Message Passing Framework for Audio/Video Streaming in a Topology of Devices

Abstract

Resources may be managed in a topology for audio/video streaming. The topology includes audio/video sources and sinks and intervening branch devices. Messages between these sources, sinks, and branch devices may be used for resource management.

1 . A method comprising:
 enabling any device in a topology of devices, including devices that source and sink video data, to take an action specified in a message depending on a type indicator within the message.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including enabling each device in the topology that receives a message sent from a source to a sink to take action depending on the nature of the indicator in the message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  including determining whether the message indicator indicates actions are done on the way to the destination and, if so, performing any actions required upon receipt of the message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  including determining whether the message indicator indicates actions are performed only on the acknowledgement from the ultimate destination and, if so, only performing any actions upon receipt of an acknowledgment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  including determining whether the message's indicator indicates only the destination performs actions and, if so, determining if the receiving device is the destination and, if so, and only if so, performing the action in the message. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  including, if the device is not the destination of the message, forwarding the message along a path to the destination. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  including, upon completion of an action in the message, providing an acknowledgement back to the source. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  including implementing path training in response to a message that requires action upon receipt of the message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  including implementing path training using a message which requires action only upon receipt of the acknowledgement from the destination of the message. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  including receiving messages which require action by devices within the topology of devices that source and sink audio and video data depending on the type of message and whether or not the device is the destination of the message. 
     
     
         11 . A computer readable medium storing instructions for execution by a processor in a device in a topology of devices including a source and sink of video data to:
 receive a message with an action to be performed;   determine the message type; and   based on the message type, perform an action specified in the message.   
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to determine whether the message type is one in which actions are to be done on the way to the destination and, if so, perform any actions required upon receipt of the message. 
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to determine whether the message is of the type in which actions are performed only on the acknowledgement from the ultimate destination and, if so, only perform any actions upon receipt of an acknowledgement. 
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to determine whether the message's type is one in which only the destination performs actions and, if so, determine if the receiving device is the destination and, if so, and only if so, performing the action indicated in the message. 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 14  further storing instructions to forward the message along a path to the destination if the device is not the destination of the message. 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to provide an acknowledgement back to the source upon completion of an action indicated in the message. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to implement path training in response to a message that requires action upon receipt of the message. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to implement path training using a message that requires action only upon receipt of an acknowledgement from the destination of the message. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to receive messages which require action by devices within the topology of devices that source and sink video data depending on the type of message and whether or not the receiving device is the destination of the message. 
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to enable messages that can be acted upon by any device along the path of the message between the source and the destination of the message. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a receiver to receive messages from a source in a topology of devices, said source to source video data to a sink in the topology;   a transmitter to transmit video data toward the sink; and   a unit to receive a message from a source with an action to be performed, determine the message type, determine whether to perform an action specified in the message upon receipt of the message, upon receipt of an acknowledgement from the destination of the message, or to not perform the action at all.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said unit to determine whether the message type is one in which actions are to be done on the way to the destination and, if so, perform the action in the message upon receipt of the message. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said unit to determine whether the message is of the type in which actions are to be performed only on the acknowledgement from the ultimate destination and, if so, only perform the actions upon receipt of the acknowledgement. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said unit to determine whether the message's type is one in which only the destination of the message performs the action and, if so, determine if the apparatus is the destination and, if so, and only if so, perform the action indicated in the message.