Methods and apparatus for transmitting data streams via a heterogeneous network

• US 8,392,631 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mora, Matthew Xavier, Yanowitz, Andrew, Butterworth, Ashley Ian, Warren, Niel David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Chun-Kuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Franklin, Richard B
• Application Number:
  US12/572,995
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/230, 709/231, 709/232, 709/246, 710/1, 710/2, 710/30, 710/33, 710/62, 710/65, 710/100, 710/104, 710/105, 710/107, 710/113, 710/117, 710/118, 710/119, 710/124, 710/125, 710/305, 710/306, 710/311, 710/313
• US Class Current: 710/33
• 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. A method for sending a message from a source device to a target device via a fabric, wherein the source device operates with a first protocol, and the fabric operates with a second protocol, the first and second protocols being different, the method comprising:

associating the source device with a software entity, where the software entity comprises a remote network daemon configured to handle device capability discovery;

associating the target device with the software entity;

responsive to the associations of the source device and the target device, negotiating one or more parameters related to data stream requirements, the negotiating comprising;

the software entity providing a first one or more parameters of the source device to the target device; and

the software entity providing a second one or more parameters of the target device to the source device;

based on the negotiating, the source device formatting at least one message to be compliant with the second protocol, and the negotiated one or more parameters; and

transmitting the formatted at least one message via the fabric;

wherein the negotiation comprises a process that is logically separated from the transmission of the formatted at least one message, the logical separation characterized by routing the at least one message without the software entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the source device and fabric are characterized by isochronous transfer parameters.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the source device and the target device exchange audio data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the source device and the target device exchange video data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the source and target devices negotiate a connection via the fabric, based at least in part on the first and second one or more parameters.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol comprises an IEEE 1394-compliant protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second protocol comprises an IEEE 802.1-compliant protocol.

8. A system operative to send a message over a fabric compliant with a first protocol, the system comprising:

a source device, the source device configured to communicate via a second protocol, the second protocol being different from the first protocol;

at least one target device; and

a network entity, the network entity being associated with the source device and the at least one target device, the network entity configured to manage one or more parameters associated with each of the source and the at least one target device;

wherein the network entity is further configured to negotiate one or more protocol requirements based at least in part on the one or more parameters; and

wherein based at least in part on the negotiation, the source device routes a data stream to the at least one target device independently of the network entity, and where the data stream is formatted for at least the requirements of the first protocol.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the fabric is configured to transact isochronous and asynchronous data streams.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the source device and the at least one target device are configured to exchange isochronous data.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the fabric is configured to transact audio data streams.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first protocol comprises an IEEE 802.1-compliant protocol.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second protocol comprises a serial-bus protocol.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the serial-bus protocol comprises an IEEE 1394-compliant protocol.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the network entity comprises a network daemon.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable apparatus configured to store at least one computer program for connection management thereon, the at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to, when executed;

associate with a source device able to communicate via a first protocol;

associate with a target device operatively connected to the source device via a fabric compliant with a second protocol, the second protocol being different from the first protocol;

receive parameters from each of the devices related to the protocols;

based at least in part on the parameters, negotiate one or more requirements for a data stream; and

transmit the one or more requirements to at least the source device;

wherein the transmission of the one or more requirements causes the source device to format at least a portion of a message in compliance with the second protocol; and

wherein the message is transmitted via the fabric based at least in part on a datastream management entity, the datastream management entity being logically independent from the at least one computer program for connection management.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one computer program comprises a network daemon.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the message comprises audio data.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

at least one of the associations is facilitated via an asynchronous data stream; and

the message is sent via an isochronous data stream.