Bi-directional digital interface for video and audio (DIVA)

A communication system, comprising:na first node;a second node;a serial communication link between the first node and the second node, configured to transmit digital video data and an embedded clock signal from the first node to the second node over one or more video channels of the link, the embedded clock signal being embedded in the video data; anda high-bandwidth, bi-directional hybrid link between the first node and the second node wherein the hybrid link is a non-TMDS link, the hybrid link including one or more sub-channels for transmission of data;wherein the first node and the second node are configured to transmit at least a first stream of data to the other through a hybrid channel over the one or more sub-channels of the hybrid link; andwherein the hybrid link is configured to deliver a reference clock for the serial communication link, the hybrid link to switch from transmission of the reference clock to transmission of data via the one or more sub-channels including transmission of the first stream of data upon detection of an initial lock of the serial communication link, wherein the initial lock of the serial communication link is aided by the reference clock delivered over the hybrid link.

A communication node configured to be coupled to a serial communication link having at least one video channel and to be coupled to a high-bandwidth bi-directional hybrid link having at least one sub-channel, the communication node comprising:nan input coupled to receive video data and an embedded clock signal or signals from a video system via the serial communication link;a hybrid channel interface coupled to receive and transmit user and application data to and from a user and application sub-system and to receive a reference clock signal;video outputs configured to be coupled to the serial communication link, wherein the embedded clock signal is embedded with video data in the serial communication link; andcircuitry coupled between the outputs and each said input and interface, and configured to generate video data and user and application data, wherein the video data is transmitted through the serial communication link, and the user and application data is transmitted through a general purpose data channel in the hybrid link;wherein the communication node is configured to use the reference clock to aid in obtaining a lock on the serial communication link, and wherein, upon detecting the lock on the serial communication link, the hybrid channel interface is to switch from reception of the reference clock signal to receiving a reference clock signal to receiving and transmitting the user and application data via the hybrid link.

A communication node configured to be coupled to a serial communication link having at least one video channel and a high-bandwidth, bi-directional hybrid channel having at least one sub-channel, the communication node comprising:nan input configured to be coupled to the serial communication link, to receive video data and an embedded clock signal or signals, the embedded clock signal or signals being embedded in the video data;a hybrid channel interface coupled to receive and transmit user and application data to and from user and application sub-systems and to receive a reference clock signal;a video output for asserting video data received from the serial communication link; andcircuitry, coupled between said input and each said interface and video output, and configured to recover the embedded clock from the video data,wherein the received video data is asserted to the video output, and the user and application data is transmitted through a general purpose data channel in the hybrid link;wherein the communication node is configured to use the reference clock to aid in obtaining a lock on the serial communication link, and wherein, upon detecting the lock on the serial communication link, the hybrid channel interface is to switch from reception of the reference clock signal to receiving and transmitting user and application data via the hybrid link.

In a communication system, a method of communication comprising:ntransmitting digital video data and an embedded clock signal from a first node to a second node over one or more video channels of a serial communication link, the embedded clock signal being embedded in the video data;transmitting a reference clock for the serial communication link over a hybrid link from the first node to the second node;detecting a lock on the serial communication link by the second node;switching the hybrid link from the transmission of the reference clock to transmission via one or more sub-channels of a hybrid channel in response to the detecting of the lock on the serial communication link;transmitting at least one stream of supporting data between the first node and the second node over a sub-channel of the one or more sub-channels of the hybrid channel; andscaling the bandwidth of the serial communication link according to a video pixel frequency.

In a communication system, a method for transmitting and receiving a clock signal and data packet over a high bandwidth bi-directional hybrid link between a first and second node, the method comprising:ndelivering, through the hybrid link, a reference clock signal, to aid synchronization of a serial communication link between the first node and the second node, the serial communication link to transmit digital video data and an embedded clock signal from the first node to the second node;receiving confirmation of synchronization of the serial communication link;switching the hybrid link from the delivering of the reference clock signal to delivering of data via one or more sub-channels of the hybrid link in response to the receipt of the confirmation of synchronization; anddelivering the data packet via a sub-channel of the one or more sub-channels of the hybrid link after the synchronization of the serial link is established.