Patent ID: 6452935
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
In a network comprising a plurality of electronic audio/video devices coupled to a network bus, a method for allocating bus bandwidth capacity on said network bus, said method comprising the steps of:a) receiving a request to allocate a channel between a source device and a sink device in said network; b) determining an amount of bus bandwidth capacity required for said channel, wherein said bus bandwidth capacity required for said channel is specified by said source device; c) comparing available bus bandwidth capacity of said network bus with said bus bandwidth capacity required to establish said channel; and d) provided said available bus bandwidth capacity is less than said bus bandwidth capacity required to establish said channel, initiating a process of voluntary load shedding, said process of voluntary load shedding comprising: d1) sending a query to devices which have been allocated channels, each allocated channel having a respective allocated bus bandwidth, wherein responsive to said query each of said devices determines whether it is using its respective allocated bus bandwidth; d2) receiving a response to said query from a device to which a channel had been allocated, said response providing authorization to reduce bus bandwidth allocated to said device; and d3) reducing bus bandwidth allocated to said device, wherein said channel allocated to said device remains allocated but with a reduced bus bandwidth.