AVB Network Controller Bandwidth Reservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Ethernet Audio-Video Bridging (AVB) networks, managing data streams effectively to minimize latency and ensure sufficient bandwidth is challenging due to increased demand for connectivity and varying device roles, where existing methods fail to efficiently allocate and manage bandwidth dynamically.

Innovation Solution

A network communication system that includes a controller for managing data streams, using the IEEE 802.1Qat Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP) to reserve bandwidth, where talkers request reservations with attributes like stream ID, priority, and capabilities, and the controller determines available bandwidth, adjusting existing streams to accommodate new ones by reducing bandwidth or terminating lower-priority streams as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bandwidth reservation is performed using IEEE 802.1Qat SRP protocol, then new data streams can be transmitted with guaranteed bandwidth, but network complexity increases due to controller management overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth guaranteeVSAvoidcontroller management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary between talkers and listeners, managing bandwidth reservations centrally. The controller receives stream information from talkers, determines bandwidth availability, and makes admission decisions, thereby simplifying the complexity distribution while maintaining reliability through centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Bandwidth reservation is performed in advance before actual data stream transmission. The controller evaluates bandwidth availability and makes admission decisions prior to stream establishment, ensuring that bandwidth guarantees are secured before network resources are consumed, thus preventing future conflicts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing data streams are reduced or terminated to accommodate new streams, then bandwidth availability improves for new streams, but service continuity of existing streams deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth allocationVSAvoidstream continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts bandwidth allocation based on stream priority and current network conditions. When new streams are admitted, the controller dynamically reduces bandwidth of lower-priority existing streams rather than terminating them, maintaining service continuity while adapting to changing bandwidth requirements through prioritized resource management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes the bandwidth parameter of existing data streams dynamically. Instead of binary on/off allocation, the system modifies bandwidth consumption levels of existing streams based on priority tags, allowing continuous adaptation of resource allocation while maintaining stream continuity through parameter adjustment rather than termination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If priority-based bandwidth allocation is implemented, then high-priority streams receive sufficient bandwidth, but low-priority streams may experience bandwidth starvation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidavailable bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Different bandwidth allocation policies are applied to different streams based on their priority levels. High-priority streams receive preferential bandwidth allocation to ensure quality of service, while low-priority streams receive remaining bandwidth. This local differentiation of resource quality allows critical streams to maintain high transmission rates while non-critical streams consume available capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potential harm of bandwidth starvation for low-priority streams into a benefit by using them as flexible resources that can be dynamically reduced when high-priority streams need bandwidth. Low-priority streams act as a bandwidth pool that can be reallocated, ensuring that critical services always have sufficient resources while non-critical services adapt to available capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2675132B1System for dynamic stream management in audio video bridged networks
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP2675132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2675132B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2675132B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A network communication system includes one or more talkers that may communicate data streams to one or more listeners over a network, such as an Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging network. Before transmitting a new data stream, a talker may request a reservation for bandwidth through a controller that is configured to manage and/or control the flow of data streams over the network. If there is not enough bandwidth, then the controller may determine whether any existing data streams may be transmitted at lower bandwidths to make available enough bandwidth for the new data stream. Alternatively, the controller may determine whether any existing data streams having lower priorities than the new data stream may be terminated to make available enough bandwidth for the new data stream.