METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING DATA ISOCHRONOUSLY AT A RATE LESS THAN THE ISOCHRONOUS DATA RATE

Abstract: A first station is connectable to a second station for transmitting a predetermined fixed amount of data to the second station over a predetermined time period to achieve a predetermined fixed data transmission rate. The predetermined time period consists of a plurality of constituent time periods. An amount of substantive data, which is less than the predetermined fixed amount of data, is transmitted from the first station to the second station in the predetermined time period by transmitting the substantive data during a portion of the constituent time periods and transmitting "null" data during the remainder of the constituent time periods. Thus, over the predetermined time period, the substantive data is transmitted at an effective rate that is less than the predetermined fixed data transmission rate. The null data may be transmitted interspersed with the substantive data, and the determination of how to intersperse the null data with the substantive data may be according to an interpolation algorithm, such as Bresenham's algorithm.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING DATA ISOCHRONOUSLY AT A RATE LESS THAN THE ISOCHRONOUS DATA RATE Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus tor transmitting αata isochronously and. in particular, to a method and apparatus for transmitting data isochronously at an effective rate that is less than the actual isochronous data rate. Background of the Invention The International Telegraph and Telephone Coπsultive Committee (CCITT) Recommendation H_221 provides a recommendation for the format of line transmission of non-telephone signals. In particular, H.221 recommends a standard frame structure for the transmission of one or more "B- channels", for audiovisual services, in an overall transmission channel. A B-channei, or "Bearer Channel", is a 64 kbits sec channel that carries customer information such as voice-calls, circuit-switched data, or packet-switched data. A B-Channei has a constant, and thus predictable, bandwidth. The H-221 recommendation divides the overall transmission channel into frames, each frame containing eighty 8-bit octets. The bits at a particular bit position of the octets are collectively regarded as a sub-channel of 8 kbit sec. The lower transmission rates of the sub-channeis are suitable for video, data and telematics purposes. The eighth sub-channel (i.e. the bits of the octets at bit position 8; note that H_221 numbers the octet bits from 1 to 8), called the Service Channel, contains eight bits of frame alignment signal ("FAS"), which allows a receiver to synchronize with the 64 kbits sec seπai stream, and eight bits of bit-rate allocation signal ("BAS"), which allows the receiver to determine the capacity and structure of the information transmitted in the channel. Recommendation H_22I is hereby incorporated by reference to provide additional background information regarding the invention disclosed herein. Communications mfoπnation may be transmitted over a Local Area Network ("LAN") or a Wide Area Network ("WAN") in the H.22I frame structure format. Fig. 1 shows a system in which a computing node 42a is conneαed for audio, video, and data exchange over a WAN and with other, perhaps similar, computing nodes (e.g., node 42b). The computing node 42a is connected by an isochronous Ethernet serial physical layer link 47 to an isochronous-capable hub 40. Alternatively, the computing node 42 may be connected to a private branch exchange ("PBX"). The hub PBX 40 is conneαed to a WAN, and backbone connections provide a connection from the hub/PBX 40 to other hubs/PBX's. The inventors have recognized the desirability of transferring information isochronously between subsystems within the computing node 42. Thus, advantage can be taken of the fixed latency and bandwidth that is charaαeristic of isochronous communication. Summary of the Invention A first station is conneαable to a second station for transmitting a predetermined fixed amount of data to the second station over a predetermined time penod to achieve a predetermined fixed data transmission rate The predetermined time penod consists of a plurality of constituent time peπods An amount of substantive data, which is less than the predetermined fixed amount of data, is transmiπeα from the first station to the second station in the predetermined time penod by transmitting the substantive data dunng a portion of the constituent time peπods and transmitting "null" data αuπng the remainder of the constituent time peπods Thus, over the predetermined time penod. the suostantive data is transmitted at an effeαive rate that is less than the predetermined fixed data transmission rate The null data may be transmitted interspersed with the substantive data, and the determination of how to intersperse the null data with the substantive data may be according to an interpolation algorithm, such as Bresenham's algoπthm. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the mvention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed descπption and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment in which the principles of the mvention are utilized. Brief Description of the Figures Fig. 1 illustrates, in block form, a system in which a computmg node is conneαed isochronously to an isochronous capable hub and/or PBX, to other computmg nodes via die hub, and to a WAN Fig. 2 illustrates, in block form, an embodiment of a computmg node which transmits signals isochronously among the sub-systems of the node utilizing the method and apparatus of the present invention. Fig. 3 illustrates an example of an intra-node transmission channel format. Fig. 4 illustrates, in block form, the data interface of the computmg node of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 schematically illustrates the outbound B-channeis interface circuit of the computing node of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the inbound B-channeis interface circuit of the computing node of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 schemaucally illustrates the CPU interface circuit of the computing node of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 graphically illustrates the timing of control signals used to synchronize communication of data between the components of the computmg node of Fig. 2. Detailed Description Fig. 2 illustrates, in block form, an embodiment of a computmg node 42' A user of node 42 may be, for example, one parry to a conference call. Five subsystems (or components) within the computing node 42 handle the interactive communication. The five subsystems are: 1) a translator 45 2) a data interface 46 3) an audio interface 47 4) a video interface 49, and •* • . 5) application software 44. executing in a Windows environment on a CPU The translator 45, which is discussed in more detail below, provides an interface from the isochronous physical layer 47 to the other subsystems in the node. The data interface 46 provides an interface for transfemπg data (which may be, for example, data from a file or data that coσesponds to mouse movements) to and from the application software 44 The audio interface 47 provides an interface for traπsfemng audio data (which may be. for example, audio data to dπve a speaker or audio data received from a microphone) to and from the application software 44 The video interface 48 provides an interface for transfemng video αaia (for example, from a camera and to a display) to and from the application software 44 An iπtra-πoαe transmission channel, for communication between the subsystems of the node 42', is divided into time-division multiplexed ("TDM") frames for transfer of information among the components of the node 42. Fig. 3 shows an example of such an intra-node transmission channel format 10, in which six TDM frames, 12a through I2f, are shown. Each TDM frame is divided into bytes (i.e . "B-channels") Typically, each TDM frame would be divided into a large number of B-channels (e g , ninety-six) For simplicity of explanation, the TDM frames of the mtra-πode transmission channel format 10 are shown as being divided into six B-channels each. For example, TDM frame 12a is shown as being divided into B-channels 14a through I4f. Using an intra-node transmission channel format like the one shown in Fig. 3, a particular type of information (e.g., audio) is transferred within a "logical stream", which is one or more B-channeis at predetermined locations withm the TDM frames. For example, referring sail to Fig. 3, a first logical stream, LOGICAL STREAM 1, is shown as occupying the locations 2 and 3 in the TDM frames, 14a through 14f (i.e., B-channels 14b and 14c in TDM frame 12a and the corresponding locations in TDM frames 12b through 12f). A second logical stream, LOGICAL STREAM 2, is shown as occupying location 5 in the TDM frames, 14a through 14f. The logical streams occupy integral numbers of B- channels. Referring again to Fig. 2, the translator 45 performs two functions, link translation and compilation/dissemination. By link translation, it is meant that the translator 45 translates the isochronous Ethernet seπai physical layer link 47 into identical intra-node physical links 41, 52, 53 The translator 45 receives information structured in an H Z21 format and decodes and disseminates the TDM- framed data to die various "interface" components. Conversely, the translator 45 compiles and encodes information received from the "interface" sub-systems 46, 48, and 49 into an H_221 frame structure. The data interface 46 is shown in block form in Fig. 4. The data interface 46 provides an interface between the ISA bus 49, to which the CPU 44 (not shown in Fig. 4) is conneαed, and the translator 45 The data interface 46 includes separate "interface" circuits (an inbound B-channels interface circuit 1 16, and outbound B-channels interface circuit 1 18, and a CPU interface circuit 120), an "Arbitrate" circuit 122, and a RAM 1 14. The three interface circuits all operate synchronously to a peπodic CLOCK signal (For claπty, the CLOCK signal is not shown