STREAM RESERVATION CLASS CONVERTER

Abstract

There is provided a network device for processing data packets transmitted between nodes of a network, the network device to intercept data packets of a first traffic class transmitted by a first network node and addressed to a second network node, convert the intercepted data packets into data packets of a second traffic class, and transmit the converted data packets to the second network node.

Claims

1. A network device for processing data packets transmitted between nodes of a network, the network device configured to: intercept data packets of a first traffic class transmitted by a first network node and addressed to a second network node, convert the intercepted data packets into data packets of a second traffic class, and transmit the converted data packets to the second network node.

2. The network device of claim 1, further comprising a processor; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable code executable by the processor to intercept the data packets, convert the intercepted data packets, and transmit the converted data packets.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the network is an Audio Video Bridging (AVB) network, wherein the first and second traffic classes are Stream Reservation (SR) classes, and wherein the first traffic class is AVB class A and the second traffic class is a relatively lower AVB traffic class than the first traffic class.

4. The network device of claim 1, wherein the network is a Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) network.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein the second traffic class is lower than the first traffic class.

6. The network device of claim 1, wherein the network device is a bridge device.

7. A network for streaming audio and/or video data, the network comprising: a first network node for generating and transmitting data packets of a first traffic class; a second network node for receiving data packets of a second traffic class; and a network device arranged between the first and second network nodes, the network device configured to: intercept data packets of a first traffic class transmitted by the first network node and addressed to the second network node, convert the intercepted data packets into data packets of a second traffic class, and transmit the converted data packets to the second network node.

8. The network of claim 7, further comprising a network switch, wherein the network device is included in the network switch.

9. The network of claim 7, wherein the network is an automotive network.

10. The network of claim 9, further comprising a head unit of an automotive system, wherein the network device is included in the head unit.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein the network device is included in a network switch of the head unit.

12. The network of claim 7, wherein the network is a closed network containing a fixed number of network switches, the closed network containing less than three network switches.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein the network contains a single network switch.

14. The network of claim 7, further comprising three or more network nodes, wherein the network device forms the only hop or switch or bridge between the first and second network nodes.

15. A method of processing data packets in a network, the method comprising: intercepting data packets of a first traffic class transmitted by a first network node and addressed to a second network node, converting the intercepted data packets into data packets of a second traffic class, and transmitting the converted data packets to the second network node.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the network is an Audio Video Bridging (AVB) network, wherein the first and second traffic classes are Stream Reservation (SR) classes, and the second traffic class is lower than the first traffic class, and wherein the first network class is AVB class A and the second network class is a relatively lower AVB class than the first network class.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the network is a TSN network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention may be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0032] FIG. 2 is a flow chart for an example method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0033] An AVB network may include talker and listener devices constituting nodes of the network. The talker device may transmit traffic class A audio/video packets intended for the listener device. A network device intercepts the data packets, converts them into data packets of a lower traffic class, and forwards them to the listener.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an AVB network 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The network 100 includes a talker device 120 and a listener device 130. The listener device 130 forms an end node of the network 100. A network device 140 which may be implemented as a switch is arranged between the talker device 120 and the listener device 130.

[0035] The talker device 120 may be any suitable device for sending an audio/video stream to the listener device 130 and the listener device 130 may be any suitable device for receiving and playing back the audio/video stream. For example, talker device 120 may be implemented by an in-vehicle computing system, e.g., an infotainment system, and the listener device 130 may be linked to or implemented as part of a speaker device.

[0036] The talker device 120 includes a transmission buffer 121 configured to store the data packets of an audio/video stream, a communication interface 122 to transmit the data packets in the AVB network 100, and a controller 123 to control the transmission of data packets from the buffer 121 via the communication interface 122.

[0037] The listener device 130 includes a reception buffer 131 configured to store data packets received through a communication interface 132, and a processor 133 to process the data packets stored in the buffer 131. For example, the processor 133 may be configured to effect a conversion of the information contained in the data packets into an output audio signal.

[0038] The network device 140 comprises first and second communication interfaces 141 and 142 to receive data packets from the talker device 120 and to transmit data packets to the listener device 130, respectively. Also, the network device 140 comprises a buffer 143 to store data packets received from the talker device 120 and data packets awaiting transmission to the listener device 130. In addition, the network device 140 comprises a processing device 144 configured to process data packets stored in the buffer 143, thereby to change the traffic class of selected ones or all of the data packets in the data buffer 143. For example, the data packets may each comprise a header including a field whose bits define a traffic class. The processing device 144 may be configured to change the bits of that field thereby to change the traffic class from a first class to a second class. The second class may be a “lower” class, i.e. a class defining a higher maximum latency. For example, the first class may be AVB class A, and the second class may be AVB class B or AVB class 64x48k or 64x44.lk. As a result, the data packets stored in the buffer 143 are converted from data packets of a first traffic class into data packets of a second traffic class. Further, the processing device 144 is configured to effect an onward transmission of the converted data packets to the listener device 130.

[0039] In operation of the AVB network 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the talker device 2 schedules a data packet for transmission to the listener device 130 and transmits it via the communication interface 122. The data packet may contain audio and/or video information, and the relevant field in data packet header may be set so as to define AVB traffic class A for that data packet. The data packet is intercepted by the network device 140 and converted into a data packet of a different, lower class. In particular, the network device 140 changes the bits in the relevant field of the intercepted data packet so as to define AVB traffic class B or 64x48k or 64x44.lk. The converted data packet is then forwarded to the listener device 130 which processes the received data packet in accordance with the traffic class defined in the packet header.

[0040] The communication between the various devices of the AVB network 100 may be implemented in accordance with Ethernet AVB protocols. In particular, the communication may be implemented in accordance with IEEE 802.1Qat-2010 for the stream reservation protocol (SRP).

[0041] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method may be performed by a network device arranged in an AVB network between a talker and a listener, such as the network device 140 described in connection with FIG. 1.

[0042] At 210 the method includes receiving a data packet from a talker device in an AVB network. The data packet is intended for a listener device in the AVB network and has an AVB traffic class A. At 220 the method includes converting the data packet received at 210 into a data packet having an AVB class B or 64x48k or 64x44.lk. This is done by changing the control bits in the header of the data packet setting the traffic class. At 230 the method includes transmitting the converted data packet to the listener device for which the data packet was intended. The listener device can then process the received data packet as an AVB class B or 64x48k or 64x44.lk data packet.

[0043] The description of embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Suitable modifications and variations to the embodiments may be performed in light of the above without departing from the scope of protection as determined by the claims.

[0044] In particular, whilst some of the above examples are described in connection with AVB networks, the present invention can also be implemented in TSN networks or other networks having pre-defined different traffic classes, in particular automotive networks. In such networks, the present invention achieves interoperability between nodes or devices requiring or implemented for different traffic classes.