Method and system for utilizing a/v bridging and a/v bridging extensions to replace display port, hdmi, dvi and/or analog ports on a personal computing system

Abstract

Aspects of a system for utilizing A/V bridging and A/V bridging extensions to replace Display Port and/or analog ports on a computing system may include a LAN subsystem that enables transmission of at least video data from a computing device, such as a computer workstation, to a multimedia monitor coupled to the computing device via an Ethernet interface connector. The transmission may enable rendering of the video data on the multimedia monitor. The computing device may be coupled to a docking station or to a port replicator. The docking station may be coupled to the Ethernet interface connector via an Ethernet connector. The port replicator may be coupled to the Ethernet interface connector via an Ethernet connector. The LAN subsystem may enable access to the Ethernet interface connector to enable transmission and generation of line encoded bits based on the video data via the Ethernet interface connector.

1 . A method for communicating data in a data communication system, the method comprising: transmitting at least video data from a computing device to a multimedia monitor coupled to said computing device via an Ethernet interface connector, wherein said transmitting enables rendering of said at least said video data on said multimedia monitor. 
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said computing device is coupled to a docking station or to a port replicator. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said docking station is coupled to said Ethernet interface connector. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said port replicator is coupled to said Ethernet interface connector. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising accessing said Ethernet interface connector to enable said transmitting. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , comprising generating line encoded bits based on said at least said video data. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , comprising transmitting said line encoded bits via said Ethernet interface connector. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least said video data is encapsulated in one or more Ethernet frames. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of said one or more Ethernet frames encapsulates said video data is encapsulated in one or more of the following: a Display Port mini-packet, a high definition multimedia interface frame and a digital video interface frame. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting utilizes A/V Bridging capabilities. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least video data is one of: uncompressed and unencrypted, uncompressed and encrypted, compressed and unencrypted, or compressed and encrypted. 
   
   
       12 . A system for communicating data in a data communication system, the system comprising: one or more circuits that enable transmission of at least video data from a computing device to a multimedia monitor coupled to said computing device via an Ethernet interface connector, wherein said transmission enables rendering of said at least said video data on said multimedia monitor. 
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said computing device is coupled to a docking station or to a port replicator. 
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said docking station is coupled to said Ethernet interface connector. 
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said port replicator is coupled to said Ethernet interface connector. 
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits enable access to said Ethernet interface connector to enable said transmission. 
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein said one or more circuits enable generation of line encoded bits based on said at least said video data. 
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein said one or more circuits enable transmission of said line encoded bits via said Ethernet interface connector. 
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least said video data is encapsulated in one or more Ethernet frames. 
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of said one or more Ethernet frames encapsulates said video data is encapsulated in one or more of the following: a Display Port mini-packet, a high definition multimedia interface frame and a digital video interface frame. 
   
   
       21 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said transmitting utilizes A/V Bridging capabilities. 
   
   
       22 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least video data is one of: uncompressed and unencrypted, uncompressed and encrypted, compressed and unencrypted, or compressed and encrypted. 
   
   
       23 . A method for communicating data in a data communication system, the method comprising: utilizing AV bridging capabilities to enable the selective transmission of video and/or data streams via one or both of: a locally-attached device and a network device. 
   
   
       24 . A system for communicating data in a data communication system, the system comprising: one or more circuits that utilize AV bridging capabilities to enable the selective transmission of video and/or data streams via one or both of: a locally-attached device and a network device.