in Fig. 4). A raw inbound data stream, formatted in the intra-node TDM frame transmission format, is received from the translator and is written into an inbound buffer 1 14a in the RAM 1 14. From the inbound buffer 1 14a. the CPU 44 can read any logical stream needed by the application program via the CPU interface 120. Similarly, the CPU 44 can wπte into an outbound buffer 1 14b in the RAM 1 14, via the CPU interface circuit 120, any one or more logical streams desired to be transmitted to the isochronous physical layer 47, for eventual transmission over the WAN. As is discussed in more detail below, an arbiter circuit 122 arbitrates access to the RAM 1 14 among the inbound B-channels interface circuit 1 16, the outbound B-channeis interface circuit 1 18, and the CPU interface circuit 120. Each interface circuit controls, independently of the other interface circuits, which locations in the RAM 1 14 it accesses. In particular, within each of the inbound and outbound B-channels interface circuits 1 18, 1 16, are provided inbound buffer address registers: a "starting" address register, an "ending" address register, and a "current" address register. The pairs of starting and ending address registers define the inbound 1 14a and outbound 1 14b buffer boundaries within the RAM 1 14. While the inbound 1 14a and outbound 1 14b buffers need not be defined to be the same size, each must be at least large enough to hold one TDM frame. The CPU 44 initializes the starting and ending address registers at. for example, start-up of the application program. In a particular embodiment, the address registers are mapped into the I/O space of the CPU 44 and are thus initialized by the CPU 44, via the ISA bus, by executing I O instructions. The starting and ending address registers (and, thus, the sizes of the inbound 1 14a and outbound 1 14b buffers) typically are not changed by the application program after being initialized. The current address registers, on the other hand, are dynamic, defining the currently active locations in the RAM 1 14. For example, each time a B-channel of the inbound data stream is written into inbound buffer 114a of the RAM 114, the value in the inbound current address register is updated to d e next available inbound buffer 1 14a location. Similarly, each time a B-channel of the outbound data stream is read from outbound buffer 1 14b of the RAM 114, the value in the outbound current address register is updated to the next outbound buffer 1 14b location to be read. It should be noted that if operation of the inbound interface circuit and die outbound interface circuit are properly coordinated, a single address range in die RAM 1 14 may be used for both the inbound 1 14a and outbound 1 14b buffers. A set of address registers are provided within an address generator in the CPU interface circuit 120. Since the CPU interface circuit both reads from the inbound buffer 1 14a of die RAM 1 14 and writes to the outbound buffer 114b of the RAM 114, die values in the CPU interface circuit 120 starting and ending address registers is reset before each time die CPU 44 accesses die RAM 1 14. The value in the CPU interface circuit 120 current address register is similarly reset The arbiter circuit 122 is now discussed in detail. During one period of the CLOCK signal, only one complete read or write operation can be made to the RAM 114. Thus, all accesses to the RAM 1 14 are channeled dirough the arbiter circuit 122. For example, to write into the RAM 1 14, the inbound B- channels interface circuit 116 provides die data to be written, via a "data" bus, to the arbiter circuit 122. The address at which the data is to be written is provided from the current address register, via an "address" bus, to the arbiter circuit 122. Finally, a "write request" line to die arbiter circuit 122 is asserted. The arbiter circuit 122 presents the ή*t ~ \ and die address to the RAM 1 14, and asserts the "write strobe" to the RAM to cause the data to be written at the requested address The arbiter circuit 122 acknowledges a successful wπte to the inbound B-channels interface circuit 1 16 via an "ack" line. Then. die current address register is modified to have the value of the next available location to be written in the inbound buffer 1 14a in the RAM 1 14. Similarly, to read data from the RAM 1 14, the outbound B-channeis interface circuit 1 I S provides from the current address register to the arbiter circuit 122, via an "address" bus. the address from which die data is to be read, and asserts a "read request" line to the arbiter circuit 122. The arbiter circuit 122 presents die address to die RAM 1 14 and asserts the "read strobe" to die RAM to cause the data to be read from the requested address. The "ack" line to die outbound B-channels inteπace I IS is asseπed. indicating that data read is on the "data" bus. The CPU interface circuit 120, using starting address, ending address, and current address registers, wπtes data to the outbound buffer 1 14b of die RAM 114, and accesses data from the inbound buffer 114a of the RAM 1 14, in a similar fashion. When