TRANSPORT PROTOCOL
The underlying network services of AVB/TSN supports various upper layer transport protocols. The services can be utilized simultaneously, for example layer 2 and layer 3 transports are able to coexist on the same given network.
The different AVB/TSN markets utilize diverse data transports, IEEE AVTP is one such transport that is used in several markets to encapsulate Audio and Video data. AVTP is optimized for the following:
- Maximize bandwidth usage
- Maintain audio/video coherence regardless of network topology
- Support flexible media clocking
AVTP was never designed to transport media across the country. AVTP was optimized for use in a single venue sized installation. These venues are anything from a whole home audio system or garage band up to a concert hall or large stadium. This allows the protocol to have limited overhead and reduce latency and bandwidth requirements.
Even in a single venue network topology can be amazingly complicated, from stars to daisy chains to loops all of this complexity must be accounted for. AVTP makes use of the lower level AVB protocols to normalize network latency for streams so that audio/video coherence is maintained.
Another area that can be very simple or complex depending on the venue requirements is media clocking. AVTP provides an unlimited number of clock domains if needed or can be configured to synchronize all media on a single clock. This flexibility is provided to support both a simple garage band and the most complex theater or concert hall.
AVTP was designed specifically to make the most of an AVB network and provide the greatest interoperability and maximum performance available from the network. Not all markets plan to utilize AVTP, but for those that choose to adopt it for A/V encapsulation, Avnu includes it in that market’s C&I testing plan.
