is based at least on whether said one of said plurality of discovered paths is enabled to implement Audio Video Bridging (AVB) protocols;

selecting two or more of said plurality of discovered network paths based on said determined path costs;

establishing a plurality of network connections between said first node and said second network node over said selected two or more of said plurality of discovered network paths; and

concurrently transmitting and/or receiving a plurality of data streams via said established plurality of network connections, wherein at least a second of said plurality of data streams comprises data that is redundant to a first of said plurality of data streams.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising conveying a primary data stream via a first of said plurality of network connections and conveying one or more corresponding redundant data streams via a at least a remaining portion of said plurality of network connections.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting one of said plurality of network connections that is to be utilized to convey a primary data stream based on said determined path costs.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating a routing table for said plurality of discovered network paths, wherein said generated routing table comprises said determined path costs and indicates which of said plurality of discovered network paths is enabled to implement said AVB protocols.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising, upon failure of one or more of said selected network paths, selecting from said table an alternate network path for establishing a new network connection.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

assigning a first stream identifier to said first of said plurality of data streams; and

assigning an additional unique stream identifier to each of said at least a second of said plurality of data streams that comprises data that is redundant to said first of said plurality of data streams, wherein each of said additional unique stream identifier differs from said first stream identifier.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising processing said plurality of data streams based on sequencing information associated with said plurality of data streams.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising buffering and/or processing said plurality of data streams based on said determined path costs.

9. A machine-readable non-transitory medium having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for networking, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

determining a path cost for each of a plurality of network paths discovered between a first network node and a second network node, wherein said determined path cost for each one of said plurality of discovered network paths is based at least on whether said one of said discovered paths is enabled to implement Audio Video Bridging (AVB) protocols;

selecting two or more of said plurality of discovered network paths based on said determined path costs;

establishing a plurality of network connections between said first node and said second network node over said selected two or more of said plurality of discovered network paths; and

concurrently transmitting and/or receiving a plurality of data streams via said established plurality of network connections, wherein at least a second of said plurality of data streams comprises data that is redundant to a first of said plurality of data streams.

10. The machine-readable non-transitory medium according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for conveying a primary data stream via a first of said plurality of network connections and conveying one or more corresponding redundant data streams via a at least a remaining portion of said plurality of network connections.

11. The machine-readable non-transitory medium according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for selecting one of said plurality of network connections that is to be utilized to convey a primary data stream based on said determined path costs.

12. The machine-readable non-transitory medium according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for generating a routing table for said plurality of discovered network paths, wherein said generated routing table comprises said determined path costs and indicates which of said plurality of discovered network paths is enabled to implement said AVB protocols.

13. The machine-readable non-transitory medium according to claim 12, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for, upon failure of one or more of said selected network paths, selecting from said table an alternate network path for establishing a new network connection.

14. The machine-readable non-transitory medium according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for:

assigning a first stream identifier to said first of said plurality of data streams; and

assigning an additional unique stream identifier to each of said at least a second of said plurality of data streams that comprises data that is redundant to said first of said plurality of data streams, wherein each of said additional unique stream identifier differs from said first stream identifier.

15. The machine-readable non-transitory medium according to claim 9, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for processing said plurality of data streams based on sequencing information associated with said plurality of data streams.

16. The machine-readable non-transitory medium according to claim 9, comprising buffering and/or processing said plurality of data streams based on said determined path costs.

17. A system for networking, the system comprising:

One or more circuits that are enabled to;

determine a path cost for each of a plurality of network paths discovered between a first network node and a second network node, wherein said determined path cost for each one of said discovered paths is based at least on whether said one of said plurality of discovered network paths is enabled to implement Audio Video Bridging (AVB) protocols;

select two or more of said plurality of discovered network paths based on said determined path costs;

establish a plurality of network connections between said first node and said second network node over said selected two or more of said plurality of discovered network paths; and

concurrently transmit and/or receive a plurality of data streams via said established plurality of network connections, wherein at least a second of said plurality of data streams comprises data that is redundant to a first of said plurality of data streams.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits convey a primary data stream via a first of said plurality of network connections and convey one or more corresponding redundant data streams via a at least a remaining portion of said plurality of network connections.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits select one of said plurality of network connections that is to be utilized to convey a primary data stream based on said determined path costs.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits enable generation a routing table for said plurality of discovered network paths, wherein said generated routing table comprises said determined path costs and indicates which of said plurality of discovered network paths is enabled to implement said AVB protocols.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said one or more circuits select from said table an alternate network path for establishing a new network connection when one or more of said selected network paths fails.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits:

assign a first stream identifier to said first of said plurality of data streams; and

assign an additional unique stream identifier to each of said at least a second of said plurality of data streams that comprises data that is redundant to said first of said plurality of data streams, wherein each of said additional unique stream identifier differs from said first stream identifier.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits process said plurality of data streams based on sequencing information associated with said plurality of data streams.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein said one or more circuits buffer and/or process said plurality of data streams based on said determined path costs.