more than one RAM 1 14 access is attempted at die same time, die aroiter circuit 122 gives the mteπace circuit with the highest pnonty access to the RAM 114 The arbiter circuit 122 rotates the pπoπty of access at each period of die clock (e.g., goes from inbound B-channel interface circuit 1 16, to outbound B-channel interface circuit 1 18, to ISA bus 49, back to inbound B-channel interface circuit 1 16, etc.). Thus, aside from a possible access latency, occurrence of simultaneous memory access attempts are transparent to he interface circuits. Fig. 5 schematically illustrates the outbound B-channeis interface circuit 1 18. Several control signals are used to synchronize operation of the outbound B-channels interface circuit 1 18. The timing of these control signals is discussed below, and die reader is referred to Fig. 8, where die timing of the control signals is graphically illustrated. An outbound address generator 130 compπses die address register group for controlling access to the outbound buffer in the RAM 1 14 by the outbound B-channels interface circuit 1 18. The outbound address generator 130 receives a transmit enable signal, Tm_Enable, from the translator 45. Responsive to assertion of Tm_Enable, the output address generator 130 provides an address of a location in the outbound buffer 114b in the RAM 114 from which to start reading a TDM frame (via die Arbiter circuit 122). The bytes of the TDM frame, read in parallel from he RAM 114, are converted to a seπai data stream by a parallel to serial converter 132. The bits of the seπai data stream are transmitted to the translator 45, responsive to Tm_Enabie and synchronous to die master CLOCK. (See Fig. 8.) By checking the number of Tm_Eπable pulses are received for each Tm_Synch pulse received, an outbound synch check logic circuit 135 checks that the correα number bytes are transmitted for each outbound TDM frame. If not, the outbound synch check logic circuit 135 adjusts the current address pointer in an attempt to resynchroπize outbound B-channel transmission. (It should be noted diat the timing of the Tm_Enable and Trn_Sync signals are not necessaπiy related to die timing of die Rec_Enable and Rec_Sync signals.) A TDM reference counter circuit 134 receives a transmit synchronizanon signal, Tm_Syπch. from the translator 45, which indicates die commencement of transmission of a TDM frame by die translator 45. The TDM reference counter circuit 134 provides a time base to die circuitry of the network front end circuit 100. Specifically, the TDM reference counter 134 increments a value in a TDM reference counter register each time it receives Tm_Synch from the translator 45. Besides being used for time- tagging TDM's in the inbound and outbound data streams, the TDM reference counter circuit 134 may also be used to generate TDM-synchronized interrupts to the CPU 44. Typically, the TDM Reference Counter is used to schedule CPU device dπver interrupt activation for communication between the CPU. via the CPU interface circuit 120, and the arbiter circuit 122. For a CPU device dπver to schedule the next service point the device dπver determines the amount of time (the delta time) to the next service point and adds this time to the current value in ie TDM reference counter register, and loads the sum into a TDM interrupt register. When die value in die TDM reference counter register reaches the value in the TDM interrupt register, the TDM reference counter circuit 134 generates an interrupt signal to the CPU. Finally, the TDM reference counter circuit 134 also provides a master enaole function, controlled by a master enable signal provided from die CPU 44, as an I O mapped signal via the ISA Bus. When enabled by the master enable signai. and upon occurrence of the next Trn Synch puise, the TDM reference counter 134 provides an Inbound Enable signal to the inbound B-channels intertace circuit 1 16 and an Outbound Enable signal to the outbound B-channels interface circuit 1 18, to enable operation of these circuits. Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the inbound B-channels interface circuit 1 16. A seπai to parallel converter 142 receives a TDM frame serially from the translator 45, while a receive enable signai, Rec_Enable, from die translator 45 and synchronous to the master CLOCK. (See Fig. 8) The seπai to parallel converter 142 converts the serial data stream into parallel data words. An inbound address generator 140 comprises the address register group for conn-oiling access to the inbound buffer 114a in the RAM 114 by the inbound B-channels interface circuit 116. The inbound address generator also receives the receive enable signal from the translator 45. The receive enable signal signals the inbound address generator 140 to provide an address of a location in the inbound buffer 1 14a in the RAM 114 to which to wπte (via the Arbiter circuit 122) the parallel data words. By checking the number of Rcv_Enable pulses received for each Rec_Synch pulse received, an mbound synch check logic circuit 143 checks that the correα number of bytes are received for each inbound TDM frame. If not, the inbound synch check logic circuit 143 adjusts die current address pointer in an attempt to resynchronize inbound B-channel reception. Fig. 7 schematically illustrates the CPU interface circuit 120. An outbound FIFO 150 and an inbound FIFO 152 are each two bytes deep. An address generator 154 compπses the address register group for controlling access to the inbound 114a and outbound 114b buffers in the RAM 114. An "offset to next TDM frame" is set to equal the number of B-channeis from the end of die portion of the logical stream in one TDM frame to the beginning of die portion of the logical stream in e next TDM frame. To wπte a particular logical stream from the RAM 114, after setting die values of die starting and ending address registers in die address generator 154, the CPU 44 sets the current address register to the address of location in the outbound buffer 1 14b which is to hold die initial (first) B-Chaπnel of the logical stream to be written; and the CPU 44 sets the "number of B-channels in logical stream" register to the size (number of B-Channels) of the logical stream. The number of B-channels transferred from the CPU 44 to the outbound buffer 1 14b via the outbound FIFO 150 in the CPU interface circuit 120 is equal to the number in the "total bytes to consider" register. The CPU 44 initializes diis register to hold the logical stream size multiplied by the number of TDM frames to process. For example, to wπte a logical stream which occupies six B-Channels per TDM frame, across 160 TDM frames, the CPU 44 would initialize the "total bytes to consider" register to 960. The CPU wπtes data to die outbound FIFO 150, and the address generator 154 generates the proper control signals to wπte the B-channels to the RAM 1 14, via the arbiter 122. Flow control is provided via die ISA Bus Ready line. Since no polling is required, a stπng I/O or other high speed transfer technique can be used. For a read operation, die CPU 44 similarly sets the addresses, offset, number of B-channels and bytes to consider in die CPU interface circuit 120. The CPU interface circuit 120 begins die TDM frame read responsive to a read operation being indicated by die CPU 44. If die first B-channels from the TDM frame are not available when the read operation is indicated, dien flow control is provided via die ISA Bus Ready line. As with writing to the RAM 114, stπng I/O or other high speed transfer technique may be used. Fractional Logical Streams As discussed above, the H_221 recommendation defines how an overall transmission channel may be divided into frames, with each frame containing eighty 8-bit oαets. A sub-channel has 1/8 die capacity of a B-channel and, over the network, fracnonal B-channel capacities are carried in sub-channels of H_221- formatted frames. However, as discussed in the Background, it is desirable to conneα the components of the node isochronously. Thus, across diese isochronous connections, fractional capacities of substantive data bytes are earned in the intra-node transmission format as whole byte streams, with "null bytes" inserted to "fill out" the channel's capacity. Fo. example, a 1/8 capacity channel has seven null bytes for every one substannve data byte. To indicate which bytes are null, each byte has associated witii it a ninth "null flag" bit. Thus, each of the intra-node parallel links (in-bound B-channels interface 1 16 to arbiter 122; outbound B-channels interface 118 to arbiter 122; CPU interface circuit to arbiter 122; and arbiter 122 to RAM 114) are nine-bits wide. Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, null bytes are transmitted to the inbound B-channels interface circuit 116, from the translator 45, with die aid of a Rec_Null signal. In particular, if die Rec_Null signal is asserted as the serial to parallel converter 142 receives a data byte (as indicated by Rec_Enable being asserted), die serial to parallel converter 142 sets the ninth "null byte" flag in die data byte as it is being written into the inbound buffer 1 14a in die RAM 114. In this case, die 8-bit data portion of the received data byte is "don't care". Otherwise, if the Rec_Null signai is not asserted as die serial to parallel converter 142 receives a data byte (as indicated by Rec_Enable being asserted), die serial to parallel converter 142 clean the ninth "null byte" flag in the data byte as it is being written into the inbound buffer 114a in the RAM 114. In this case, the 8-bit data portion of the received data byte is a substantive data byte. Similarly, refemng to Figs. 5 and S, null bytes are transmiπed from the outbound B-channels interface circuit 1 16, to the translator 45, with the aid of a Tm_Null signal. In particular, if the ninth "null byte" flag of a byte to be transmitted from the outbound buffer 1 14b is set, the parallel to serial converter 132 asserts the Tm_Null signal as it transmits the null data byte to the translator 45 The data byte seπally transmiπed to the translator 45 is "don't care" Otherwise, if the ninth "null byte" flag is not set, the parallel to seπai converter deasserts