Method and System for Proxy A/V Bridging on an Ethernet Switch

Abstract

Aspects of a system for proxy NV bridging on an Ethernet switch may include an AV switch enables reception of incoming PDUs from a legacy device via an AV block network, wherein each incoming PDU contains an AV stream identifier (which consists of a destination address and may also consist of a traffic class designation and/or higher level protocol identifiers). The destination address may identify a destination AV device within the AV block network. The AV switch may enable generation of outgoing PDUs by inserting or modifying a corresponding traffic class designation within each of the incoming PDUs. The AV switch may enable transmission using a specific traffic shaping process of each of the outgoing PDUs to a destination AV device within the AV block network based on the AV stream identifier and corresponding QoS parameters.

1 . A method for communicating data, the method comprising:
 receiving at least one incoming protocol data unit via a network, wherein each of said at least one incoming protocol data unit comprises a destination address;   generating a corresponding at least one outgoing protocol data unit by inserting a traffic class designation within each of said at least one incoming protocol data unit; and   transmitting said corresponding at least one outgoing protocol data unit based on said destination address, said inserted traffic class designation and/or higher layer protocol identifiers.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising generating said traffic class designation based on a received reservation message. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , comprising transmitting said received reservation message. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising generating quality of service descriptors based on said received at least one incoming protocol data unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising estimating timing jitter and/or bandwidth in said received at least one incoming protocol data unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , comprising adjusting said generated quality of service descriptors based on said estimated timing jitter and/or bandwidth. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising generating a reservation message based on said generated quality of service descriptors. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising transmitting said generated reservation message. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , comprising generating said traffic class designation based on said generated reservation message. 
     
     
         10 . A system for communicating data, the system comprising:
 one or more circuits that enable reception of at least one incoming protocol data unit via a network, wherein each of said at least one incoming protocol data unit comprises a stream identifier;   said one or more circuits enable generation of a corresponding at least one outgoing protocol data unit by inserting a traffic class designation within each of said at least one incoming protocol data unit; and   said one or more circuits enable transmission of said corresponding at least one outgoing protocol data unit based on said stream identifier and/or said inserted traffic class designation.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said one or more circuits enable generation of said traffic class designation based on a received reservation message. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits enable transmission of said received reservation message. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said one or more circuits enable generation of quality of service descriptors based on said received at least one incoming protocol data unit. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits enable estimation of timing jitter and/or bandwidth in said received at least one incoming protocol data unit. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits enable adjustment of said generated quality of service descriptors based on said estimated timing jitter and/or bandwidth. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said one or more circuits enable generation of a reservation message based on said generated quality of service descriptors. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein said one or more circuits enable transmission of said generated reservation message. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein said one or more circuits enable generation of said traffic class designation based on said generated reservation message. 
     
     
         19 . A method for communicating data, the method comprising:
 receiving a link discovery message via a port;   labeling said port based on the contents of said received link discovery message; and   determining whether a communicating device may utilize AV Bridging services for transmitting and/or receiving protocol data units via said port based on said labeling.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said communicating device is enabled to utilize said AV Bridging services via said port when said link discovery message comprises a time-synchronization-enabled attribute and an AV-enabled attribute. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled)