Method and apparatus for efficient transmission of multimedia data packets

Computer program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium for efficiently transmitting packet data between a multimedia source device and a multimedia sink device, comprising:

• computer code for transferring information between the multimedia source device and the multimedia sink device and vice versa by way of a bi-directional auxiliary channel, wherein the information transferred over the auxiliary channel includes a set of packet attributes;
• computer code for passing a number multimedia data packets from the transmitter unit to the receiver unit each having a size reduced multimedia data packet header by a unidirectional main link, wherein each of the headers is reduced in size over what would otherwise be necessary since the packet attributes are communicated via the auxiliary channel prior to the transmission of the main link packets over the main link thereby commensurably reducing the packet overhead, and wherein associated ones of the multimedia data packets form a particular multimedia data packet stream that is one of a number of multimedia data packet streams each having an associated adjustable data stream link rate that is independent of the native stream rate;
• and
• computer code for forming a number of virtual links each being associated with a particular one of the multi media data packet streams wherein each of said virtual links has an associated virtual link bandwidth and a virtual link rate.

A transmission efficient packet based display interface arranged to couple a multimedia source device to a multimedia sink device, comprising:

• a transmitter unit coupled to the source device arranged to receive a source packet data stream in accordance with a native stream rate;
• a receiver unit coupled to the sink device that includes a time-base recovery unit arranged to regenerate a particular data stream's native rate based upon a time stamp embedded within the main link data packets and wherein the time stamp is based upon a determination of a number of native stream clocks in 220 cycles of link cycle clock frequency period;
• a bi-directional auxiliary channel arranged to transfer information between the multimedia source device and the multimedia sink device and vice versa, wherein the information transferred over the auxiliary channel includes a set of packet attributes;
• and
• a unidirectional main link arranged to carry a number multimedia data packets from the multimedia source device to the multimedia sink device each having a multimedia data packet header, wherein each of the headers is reduced in size over what would otherwise be necessary since the packet attributes are communicated via the auxiliary channel prior to the transmission of the main link packets over main link and wherein the main link has an associated link transmission rate that is independent of the native stream rate.