Tm_Null as the parallel to senal convener 132 transmits a data byte (as indicated by Tm_Enable being asserted) In this case, the data bvte senaily traπsmiπed to the translator is a substantive data byte Refemng again to Fig. 7, an in-null processing circuit 156 widun die CPU interiace circuit 120 discards inbound null bytes read from die inbound buffer 1 14a so mat die null bytes are never transferred to the CPU 44 Likewise, die CPU interface circuit 120 inserts null bytes into die outbound FIFO 150 so dial null bytes (as indicated by die πindi "null" flag bit being set) are transferred to, and wππen into, the outbound buffer 114b. Thus, while he mbound B-channel transfer rate is a funαion of die source of the B-channel, the CPU 44 does have direα control over the outbound, effeαive, rate of substantive data transmission. For example, for a case in which a logical stream of fraαional B-channels is wππen from the CPU 44 to die RAM 1 14, via the CPU interface circuit 120 and die arbiter 122, the CPU 44 wπtes die complete B-channels, but some of the bytes of the B-channels are designated as being "null" The CPU may designate a particular byte as bemg null, for example, by outputπng the byte from die CPU 44 at a particular I O locanon different from die location at which a non-null byte is output. This causes the null flag bit associated widi the byte to be set. Again, he null bytes have a "don't care" data value (and, in fact, the data value is indeterminate), but the CPU interface sets the mndi-bit null flag such that the byte transferred to, and wππen into, the RAM 1 14 is designated as null. Alternately, when substannve bytes are transferred to, and wππen into the RAM 1 14, die CPU interface circuit 120 clears die ninth-bit null flag such that the byte wππen into the RAM 1 14 is designated as substantive (i.e. non-null) When a logical stream of fracnonal B-channels is transferred from the CPU 44 to the RAM 1 14, via the CPU interface 120 and die arbiter 122, the value in die "total bytes to consider" register is die total capacity of the B-channeis in the requested logical stream, while the value in the "total bytes valid" register is the number of non-null bytes. As discussed above, the value in the "total bytes to consider" register is wππen by the CPU 44 before a CPU transfer operation. In particular, the value wππen would be calculated by multiplying the number of B-channels in the logical stream by the number of TDM frames to transfer. The value in the "total bytes valid" register is established by die CPU interface 120 dunng a CPU transfer operation. For a read operation, the CPU also writes a value into the "total bytes to consider" register that is die total capacity of the B-channels in the to-be transferred logical stream. However, the "In Null Processing" circuit in die CPU interface 120 discards die null bytes before passing ώem to the inbound FIFO. After the transfer, die value m the "total bytes valid" register indicates die total number of non- null bytes transferred. The CPU 44 then discards die last "total bytes to consider" minus "total bytes valid" which it read from die CPU interface 120. If the CPU 44 continues to read after all of the valid bytes have been transferred, and even after the number of bytes to consider has been exhausted, then the CPU interface passes indeterminate data to the CPU, but the ISA bus will not hang. Likewise, if die CPU 44 continues to wπte even after the number of bytes to consider has been exhausted, then the extra data is discarded, but the ISA bus will not hang. To setup a fraαional out-bound rate, it must first be determined what is the total capacity of the logical stream in the H_221-formaπed frame. (It simplifies the process of adding capacities to employ a common denominator). The following three examples illustrate the algoπthm for determining the total capacity of three different logical streams in an H Z21-formaπed frame: 1. Two B-Chaππel call widi FAS/BAS on bodi channels with 16 kbit/Sec audio. The totai video capacity is ((2*(4/40))+((5+7)-(5/40))) = 68/40 or 1.7 B-Channels. 2. Six B-Channel call with FAS BAS on all channels and 56 kbit Sec audio. Note that the Service Channel in the initial B-Channei is used for video. The total video capacity is ((6*(4/40))+{5 *, 7"(5/40))) = 199/40 or 4.975 B-Channels. 3. HO call with 56 kbit Sec audio and Low Speed Data (LSD) m the Service Channel. The total data channel capacity is 4/40 or 0.1 B-Channels. Once the out-bound rate is known, it can be determined which bytes are to be indicated as "null". Now, an algoπthm is presented which may be used to determine which bytes of the logical stream are to be indicated as null. The algorithm employs a set of "C" code register variables. Determining which bytes are to be null is basically an interpolation problem. For example, in computer graphics, interpolation is used to determine which pixels on the display to illuminate to display a smooth line. The Bresenham algorithm, used to solve die smooth line problem, is also used by the CPU to determine which of the transferred bytes are to be indicated as null. It is important to "smooth out" die insertion of null bytes in the logical stream in order to minimize latency and required buffering in die translator 45. The Bresenham algorithm is particularly useful in this application because it is not subjeα to rounding errors. Rounding errors cannot be tolerated because the translator 45 compilation must result in an exaα multiple of B-channels. It should be noted that the rates in the three examples are first expressed as a ratio: 68/40, 199/40, and 4/40. To execute the algorithm, the rate ratio is designated as "X/Y" and die out-bound null registers are set up as follows: 1. Determine the total number of whole B-Channeis needed. BChanNum^X/Y. If ((BChanNum*Y)<X) BChanNum-s→. 