Communication protocol for controlling transfer of temporal data over a bus between devices in synchronization with a periodic reference signal
AssigneeAvid Technology, Inc.
InventorsRon Wallace, Harry Der, Martin Corbett, Terrence Fetters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communication protocol over the serial bus allows a peripheral device to control the flow of data between a host computer and the peripheral device so as to maintain synchronization to a periodic reference signal. The protocol involves transferring flow control messages between the peripheral device and the host computer, allowing the peripheral device to control how and when the host computer sends the uncompressed audio and video data.
Claims23
A method for transferring data from a first device to a second device over a bus, performed by the first device for each data interval defined by a periodic reference signal processed by the second device, comprising:
- receiving a synchronization packet over the bus from the second device for the data interval;
- after receiving the synchronization packet, sending a plurality of packets over the bus to the second device, wherein the packets include data for the data interval;
- and
- after sending the plurality of packets for the data interval, waiting until receipt of a synchronization packet over the bus from the second device for a subsequent data interval.
A device for connection to a recipient of data over a bus, comprising:
- a bus interface for sending packets over the bus connected to the recipient of data;
- a buffer having an input for receiving data and connected to provide data to the bus interface for transmission as a plurality of packets over the bus to the recipient of data;
- and
- a controller having an input for receiving a signal related to a periodic reference signal defining a plurality of data intervals, and having an output for providing an indication to the bus interface to send a synchronization packet over the bus to the recipient of data for each data interval in response to the periodic reference signal.
An apparatus for transferring data to a device over a bus, comprising:
- a bus interface for receiving a synchronization packet over the bus from the device for each data interval defined by a periodic reference signal processed by the device;
- and
- a buffer connected to the bus interface, wherein after receiving the synchronization packet, the buffer sends a plurality of packets via the bus interface over the bus to the device, wherein the packets include data for the data interval, and wherein after sending the plurality of packets for the data interval, the buffer waits until receipt of a subsequent synchronization packet over the bus from the device for a subsequent data interval.
A computer program product, comprising:
- a computer readable medium;
- computer program instructions stored on the computer readable medium that, when executed by a host computer, cause the host computer to perform a method for transferring data from the host computer to a peripheral device over a bus, performed by the host computer for each data interval defined by a periodic reference signal and comprising:
- receiving a synchronization packet over the bus from the peripheral device for the data interval;
- after receiving the synchronization packet, sending a plurality of packets over the bus to the peripheral device, wherein the packets include data for the data interval;
- and
- after sending the plurality of packets for the data interval, waiting until receipt of a synchronization packet over the bus from the peripheral device for a subsequent data interval.
A method for transferring data from a first device to a second device over a bus, performed by the second device for each data interval defined by a periodic reference signal processed by the first device, comprising:
- receiving a synchronization packet over the bus from the first device for the data interval;
- receiving a plurality of packets over the bus from the first device after receiving the synchronization packet, wherein the packets include data for the data interval;
- and
- after receiving the plurality of packets, waiting until receipt of a synchronization packet over the bus from the first device for a subsequent data interval.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.