U.S. patent application number 11/963017 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for method and system for audio/video bridging aware shortest path bridging.
Invention is credited to Wael William Diab, Yongbum Kim.
Application Number | 20080285459 11/963017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40026962 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080285459 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Diab; Wael William ; et
al. |
November 20, 2008 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUDIO/VIDEO BRIDGING AWARE SHORTEST PATH
BRIDGING
Abstract
Aspects of a method and system for Audio/Video Bridging aware
shortest path bridging are provided. In this regard, network nodes
which are AVB enabled and capable of routing information based on a
desired path cost and/or a desired quality of service (QoS) may be
identified, and an AVB enabled path comprising one or more of the
identified nodes may be established for communication over a
network. In this regard, the desired cost may be a least cost and
may be the "shortest path" between two nodes in a network.
Additionally, the nodes maybe identified using Shortest path
Bridging protocols and/or Audio Video Bridging protocols and/or
extensions thereof. Also, bridge protocol data units may be
exchanged to identify the nodes.
Inventors: |
Diab; Wael William; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Kim; Yongbum; (San Jose,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCANDREWS HELD & MALLOY, LTD
500 WEST MADISON STREET, SUITE 3400
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
40026962 |
Appl. No.: |
11/963017 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60917870 |
May 14, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/238 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/43615 20130101;
H04N 19/61 20141101; H04N 9/8042 20130101; H04N 19/172 20141101;
H04N 21/64322 20130101; H04N 7/106 20130101; H04L 12/2816 20130101;
H04N 21/6373 20130101; H04N 21/43632 20130101; H04L 12/2805
20130101; Y02D 30/32 20180101; H04L 2012/2849 20130101; H04N 19/176
20141101; H04N 5/85 20130101; G09G 2370/10 20130101; Y02D 30/00
20180101; G09G 5/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/238 |
International
Class: |
G08C 15/00 20060101
G08C015/00 |
Claims
1. A method for providing communication in a network, the method
comprising: identifying nodes in the network that are AVB enabled
and capable of providing routing based on a desired cost and/or
desired QoS; and establishing an AVB enabled communication path
between a first endpoint and a second endpoint via one or more of
said identified nodes to enable communication between said first
endpoint and said second endpoint.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said desired cost is a
least cost.
3. The method according to claim 1, comprising identifying nodes in
the network based at least on shortest path bridging protocols.
4. The method according to claim 1, comprising identifying nodes in
the network based at least on Audio Video Bridging protocols.
5. The method according to claim 1, comprising exchanging bridge
protocol data units for said identifying of said nodes in the
network.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said bridge protocol
data units comprise one or more bits that indicate audio/video
bridging capability of said nodes in the network.
7. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining
availability of resources for reservation for each of said nodes in
the network.
8. The method according to claim 1, comprising monitoring traffic
handled by at least a portion of said nodes in the network for said
identification of said nodes in the network that are AVB
enabled.
9. The method according to claim 1, comprising monitoring SRP
registration and/or SRP reservation packets for said identification
of said nodes in the network that are AVB enabled.
10. The method according to claim 1, comprising storing in one or
more said nodes in the network, an indication of which nodes in the
network are AVB enabled.
11. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer
program having at least one code section for providing
communication in a network, the at least one code section being
executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps
comprising: identifying nodes in the network that are AVB enabled
and capable of providing routing based on a desired cost and/or
desired QoS; and establishing an AVB enabled communication path
between a first endpoint and a second endpoint via one or more of
said identified nodes to enable communication between said first
endpoint and said second endpoint.
12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said desired cost is a least cost.
13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said at least one code section enables identifying nodes in the
network based at least on shortest path bridging protocols.
14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said at least one code section enables identifying nodes in the
network based at least on Audio Video Bridging protocols.
15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said at least one code section enables exchanging bridge protocol
data units for said identifying of said nodes in the network.
16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 15, wherein
said bridge protocol data units comprise one or more bits that
indicate audio/video bridging capability of said nodes in the
network.
17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said at least one code section enables determining availability of
resources for reservation for each of said nodes in the
network.
18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said at least one code section enables monitoring traffic handled
by at least a portion of said nodes in the network for said
identification of said nodes in the network that are AVB
enabled.
19. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said at least one code section enables monitoring SRP registration
and/or SRP reservation packets for said identification of said
nodes in the network that are AVB enabled.
20. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, wherein
said at least one code section enables storing, in one or more of
said nodes in the network, an indication of which nodes in the
network are AVB enabled.
21. A system for providing communication in a network, the system
comprising: at least one processor that enables identification of
nodes in the network that are AVB enabled and capable of providing
routing based on a desired cost and/or desired QoS; and said at
least one processor enables establishment of an AVB enabled
communication path between a first endpoint and a second endpoint
via one or more of said identified nodes to enable communication
between said first endpoint and said second endpoint.
22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said desired cost is
a least cost.
23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
processor enables identification of nodes in the network based at
least on shortest path bridging protocols.
24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
processor enables identification of nodes in the network based at
least on Audio Video Bridging protocols.
25. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
processor enables exchanging of bridge protocol data units for said
identification of said nodes in the network.
26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said bridge protocol
data units comprise one or more bits that indicate audio/video
bridging capability of said nodes in the network.
27. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
processor determines availability of resources for reservation for
each of said nodes in the network.
28. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
processor monitors traffic handled by at least a portion of said
nodes in the network for said identification of said nodes in the
network that are AVB enabled.
29. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
processor monitors SRP registration and/or SRP reservation packets
for said identification of said nodes in the network that are AVB
enabled.
30. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one
processor enables storage, in one or more of said nodes in the
network, of an indication which specifies which nodes in the
network are AVB enabled.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
[0001] This patent application makes reference to, claims priority
to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/917,870 filed on May 14, 2007.
[0002] The above stated provisional application is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Certain embodiments of the invention relate to networking.
More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a
method and system for Audio/Video Bridging Aware shortest path
bridging.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An increasing amount of data, and in particular multimedia
content, transmitted over networks has led to much research into
ways to improve the quality and reliability of streaming data over
bridged local area networks. Accordingly, the IEEE is in the
process of standardizing a suite of protocols collectively known as
Audio Video Bridging and extensions thereto (collectively referred
to herein as AVB). The individual protocols include, among others,
IEEE P802.1AS--IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area
Networks--Timing and Synchronization for Time-Sensitive
Applications in Bridged Local Area Networks, IEEE P801.1Qat--IEEE
Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks: Virtual Bridged
Local Area Networks--Amendment 9: Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP)
and IEEE P802.1Qav: IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area
Networks: Virtual Bridged Local Area Networks--Amendment 11:
Forwarding and Queuing for Time-Sensitive Streams.
[0005] Applications of Audio/Video Bridging protocols include
streaming compressed and/or uncompressed Audio and/or Video between
various pieces of equipment. An exemplary transmission may comprise
streaming uncompressed audio from an Audio/Video receiver to
multiple Networked Speakers over an Ethernet network. In this
regard, it may be necessary that the rendering of Audio in all
speakers is synchronized so as not to affect the listener's
experience. In this manner, the audio video bridging protocols are
likely to be deployed in situations where quality of service is
paramount to the user experience.
[0006] Another protocol being developed to improve network
communications is IEEE 802.1aq--Shortest Path Bridging (SPB). In
this regard, Shortest Path Bridging, may be utilized to determine
least cost paths across a network while eliminating redundant paths
or loops. In this regard, redundant paths may cause routing tables
to fail since one address may be seen at multiple ports.
Additionally, redundant paths may result in broadcast storms, where
packets are forwarded in an endless loop, consuming processing
resources and bandwidth.
[0007] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and
traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the
art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the
present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present
application with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A system and/or method is provided for Audio/Video Bridging
aware shortest path bridging, substantially as shown in and/or
described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set
forth more completely in the claims.
[0009] These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of
the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated
embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the
following description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating exemplary AVB
enabled Audio/Video equipment that may transmit and/or receive data
over a network, in connection with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating principles of shortest
path bridging, in connection with an embodiment of the
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary network comprising AVB
enabled and non-AVB enabled nodes, in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary paths for
determining a least cost AVB enabled path across a network, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating transmission of an AVB
data stream utilizing AVB aware Shortest Path Bridging, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a
method and system for Audio/Video Bridging aware shortest path
bridging. In this regard, network nodes, which are AVB enabled and
capable of routing information based on a desired path cost and/or
a desired quality of service (QoS), may be identified. Furthermore,
an AVB enabled path comprising one or more of the identified nodes
may be established for communication over a network. In this
regard, the desired cost may be a least cost and may be a "shortest
path" between two nodes in a network. Additionally, the nodes may
be identified using Shortest Path Bridging protocols and/or Audio
Video Bridging protocols and/or extensions thereof. Also, bridge
protocol data units may be exchanged to identify the nodes, and may
comprise one or more bits capable of identifying nodes which are
AVB enabled and capable of routing information based on a desired
path cost and/or quality of service. Aspects of the invention may
enable network nodes to determine the availability of resources
which may be reserved in one or more other nodes. Also, network
traffic handled by one or more nodes which are AVB enabled and
capable of routing information based on a desired path cost and/or
a desired (QoS) may be monitored to enable identifying other nodes
which are AVB enabled and capable of routing information based on a
desired path cost and/or a desired (QoS). In this regard, SRP
registration and or SRP reservation packets may be monitored to
identify nodes which are AVB enabled and capable of routing
information based on a desired path cost and/or a desired (QoS).
Additionally, aspects of the invention may enable storage of a
table, database, or other data structure which may enable
indicating which nodes in a network may be AVB enabled.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary AVB enabled
Audio/Video equipment that may transmit and/or receive data over a
network, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown AVB enabled Audio/Video
equipment 100 that comprises a host 106a and a network interface
hardware (NIHW) device 114. The NIHW device 114 may further
comprise a medium access control (MAC) controller 108a and a
transceiver 104, to enable communication over a network. In various
embodiments of the invention, the network may, for example, utilize
Ethernet technology and may communicate over one or more twisted
pair channels or a wireless channel. In various embodiments of the
invention, the AVB enabled A/V equipment may comprise, for example,
a microphone, an instrument, a sound board, a sound card, a video
camera, a media player, a graphics card, or other audio and/or
video device.
[0017] The transceiver 110 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,
and/or code that may enable communication, for example,
transmission and reception of data, between the AVB enabled
Audio/Video equipment 100 and a network. The transceiver 110a may
support, for example, Ethernet operations. The transceiver 110a may
enable multi-rate communications, such as 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1000
Mbps (or 1 Gbps) and/or 10 Gbps, for example. In this regard, the
transceiver 110 may support standard-based data rates and/or
non-standard data rates. Moreover, the transceiver 110a may support
standard Ethernet link lengths or ranges of operation and/or
extended ranges of operation.
[0018] The transceiver 110 may be configured to handle all the
physical layer requirements, which include, but are not limited to,
packetization, data transfer and serialization/deserialization
(SERDES), in instances where such an operation is required.
Additionally, in order to support AVB protocols, the transceiver
110 may be enabled to generate timestamps corresponding to the
transmission and/or reception of data. Data packets received by the
transceiver 110a from the MAC controller 108a may include data and
header information for each of the above six functional layers. The
transceiver 110 may be configured to encode data packets that are
to be transmitted over a network and/or to decode data packets
received from a network.
[0019] The data transmitted and/or received by the transceiver 110a
may be formatted in accordance with the well-known OSI protocol
standard. The OSI model partitions operability and functionality
into seven distinct and hierarchical layers. Generally, each layer
in the OSI model is structured so that it may provide a service to
the immediately higher interfacing layer. For example, layer 1, or
physical (PHY) layer, may provide services to layer 2 and layer 2
may provide services to layer 3. The data transmitted may comprise
frames of Ethernet media independent interface (MII) data which may
be delimited by start of stream and end of stream delimiters, for
example.
[0020] The host 106 may represent layer 3 and above, the MAC
controller 108 may represent layer 2 and above and the transceiver
110 may represent the operability and/or functionality of layer 1
or the PHY layer. In this regard, the transceiver 110a may be
referred to as a PHY device or a PHY transceiver, for example. The
host 106a may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that
may enable operability and/or functionality of the five highest
functional layers for data packets that are to be transmitted over
a network. Since each layer in the OSI model provides a service to
the immediately higher interfacing layer, the MAC controller 108
may provide the necessary services to the host 106a to ensure that
packets are suitably formatted and communicated to the transceiver
110. During transmission, each layer adds its own header to the
data passed on from the interfacing layer above it. During
reception, a compatible device having a similar OSI stack strips
off the headers as the message passes from the lower layers up to
the higher layers.