2. Make Y>= X. Y-BChaπNum*Y. 3. Setup Bresenham: a) Error - 2"X, b) Minor - 2*X - 2*Y, c) Major = 2*X. Note that Major is always positive and Minor is zero or negative. When X/Y is a whole number, operation falls back to the whole B-Channel case because "Minor" is zero and data values are always written. For each out-bound buffer write, do the following: if Error > 0 { Output data value. Error = Error + Minor. } else { Output value and indicate as null. Error = Error + ■ Major } It should be understood thai various alternatives to the embodiments of die invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended diat the following claims define the scope of the invention and diat methods and apparatus within the scope of diese claims and their equivalents be covered diereby.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS 1. In a system wherein a first station is connectable to a second station for transmiπing a predetermined fixed amount of data to die second station over a predetermined time penod to achieve a predetermined fixed data transmission rate, the predetermined time penod consisting of a plurality of constituent time peπods, a method for transmiπing an amount of substantive data, which is less than the predetermined fixed amount of data, from the first station to the second station in the predetermined time penod, comprising: a. transmitting the substannve data dunng a portion of the constituent time peπods; and b. transmiπing "null" data dunng the remainder of the constituent time peπods whereby, over the predαeπnmed time penod. die substantive data is transmmed at an effeαive rate that is less than the predetermined fixed data transmission rate. 2. The method of claim 1, and further compπsing the step of first determining the number of time peπods dunng which null data must be transmmed such that all of the substantive data is transmmed ana the predetermined fixed data transmission rate is achieved. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the constituent time peπods dunng which die null data is transmmed are mierspersed with the consnment tune peπods dunng which substannve data is transmmed. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determination of how to intersperse the consnment tune peπods of null data transmission with the time peπods of substannve data transmission is according to an interpolation algoπthm. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the interpolation algoπthm is Bresenham 's algoπthm. 6. In a first station connectable to a second station for transmitting a predetermined fixed amount of data to the second station over a predetermined time penod to achieve a predetermined fixed data transmission rare, the predetermined tune penod consisting of a plurality of consnment time peπods, an apparatus for transmitting an amount of substantive data, which is less than the predetermined fixed amount of data, from the first station to die second stanon in the predetermined tune penod, compπsmg: a. means for transmitting the substannve data dunng a portion of the constituent time penods; and b. means for transmitting "null" data during the remainder of the constituent time penods whereby, over the predetermined time penod, die substantive data is transmmed at an effeαive rate that is less than the predetermined fixed data transmission rate. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, and further compπsmg means for first determining the number of time peπods dunng which null data must be transmitted such that all of the substantive data is transmmed and die fixed predetermined data rate is achieved. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the constituent time peπods during which the null data is transmiπed are interspersed with the constituent time periods during which substantive data is transmined 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determination of how to intersperse the constituent time periods of null data transmission with die time periods of substantive data transmission is according to an interpolation algorithm. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein die interpolation algoridira is Bresenham' s algorithm.

Inventors: LANDGUTH MARK, LANDGUTH, MARK
Applicants: NAT SEMICONDUCTOR CORP, NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H04J3
IPC codes: H04J3, H04L1, H04L12