Communication system and method for sending asynchronous data and/or isochronous streaming data across a synchronous network within a frame segment using a coding violation to signify at least the beginning of a data transfer

摘要

A communication system, network interface, and communication port is provided for interconnecting a network of multimedia devices. The multimedia devices can send streaming and/or non-streaming data across the network. The network accommodates all such types of data and assigns data types to time slots or frame segments within each frame to ensure streaming data maintains its temporal relationship at the receiver consistent with the transmitter. A first coding violation is used to indicate the beginning of asynchronous or isochronous data placed within a segment reserved for such data. A second coding violation within the data stream may also be used to signify the end of the isochronous or asynchronous message or data transfer within that segment. Alternatively, a message length code may be placed within the first coding violation to signify how many valid packets of data will follow in lieu of, for example, using a second coding violation within the data stream sometime after the first coding violation.