AVB Network Stream Management via Application Layer Interfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Ethernet Audio-Video Bridging (AVB) networks face challenges in efficiently managing data streams through control messages, particularly in transitioning between different network protocols and ensuring reliable data transmission across devices with varying capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a talker, listener, and controller communicates using Function Block (FBlock) control messages through high-level application layer interfaces, leveraging the Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP) to manage data streams, ensuring seamless connection and disconnection across devices within an Ethernet AVB network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control messages are sent through application layer interfaces to manage data streams, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple protocol layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an application layer interface as an intermediary between the controller and the underlying SRP protocol stack. This intermediary simplifies control message management by providing a high-level interface while handling the complexity of protocol translation and state machine coordination internally, thus improving ease of operation without exposing the underlying complexity to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the control architecture into distinct layers: application layer interfaces for user interaction, state machine modules for protocol state management, and SRP protocol stack modules for actual stream reservation handling. This segmentation allows each layer to operate independently with well-defined interfaces, managing complexity through modular design while maintaining ease of operation at the application layer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol layers are used for stream management, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The state machine modules are pre-configured with knowledge of the SRP protocol states and transitions. When a control message arrives at the application layer interface, the pre-prepared state machine can immediately process it without requiring complex runtime analysis, thus reducing the time penalty associated with multiple protocol layers while maintaining adaptability through the state machine's ability to handle various protocol scenarios.
3Reliability
If state machine modules are used to manage protocol states, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The state machine modules serve multiple functions: they manage protocol state transitions, validate control messages, coordinate with the SRP protocol stack, and handle error conditions. By making the state machine multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate specialized modules for each function, thereby improving reliability through comprehensive state management while limiting the increase in device complexity through functional consolidation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system that includes a talker, a listener, and a controller may communicate over an Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging network. The controller may communicate control messages to manage data streams between the talker and the listener through one or more application layer interfaces of the talker and the listener. Based on the control messages, the talker and the listener may communicate using a Stream Reservation Protocol to reserve connection for, or remove connection from, the data streams. The talker and listener may communicate the success of reserving or removing connections to the controller through the application layer interfaces.