Audio Video Bridging /Time Sensitive Networking

Reliability

The precise timing of AVB/TSN enables synchronization of devices, allowing for deterministic, high-bandwidth, high-efficiency network usage. Using timing synchronization, an AVB/TSN-based system guarantees real-time delivery of data, with extremely low latency. This factor alone enables the development of time-sensitive control applications. Additionally, it guarantees an assured Quality of Service (QoS) for audio/video traffic, because audio video bridging sets aside up to 75% of bandwidth reservation on any given connection for time-critical data.

Simplicity

AVB/TSN enables system-level cost reduction, because it allows use of existing network cable and connectors already in place, and can also interoperate with legacy network traffic. Many different types of data, including media, control, and legacy traffic communications, can travel on the same inherently low-cost unshielded twisted pair (UTP) technology. Additionally, the robust standards of AVB/TSN support legacy protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, FTP, HTTP, etc.), and ultimately make any future scaling for network expansion simple and seamless.

Flexibility

AVB/TSN provides the ability to efficiently share media and data from a single source, or talker, with multiple receiving devices, or listeners. Additionally, the standards allow flexibility in network topologies, including star and star/tree configurations, just like conventional networks.

DDC uses Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) in conjunction with a processor for processing power, which offers many distinct advantages over the alternatives.

ASIC / Standard Chip

An ASIC presents some limitations in supporting AVB processing capabilities. First, not many exist. This solution of “hardening” functionality into an ASIC carries risks, since the AVB/TSN arena continues to exhibit rapid growth. Also, peripheral functions that normally surround AVB/TSN applications have proven ripe with activity. Full integration requires a complete up-front design effort to properly include all the needed functionality, which will become an issue as the AVB/TSN standards continue to evolve. However, this solution can ensure a low latency for data streams, hardware acceleration, and low-cost production. Additionally, while you can implement a high number of channels, a standard ASIC chip may not support new features, protocols, codecs, or surrounding support functions for audio or video. Bottom line, a standard chip carries the danger of quickly growing obsolete.

Processor Only

For the processor-only solution, any design will face limitations in support for current and future codecs and other functions, depending on the processor capability and performance. In addition, the design cannot achieve the same hardware-accelerated performance or low latency of other solutions, nor the ability to incorporate an extensible number of channels and peripherals. Finally, bandwidth limitations of this alternative will severely limit many video solutions.

FPGA with Processor

This solution gives you the best of both worlds. An FPGA with embedded processor offers the most robust solution for AVB/TSN systems. Different flavor FPGAs exist with same physical package size and pins, making them interchangeable. And, because of the flexibility of VHDL programming, the technology easily ports to suitably-sized FPGAs, enabling this solution to offer obsolescence protection and extensive support for current and future codecs, as well as other peripherals. Other key benefits include the ability to upgrade image and audio processing capability, high integration with limited impact, low latency, low cost, and the ability to upgrade in the field. Additionally, this design option can provide for robust audio and video support, an extensive number of channels, and extensive hardware acceleration.