Communication Control Device for Bandwidth-Synchronized Route Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in suppressing bandwidth consumption during data switching, particularly when using IP multicast, leading to potential image quality degradation and increased bandwidth usage due to overlapping bandwidths and temporary image quality degradation.

Innovation Solution

A communication control device and method that includes a synchronization detection unit and a transmission control unit to detect synchronization timing and transmit control signals to a network switch, allowing for flag-based communication route changes between transmission and reception devices, thereby synchronizing flag changes at specific timings to manage bandwidth efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If hierarchical encoding with basic and extended hierarchies is used for image transmission, then image quality can be improved through layered delivery, but bandwidth consumption increases during channel switching due to overlapping bandwidth requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the network switch with route change capabilities and using synchronization signals to prepare for seamless transitions. The communication control device detects synchronization timing in advance and coordinates route changes before actual data switching occurs, preventing bandwidth overlap during channel transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts communication routes based on real-time synchronization signals and channel switching requirements. The network switch dynamically changes routing paths for different hierarchy streams (basic and extended) according to the received channel switch signal, allowing flexible bandwidth management without fixed overlapping allocations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If channel switching is performed in IP multicast systems, then reception devices can switch between different data streams, but temporary image quality degradation occurs during the switching transition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel switching capabilityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system sends route change signals to the network switch in advance before the reception device actually switches channels. The synchronization signal detection and preliminary route configuration ensure that the network path is ready before data switching occurs, preventing image quality degradation during transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network switch acts as an intermediary that coordinates the transition between different data streams. It receives channel switch signals, detects synchronization timing, and manages the route changes for basic and extended hierarchy streams, ensuring smooth transitions without direct interference with the reception device's image processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If synchronization timing is not coordinated during route changes, then communication flexibility is maintained, but bandwidth overlap occurs causing inefficient resource utilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidbandwidth utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses synchronization signals as feedback mechanisms to coordinate route changes. The communication control device detects synchronization timing from these signals and adjusts route change operations accordingly, creating a feedback loop that ensures efficient bandwidth utilization while maintaining communication flexibility through dynamic adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11271711B2Communication control device, communication control method, network switch, route control method, and communication system

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

A communication control device that includes a synchronization detection unit that detects a synchronization timing from a synchronization signal and a transmission control unit that causes a communication unit to transmit a control signal., for changing a communication route of data to which a flag specified on the basis of the synchronization signal, to a network switch that performs relay between a reception device and a plurality of transmission devices that transmits the data to which the flag is added while changing the flag at the synchronization timing.