Patent ID: 7970924
Filing Date: 2011-06-28
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for use with a system including an Ethernet controller linked via an Ethernet channel to a camera, the camera being an Ethernet device, the camera to be controlled by the controller, wherein each of the controller and camera are Ethernet components, the controller including a controller processor and a controller memory and the camera including a device processor and a device memory, the method for rendering communication between the device and the controller deterministic and comprising the steps of: specifying a communication rule set that specifies a communication regimen between the Ethernet components wherein the regimen specifies transmission of a first Ethernet data packet from a first of the Ethernet components to a second of the Ethernet components when at least a first state of at least one system operating parameter occurs; storing the communication rule set within the memories of each of the first and second Ethernet components; monitoring the at least one operating parameter state; and when the first state of the at least one operating parameter occurs, monitoring packets received by the second Ethernet component and, when the first packet is not received within an expected transmission time taking a picture, storing the picture data in the device memory, and waiting for further instructions from the controller regarding the disposition of the stored picture.