[0021] The MAC controller 108 may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, and/or code that may enable handling of data link layer,
layer 2, operability and/or functionality in the AVB enabled
Audio/Video equipment 100. Accordingly, the MAC controller 108 may
be configured to implement Ethernet protocols, such as those based
on the IEEE 802.3 standard, for example. Similarly, the MAC
controller 108 may be enabled to implement AVB protocols such as
IEEE 801.1Qat and IEEE 802.1Qav. Additionally, the MAC controller
108 may be enabled to communicate the AVB compatibility of the AVB
enabled equipment 100. In this regard, the MAC controller may
support the discovery of network paths that are AVB enabled.
[0022] The MAC controller 108 may communicate with the transceiver
110a via an interface 118 and with the host 106 via a bus
controller interface 116. The interface 118 may correspond to an
Ethernet interface that comprises protocol and/or link management
control signals. The interface 118 may be a multi-rate interface
and/or media independent interface (MII). The bus controller
interface 116a may correspond to a PCI or PCI-X interface.
Notwithstanding, the invention is not limited in this regard.
[0023] In operation, a first AVB enabled equipment may communicate
with a second AVB enabled equipment across a network. Accordingly,
aspects of the invention may enable determining a least cost AVB
enabled path between the two AVB enabled equipments. In this
regard, the AVB enabled equipments and any intermediary nodes
comprising the network, may be similar to the AVB enabled equipment
100.
[0024] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating principles of shortest
path bridging, in connection with an embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1B there is shown a network 150 comprising 4
network nodes 152, 154, 156, and 158, and 4 network links 160, 162,
164, 166.
[0025] The network links 160, 162, 164, and 166 may comprise
physical channels for conveying information in the network 150. In
this regard, the links may, for example, comprise twisted pair
cabling, coaxial cabling, fiber optic cabling, and/or wireless
channels. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1B,
the links 160 and 162 may have a link cost of 1, whereas the links
164 and 166 may have a link cost of 2. In this regard, the link
cost may be associated with the technology, speed, bandwidth, bit
error rate, packet error rate, or other characteristics of the
links. Accordingly, lower link cost may, for example, translate to
faster and/or more efficient communication of data.
[0026] The nodes 152, 154, 156, and 158 may comprise suitable logic
circuitry, and/or code that may enable transmission and/or
reception of data via a network. In this regard, the nodes may each
comprise multiple ports for sending/receiving data, such as the
ports A and B illustrated in the FIG. 1B. The nodes 152, 154, 156,
and 158 may be enabled to determine paths across a network for
routing the data. Accordingly, the nodes 152, 154, 156, and 158 may
be enabled to implement algorithms and/or protocols for determining
network topology such as 802.1aq Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) and
other related protocols and/or algorithms such as Spanning Tree
Protocol (STP), IEEE 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP),
and IEEE 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP).
Additionally, the nodes 152 nodes 152, 154, 156, and 158 may
comprise one or more routing tables or other databases which may
enable storing port configurations, AVB compatibility information
of nodes comprising the network 150, and/or other information
associated with parsing, routing, and /or otherwise processing of
network traffic.
[0027] In operation, the nodes 152, 154, 156, and 158 may, for
example, utilize SPB to discover an optimum path across the network
150. In this regard, the nodes 152, 154, 156, and 158 may exchange
bridge protocol data units to discover the topology of the network
150. In this manner, the nodes may discover that there is more than
one path between the node 152 and 156. Accordingly, one or more of
the nodes may block a port in order to break the loop caused by the
parallel paths. Additionally, when configuring ports, SPB may
enable determining link costs across then network and may thus
enable configuring ports to provide an optimum path in each
direction between the nodes 152 and 158. For example, the node 152
may block port B to incoming traffic from the node 158 and the node
152 may block port B to incoming traffic from the node 152. Thus,
traffic in both directions between the node 152 and 158 may be
conveyed along the optimal path comprising the links 160 and 162.
Also, in various embodiments of the invention, a cost associated
with one or more of the links 160, 162, 164, and 166 may vary
dynamically. Accordingly, the nodes 152, 154, 156, 158 may be
enabled to detect changes in network link costs and may accordingly
dynamically reconfigure one or more network ports to maintain a
particular cost or range of cost. In this regard, one or more
routing tables and/or databases may be periodically updated.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary network comprising AVB
enabled and non-AVB enabled nodes, in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown two end
systems 202a and 202b, a plurality of AVB enabled nodes 208, and a
non-AVB enabled node 210.
