Method and system for utilizing a single connection for efficient delivery of power and multimedia information

• US 8,767,952 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Diab, Wael William, Teener, Michael Johas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAVLESKI, RYAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/243,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395.64, 370/463, 370/467, 709/231, 709/232, 379/413
• US Class Current: 379/413
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/02 Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• 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 2370/12 Use of DVI or HDMI protocol in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• 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 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for utilizing a single connection for efficient delivery of power and multimedia information are provided. In this regard, power supplied and/or received over a network link may be controlled based on multimedia content communicated over the network link. The multimedia content may be converted to and/or from Ethernet frames for communication over the network link utilizing audio video bridging. The multimedia content may be raw video or may be formatted according to, for example, HDMI or DisplayPort specifications. The power supplied may be controlled by selecting one of a plurality of power classes. The selection of power class may be based on resolution of the multimedia content, whether the multimedia comprises audio and/or video, and/or based on latency targets.

Claims

1. A method for multimedia communications, the method comprising:

in an Ethernet network device that concurrently supplies power and transmits multimedia content over a network link to a powered device, said multimedia content being audio content, video content, or audio and video content;

identifying whether said multimedia content is audio content, video content, or audio and video content;

selecting a power class of a plurality of power classes based on whether said identified multimedia content is audio content, video content, or audio and video content; and

determining said supplied power based on said selected power class, said determination being independent of a power requirement of said powered device.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising utilizing one or more Ethernet frames to encapsulate said multimedia content.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting said one of said plurality of power classes based on whether received multimedia content comprises high definition multimedia content.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting said one of said plurality of power classes based on a data rate required to meet latency targets of one or more Ethernet frames.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling an inter-frame gap between one or more Ethernet frames utilized for signaling on said network link based on a data rate required to meet latency targets for said one or more Ethernet frames.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising delivering or receiving said supplied power in accordance with USB standards.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling a signal constellation based on latency targets for one or more Ethernet frames.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling a symbol rate on said network link utilized for signaling on said network link based on latency targets for one or more Ethernet frames.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising controlling a number of pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) levels utilized for signaling on said network link based on latency targets for one or more Ethernet frames.

10. The method according to claim 1, selecting the power class based on a latency target.

11. A system for multimedia communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in an Ethernet network device operable to concurrently supply power and transmit multimedia content over a network link to a powered device, said one or more circuits being operable to;

select a power class of a plurality of power classes based on whether said multimedia content is audio content, video content, or audio and video content; and

determine said supplied power based on said selected power class, said determination being independent of a power requirement of said powered device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to utilize one or more Ethernet frames to encapsulate said multimedia content.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to select said one of said plurality of power classes based on a resolution of received multimedia content.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to select said one of said plurality of power classes based on a data rate required to meet latency targets of one or more Ethernet frames.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to control an inter-frame gap between one or more Ethernet frames utilized for signaling on said network link based on a data rate required to meet latency targets for said one or more Ethernet frames.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to control a signal constellation utilized for representing data on said network link.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to control a symbol rate on said network link.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to control a number of pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) levels on said network link.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are further operable to select the power class based on a latency target.

20. A method for multimedia communications, the method comprising:

in an Ethernet device that concurrently supplies power and transmits data over a network link to a powered device;

determining said supplied power to meet latency targets, based on a selected power class, said selection of said power class being based on whether multimedia content of one or more Ethernet frames is audio content, video content, or audio and video content, and said determination being independent of a negotiation between said Ethernet device and said powered device; and

controlling an inter-frame gap between said one or more Ethernet frames based on a data rate required to meet said latency targets for said one or more Ethernet frames.