Patent ID: 7145872

Claim:
A method for managing system resources required for communication between a source device and a sink device in a network system in which a digital interface is used for connection between the source device and the sink device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) allocating to the source device system resources presently required for commencement of communication between the source device and the sink device, wherein the allocating is performed by the sink device; (b) monitoring at the source device a format of the output bit stream of the source device while communications are being maintained between the source device and the sink device to determine if requirements for the system resources have changed; (c) allocating at the source device additional system resources to the source device or releasing at the source device redundant system resources from the source device, if it is determined as a result of monitoring that the requirements for the system resources have changed; and (d) detecting at the sink device final system resources allocated for communication between the source device and the sink device and releasing at the sink device the detected final system resources, when communication between the source device and the sink device is terminated.