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

Abstract

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.