[0029] The end systems 202a and 202b may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, and/or code that may enable transmitting and/or
receiving data over a network utilizing AVB protocols. In this
regard, the end systems 202a and 202b may be similar to or the same
as the AVB enabled audio/video equipment 100 of FIG. 1.
[0030] The AVB enabled nodes 208 may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, and/or code that may enable transmitting and/or
receiving data over a network utilizing AVB protocols. In this
regard, the AVB enabled nodes 208 may be similar to or the same as
the AVB enabled audio/video equipment 100 of FIG. 1.
[0031] The non-AVB enabled node 210 may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, and/or code that may enable transmitting and/or
receiving data over a network. In this regard, the non-AVB enabled
nodes 208 may be a conventionally network node, such as a bridge,
switch, or router. In various instances, the non-AVB enabled node
210 may be similar to the nodes 208 but may have AVB networking
disabled via, for example, software or firmware configuration.
[0032] The network path 206 may comprise the least cost path
between the end systems 202a and 202b. In this regard, the path 206
may be an optimal network path for non-AVB traffic between the end
systems 202a and 202b.
[0033] The network path 204 may comprise the least cost AVB enabled
path between the end systems 202a and 202b. In this regard, the
path 206 may be an optimal network path for AVB traffic between the
end systems 202a and 202b.
[0034] In various embodiments of the invention, AVB compatibility
may be factored into link cost. For example, by assigning non-AVB
links a higher link cost, aspects of the invention may enable
setting a preference for AVB enabled paths.
[0035] In the network 200, each of the end systems 202 and the
nodes 208 and 210, may be enabled to discover the topology of the
network 200. In this regard, the protocol may enable discovering a
least cost path between two nodes and/or a least cost AVB enabled
path between two nodes. To determine or learn AVB compatibility of
network nodes, the AVB traffic may be monitored. In one example,
the nodes 208 and the end systems 202 may identify AVB traffic and
parse the source address of the traffic to identify AVB enabled
nodes. In another example, SRP registration and/or reservation
packets may be monitored and/or processed to identify AVB enabled
nodes. Additionally, to determine or discover the topology of the
network 200, Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDU) may be exchanged by
the nodes 208 and 210. In one embodiment of the invention, the
BPDU's may be modified to comprise AVB compatibility information
for a node. In another embodiment of the invention, BPDUs may be
followed and/or preceded by other control packets which convey AVB
compatibility for a node. Accordingly, one or more routing tables
and/or other databases may be created and/or updated based on
received AVB traffic and/or received BPDUs.
[0036] In an exemplary operation, the end system 202b may request a
video stream from the end system 202a. Accordingly, network
resources may be reserved over the path 204 to provide a guaranteed
quality of service for the video stream. Conversely, the end system
202b may transmit general traffic, an email or web traffic for
example, via the path 206. Accordingly, general traffic may
experience minimal delays and/or latencies while AVB traffic may be
provided guaranteed resources across a network.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary steps for
determining a least cost AVB enabled path across a network, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.
3, the exemplary steps may begin with step 302 when one or more
network nodes attempt to discover the topology of a network to
which they are connected. Subsequent to step 302, the exemplary
steps may advance to step 304. In step 304, the one or more nodes
may utilize SPB protocols to discover the network topology.
However, in addition to standard SPB information exchanges, nodes
comprising the network may additionally communicate whether they
are AVB enabled. Subsequent to step 304, the exemplary steps may
advance to step 306. In step 306, a network node may gather
received information pertaining to link costs across various paths
in the network. Accordingly, the paths may be sorted according to
link cost or available quality of service. Subsequent to step 306,
the exemplary steps may advance to step 308. In step 308, it may be
determined which of the paths are AVB enabled. Accordingly, a least
cost path overall may be determined and a least cost AVB enabled
path may be determined. In various instances, the least cost
overall path and the least cost AVB enabled path may be the same or
may be different. Subsequent to step 310, the exemplary steps may
advance to step 312. In step 312, a routing table and/or database
may be populated based on the paths determined in step 308, and
ports comprising the one or more nodes may be configured to
implement the determined path(s).
