Sink device addressing mechanism

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method to assign unique addresses to each sink device in a content network based on port numbers of a source and branch devices in the network. Sink devices connected to a port on the source or the branch devices are assigned a corresponding port number as a sink address. Branch devices connected to a port on the source or higher level branch devices have a corresponding port number prepended to the previously assigned sink addresses.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising assigning unique addresses by source devices to each sink device in a content network based on port numbers of a source and branch devices in the network, wherein sink devices connected to a port on the source or the branch devices are assigned a corresponding port number as a sink address, and wherein branch devices connected to a port on the source or higher level branch devices have a corresponding port number added to the previously assigned sink addresses. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning of unique addresses includes
 requesting lower level topology data for a port if the port is connected to a branch device, wherein the topology data includes one or more sink addresses for lower level sink devices; and   receiving the one or more lower level sink addresses in response to the requesting.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sink addresses identify network topology details at the source. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 detecting a device being hot plugged into the network; and   adding sink addresses to the source for new sink devices added to the network.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the adding includes
 assigning a corresponding port number as a sink address if the hot plugged device is a sink device; and   if the sink device is connected to a branch device, adding associated port number of any higher level branch devices and the source device thereto.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the adding includes
 requesting lower level topology data if the hot plugged device is a branch device;   receiving one or more lower level sink addresses in response to the requesting; and   adding associated port number of any higher level branch devices and the source device thereto.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 detecting a device being hot unplugged from the network; and   updating the sink addresses maintained by the source to no longer use all sink addresses associated with the removed device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when a hot plug or unplug event occurs the sink addresses for sink devices not associated with hot plug or unplug event remain same. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning of unique addresses by source devices enables multiple sink devices to simultaneously exist in the network with each sink device capable of presenting same or different content. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning of unique addresses by source devices enables multiple source devices to simultaneously exist in the network with each source device having their own independent sink addresses, and wherein the multiple source devices are capable of transmitting content to same sink devices. 
     
     
         11 . A machine-accessible medium comprising content, which, when executed by a machine causes the machine to:
 request topology data from a branch device connected to a port, wherein the topology data includes sink addresses for sink devices associated with the branch device;   prepend port number to the topology data received from the branch device; and   assign port number as sink address for a sink device connected to a port.   
     
     
         12 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 11 , wherein the content further causes the machine to
 detect a hot plug event on a port; and   add appropriate sink addresses.   
     
     
         13 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 12 , wherein the content causing the machine to add assigns hot plug port number as a sink address if the hot plug event was addition of a sink device. 
     
     
         14 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 12 , wherein the content causing the machine to add
 requests lower level topology data if the hot plug event was addition of a branch device; and   prepends hot plug port number to the lower level topology received from the branch device.   
     
     
         15 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 11 , wherein the content her causes the machine to detect a hot unplug event on a port; and
 remove sink addresses associated with the hot unplug port.   
     
     
         16 . The machine-accessible medium of  claim 1 , wherein the machine-accessible medium is located in a DisplayPort compliant device. 
     
     
         17 . An audio/video dissemination network, comprising
 a content source to provide content;   one or more branch devices to route the content;   one or more sink devices to present the content; and   a plurality of cables to connect the content source, the branch devices and the sink devices, wherein sink devices connected to a port on the source or the branch devices are assigned a corresponding port number as a sink address, and wherein branch devices connected to a port on the source or higher level branch devices have a corresponding port number prepended to the previously assigned sink addresses, wherein the unique sink addresses maintained by the content source define network topology.   
     
     
         18 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the source and the branch devices can
 request topology data from a branch device connected to a port, wherein the topology data includes sink addresses for sink devices associated with the branch device;   prepend port number to the topology data received from the branch device; and   assign port number as sink address for a sink device connected to a port.   
     
     
         19 . The network of  claim 18 , wherein the source and the branch devices can further detect a hot plug event on a port;
 add appropriate sink addresses in response to the hot plug event;   detect a hot unplug event on a port; and   remove sink addresses associated with the hot unplug port.   
     
     
         20 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the cables include a main link to transmit the content and an auxiliary channel to provide communications between devices.