Communication system for sending data of dissimilar type and size across channels formed within a locally synchronized bus

摘要

A communication system, network interface and communication port is provided that includes a media local bus. The local bus is connected between a controller and one or more multimedia devices located within a node of the communication system. The controller periodically broadcasts addressing signals to the source devices to synchronize data transmission from those devices according to those addresses. Source devices will thereafter transmit a command which signifies the type of data being transmitted from that source device within the address channel. The channel is maintained and data is transmitted until the next address is sent from the controller. Each channel can be set up in a customized fashion to add flexibility in channel length and data types being transferred throughout the local bus without having to assign fixed and regimented time slots for those data types and for each device connected to the local bus. According to an alternative communication methodology, time slots can be dedicated to a particular data type. The local bus includes a signal line and one or more data lines. The data lines are used to send the time slots of data and the signal line is used to send the sync signal as well as one or more command signals per frame. The command signal corresponds to the beginning of a time slot and is used to signify a start of packet or a continuation of a packet for packetized data corresponding to that time slot. The sync signal and/or command signal can be as small as a single bit pulse, where the sync byte and command byte are contained within data info