[0038] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating transmission of an AVB
data stream utilizing AVB aware Shortest Path Bridging, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4
the exemplary steps may begin with step 402 when a first node
desires an AVB stream from a second node. Subsequent to step 402,
the exemplary steps may advance to step 404. In step 404, the first
node may refer to a routing table which identifies the least cost
AVB enabled path or the AVB path which may provide the highest
quality of service (QoS) between the first node and the second
node. In this regard, the routing table may be populated utilizing
steps such as the step 302 to 312 described in FIG. 3. Subsequent
to step 404, the exemplary steps may advance to step 406. In step
406, the first node may attempt to reserve resources for the AVB
stream along the path identified in step 406. Subsequent to step
408, the exemplary steps may advance to step 410. In step 410, it
may be determined whether resources for the AVB stream have been
successfully reserved across the least cost AVB enabled path. If
the resources have been successfully reserved, then the exemplary
steps may advance to step 416. In step 416, transmission of the AVB
stream from the second node to the first node over the least cost
AVB enabled path may begin.
[0039] Returning to step 410, if resources are unable to be
reserved over the least cost AVB enabled path, the exemplary steps
may advance to step 412. In step 412 it may be determined whether
an alternative AVB enabled path is available. In this regard, a
routing table or database, similar to the one populated in FIG. 3,
may be accessed to determine if an alternate AVB enabled path
exists. If an alternate path is available then the exemplary steps
may advance to the previously described step 406. Accordingly,
resources available in a path may be factored into the cost of the
path, and a least cost AVB enabled path, with available resources,
may determined.
[0040] Returning to step 412, if no alternate AVB enabled path
exists, then the exemplary steps may advance to step 418. In step
418, the AVB stream may be denied and the first node may be
notified that resources are unavailable. Alternatively, the first
node may be given the option to accept lower quality stream, in
which case resources may be available for lesser bandwidth or a
non-AVB path may be utilized.
[0041] Aspects of a method and system for Audio/Video Bridging
aware shortest path bridging are provided. In this regard, network
nodes which are AVB enabled and capable of routing information
based on a desired path cost and/or a desired quality of service
(QoS), such as the nodes 208 in FIG. 2 may be identified.
Furthermore, an AVB enabled path, such as the path 204, comprising
one or more of the identified nodes may be established for
communication over a network. In this regard, the desired cost may
be a least cost, such as the optimum path described in FIG. 1B.
Additionally, the nodes may be identified using Shortest Path
Bridging protocols and/or Audio Video Bridging protocols and/or
extensions thereof. Also, bridge protocol data units may be
exchanged to identify the nodes, and may comprise one or more bits
capable of identifying nodes which are AVB enabled and capable of
routing information based on a desired path cost and/or quality of
service. Aspects of the invention may enable network nodes to
determine the availability of resources which may be reserved in
one or more other nodes. Also, network traffic handled by one or
more nodes which are AVB enabled and capable of routing information
based on a desired path cost and/or a desired (QoS) may be
monitored to enable identifying other nodes which are AVB enabled
and capable of routing information based on a desired path cost
and/or a desired (QoS). In this regard, SRP registration and or SRP
reservation packets may be monitored to identify nodes which are
AVB enabled and capable of routing information based on a desired
path cost and/or a desired (QoS). Additionally, aspects of the
invention may enable storage of a table, database, or other data
structure which may enable indicating which nodes in a network may
be AVB enabled.
[0042] Another embodiment of the invention may provide a
machine-readable storage, having stored thereon, a computer program
having at least one code section executable by a machine, thereby
causing the machine to perform the steps as described herein for
Audio/Video Bridging Aware shortest path bridging.
[0043] Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in
hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The
present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at
least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where
different elements are spread across several interconnected
computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus
adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A
typical combination of hardware and software may be a
general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when
being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that
it carries out the methods described herein.
[0044] The present invention may also be embedded in a computer
program product, which comprises all the features enabling the
implementation of the methods described herein, and which when
loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.
Computer program in the present context means any expression, in
any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended
to cause a system having an information processing capability to
perform a particular function either directly or after either or
both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or
notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
[0045] While the present invention has been described with
reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present
invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the teachings of the present
invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is
intended that the present invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention
will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
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