Methods for transporting digital media
AssigneeAudinate Pty Limited
InventorsAidan Williams, Varuni Witana
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A networked system is provided for transporting digital media packets, such as audio and video. The network includes network devices interconnected to send and receive packets. Each network device can receive and transmit media signals from media devices. A master clock generates a system time signal that the network devices use, together with a network time protocol to generate a local clock signal synchronized to the system time signal for both rate and offset. The local clock signal governs both the rate and offset of the received or transmitted media signals. The system, which can be implemented using conventional network equipment enables media signals to be transported to meet quality and timing requirements for high quality audio and video reproduction.
Claims38
A network suitable for transporting media packets, the network comprising:
- a master clock device to generate a system time signal for the network, wherein the system time signal and media packets are both communicated in a same band on the network;
- a plurality of network devices interconnected such that the plurality of network devices can send media packets to the plurality of network devices, and to receive media packets from the plurality of network devices;
- wherein the plurality of network devices are configured to receive media signals from a media device, to transmit media signals to a media device, or to do both and wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices is configured to receive and transmit media signals to a media device;
- wherein, the plurality of network devices are coupled to the master clock device and uses the system time signal and a network time protocol to generate a local clock signal synchronised to the system time signal for both rate and offset, the local clock signal governing both the rate and offset of the received or transmitted media signals;
- and
- wherein a media clock signal is synthesized from at least the local clock signal, such that the media clock signal governs the rate and offset at which media signals are received or transmitted.
A network device for connection to other network devices to transport media packets between them, the network device comprising:
- at least one media port for receiving media signals from a media device and transmitting media signals to a media device;
- at least one clock port coupled to receive a system time signal, wherein the system time signal and media signals are both communicated in a same band on the network;
- at least one local clock generator coupled to use the system time signal and a network time protocol to generate a local clock signal synchronized to the system time signal for both rate and offset, the local clock signal governing both the rate and offset of the received or transmitted media signals,
- wherein a media clock signal is synthesized from the local clock signal, such that the media clock signal directly governs the rate and offset at which media signals are received or transmitted.
A method of operating a data network device to transport media packets, the method comprising:
- generating or receiving a system time signal for the network, wherein the system time signal and media signals are both communicated in a same band on the network;
- configuring a plurality of the network devices such that the plurality of network devices are able to send packets to others of the plurality of network devices, or receive packets from others of the plurality of network devices;
- configuring the plurality of network devices to receive media signals from a media device, or transmit media signals to a media device, wherein at least one of the plurality of network devices is configured to receive and transmit media signals to a media device;
- connecting the plurality of network devices to receive the system time signal;
- operating the plurality of network devices to use the system time signal and a network time protocol to generate a local clock signal synchronized to the system time signal for both rate and offset, the local clock signal governing the rate and offset of the received or transmitted media signals;
- and
- synthesizing a media clock signal from the local clock signal, such that the media clock signal directly governs the rate and offset at which media signals are received or transmitted.
A method according to 26 further comprising using a network time protocol involving a bidirectional exchange of messages to enable the calculation of both clock offset and network delay between a master clock and local slave clocks.
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer program instructions configured to cause a processing system to execute the steps of:
- generating or receiving a system time signal for a network, wherein the system time signal and media signals are both communicated in a same band on the network;
- configuring a plurality of the network devices such that the plurality of the network devices are able to send packets to others of the plurality of network devices or receive packets from others of the plurality of network devices;
- configuring the plurality of network devices to receive media signals from a media device or transmit media signals to a media device;
- configuring at least one of the plurality of network devices to receive and transmit media signals to a media device;
- enabling the plurality of network devices to receive the system time signal;
- operating the plurality of network devices to use the system time signal and a network time protocol to generate a local clock signal synchronized to the system time signal for both rate and offset, the local clock signal governing the rate and offset of the received or transmitted media signals;
- and
- synthesizing a media clock signal from the local clock signal, such that the media clock signal governs the rate and offset at which media signals are received or transmitted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.