Apparatus and method to synchronize multimedia playback over a network using out-of-band signaling
AssigneeSigmatel, Inc.
InventorDaniel L Moore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to synchronize devices in a network to a sub-millisecond timing accuracy. In a first embodiment, the transmission of data is synchronized between a first source device and destination devices communicatively coupled to a network. In a second embodiment, data is deterministically transmitted between a first source device and destination devices communicatively coupled to a network. In a third embodiment, a deterministic network synchronizes the transmission of data between a first source device and destination devices coupled to a network.
Claims51
A method to synchronize transmission of data, said method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of data into a buffer at a destination device, wherein the plurality of data is transmitted by a first source device via a first network;
- receiving a plurality of synchronization pulses at said destination device, wherein the plurality of synchronization pulse is transmitted by a second source device via a second network;
- and
- receiving a sequence number at said destination device to determine when said destination device will access said plurality of data from said buffer.
A method to transmit data, said method comprising:
- transmitting a plurality of data from a first source device into a buffer at a destination device via a first network;
- wherein the destination device receives a plurality of synchronization pulses from a second source device via a second network;
- wherein said plurality of synchronization pulses adjusts a local clock in said destination device;
- and
- wherein the destination device extracts a sequence number from said plurality of synchronization pulses to determine when and in which order to access said plurality of data from said buffer.
A data system, comprising:
- a destination device having a buffer and a controller, wherein the destination device receives a plurality of data from a first source device to be stored in the buffer and receives a plurality of synchronization pulses from a second source device that is physically separate from the first source device;
- wherein the controller is configured to calculate a sequence number to determine when the controller accesses the plurality of data from the buffer;
- wherein the destination device is configured to receive the plurality of data from the first source device via a first transmission medium of a first network;
- and
- wherein the destination device is configured to receive the synchronization pulses from the second source device via a second transmission medium of a second network.
A computer-implemented method for synchronizing transmission of data, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of data transmitted from a source device via a first network;
- subsequently receiving a plurality of synchronization pulses transmitted from said source via a second network;
- adjusting a clock local to each of one or more destination devices in response to said plurality of synchronization pulses;
- extracting a sequence number from said plurality of synchronization pulses;
- and
- invoking each of said one or more destination devices to access said plurality of data according to said sequence number.
A computer program product for synchronizing transmission of data, wherein said computer program product is stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform operations of:
- receiving a plurality of data transmitted from a source device via a first network;
- subsequently receiving a plurality of synchronization pulses transmitted from said source device via a second network;
- adjusting a clock local to each of one or more destination devices in response to said plurality of synchronization pulses;
- extracting a sequence number from said plurality of synchronization pulses;
- and
- invoking each of said one or more destination devices to access said plurality of data according to said sequence number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.