Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating vulnerability of streaming sessions to additional latency variations, including the steps of: determining a threshold, based on a limit associated with an allowable end-to-end latency variation of a first session. Estimating the end-to-end latency variation of the first streaming session. Determining that the estimated end-to-end latency variation is higher than the threshold. Setting a first vulnerability indicator of the first streaming session at the first output port to a first level. Setting a second vulnerability indicator of a second existing streaming session at a second output port of a second switch to a second level, based on first level of the first vulnerability indicator. Receiving requests to establish new streaming sessions over first and second new paths passing through the first and second output ports. And rejecting the requests based on the first and second vulnerability indicators.

Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing new streaming sessions based on capabilities of their destinations, including the steps of: receiving a request to establish a new streaming session over a new path, in presence of an existing streaming session. Receiving capabilities of a destination of the new streaming session. Allocating for the new streaming session a limit for an allowable end-to-end latency variation thereof, based on the capabilities. Estimating, before the new streaming session is established, an estimated end-to-end latency variation of the new streaming session, supposing it is established over the first path. Determining, based on comparing the estimated end-to-end latency variation with the limit, that the estimated end-to-end latency variation exceeds the limit. And rejecting the request, based on the determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems for admitting streaming sessions while controlling links capacities, including the steps of: receiving a request to establish a new streaming session in presence of an existing streaming session; wherein the paths of the session and the new session pass through a link, which is currently set to have a first capacity. Estimating a first end-to-end latency variation of the existing streaming session, supposing that the new streaming session is established over the new path. Determining that the first end-to-end latency variation exceeds a maximum allowable end-to-end latency variation of the existing session. Estimating a second end-to-end latency variation of the existing streaming session, supposing that the link is set to have a second capacity higher than the first capacity. Determining that the second end-to-end latency variation does not exceed the limit. Setting the link to have the second capacity. And admitting the request.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calculating local latency variations in an incremental manner, including the steps of updating a first local latency variation of a first streaming session at a first output port of a first switch; identifying a relationship that the first streaming session is passing through a second output port of a second switch after passing through the first output port; wherein a second streaming session is passing through the second output port; and updating a second local latency variation of the second streaming session at the second output port, based on the relationship. Wherein the updated second local latency variation is calculated based on the updated first local latency variation.

Abstract: A wired communication link to carry to one side a first transmission of unidirectional time sensitive application data, having a throughput of at least 1.1 Gbps, multiplexed with a first direction of a bidirectional data channel, and to carry to the other side a second transmission of a second direction of the bidirectional data channel. The first and the second transmissions are transmitted over at least one common wire, the frequency bands of the first and the second transmissions at least partially overlap, and the communication link guarantees correct reception order. As a result, the receiver that receives the multiplexed transmission can utilize a relatively small buffer that is enough to compensate for timing distortions and is not enough to rearrange the unidirectional time sensitive application data.

Abstract: A communication link includes a first device coupled to a second device over a set of wires. The first device includes a first input channel to receive synchronous data, a second input channel to receive asynchronous data, and logic to multiplex the synchronous and asynchronous data. The first device transmits synchronously the multiplexed result over a first frequency band, and receives, in full duplex over a second overlapping frequency band, asynchronous data transferred over at least a subset of the set of wires. And the second device does not discard all predefined packets upon receiving an error indication.

Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating a configuration change of a communication link by replacing certain idle code words with bitwise complement code words, including: Encoding a first frame, a basic idle sequence, and a second frame. Producing, by a transmitter, an idle sequence by replacing certain M code words of the basic idle sequence with M bitwise complement code words, wherein each bitwise complement code word appears in the basic idle sequence. Receiving, by a receiver, the first frame, the idle sequence, and the second frame, wherein the basic idle sequence is known to the receiver. And identifying a change in configuration of the communication link based on a difference between the idle sequence and the basic idle sequence.

Abstract: Implementing flow control without using unique symbols or designated packets, comprising: sending, from a first device to a second device, high throughput packet communication. Temporarily storing the high throughput packet communication in a buffer of the second device. Calculating, by the second device, a basic idle code word sequence known to the first device. Producing an idle sequence by replacing certain M code words of the basic idle sequence with M bitwise complement code words. Transmitting the idle sequence, wherein the M bitwise complement code words are indicative of the fullness of the buffer. Receiving the idle sequence by the first device, and determining, based on a difference between the idle sequence and the basic idle sequence, that the buffer is full or expected to get full, and thus the first device stop sending packets to the second device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding a frame utilizing at least two line-codes having different minimal Hamming distances. The method includes maintaining over the frame absolute value of running disparity lower than or equal to K, while: encoding a first part of the frame utilizing a first line-code having a binary code word length N? and a minimal Hamming distance D?; and encoding a second part of the frame utilizing a second line-code having a binary code word length N? and a minimal Hamming distance D? lower than D?. Where the value of K is lower than both N?/2 and N?/2.

Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating an end of an idle sequence residing between first and second frames, while maintaining bounded running disparity, including: encoding the first frame; encoding a basic idle sequence utilizing a first line-code; producing an idle sequence by replacing M code words of the basic idle sequence with M alternative code words; encoding the second frame; transmitting the first frame, the idle sequence, and the second frame; and receiving the second frame by a second communication node. Each one of the M alternative code words is equal to a code word of the basic idle sequence. And the second communication node is unable to determine a starting point of the second frame based only on the idle sequence and the second frame, but is able to determine the starting point of the second frame based on difference between the basic idle sequence and the idle sequence.

Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating an end of an idle sequence, including: encoding a first frame, encoding a basic idle sequence including code words, producing an idle sequence by replacing certain M code words of the idle sequence with M alternative code words, and encoding a second frame. Each one of the M alternative code words appears in the basic idle sequence. And a second communication node, which is unable to determine a starting point of the second frame based only on a received idle sequence, is able to determine a start of the second frame based on a difference between the received idle sequence and the basic idle sequence.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding frames while maintaining bounded running disparity, including: encoding the headers of the frames utilizing a first line-code; selecting the first line-code and a second line code for encoding first and second payloads of first and second frames, respectively, based on first and second data types of first and second data comprised in the first and second payloads, respectively; encoding the first and second payloads utilizing the first and second line-codes, respectively; and transmitting the first and second frames over a communication channel characterized by first and second channel conditions, respectively. The second line-code has a minimal Hamming distance lower than that of the first line-code, and the differences between the first and second channel conditions are not enough for selecting the second line-code instead of the first line-code for encoding the second payload.

Abstract: Initiating, by USB host adaptors, USB connections over a non-USB network, including the steps of: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBHs and the USBDs to communicate over the non-USB network that enables each USBD to discover the presence and capabilities of each USBH. Receiving, by the USBHs, information about the USB devices. And then initiating, by the USBHs, USB-over-network connections between the USB hosts and the USB devices.

Abstract: Initiating, by USB device adaptors, USB connections over a non-USB network, including the steps of: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over the non-USB network that enables each USBD to discover the presence and capabilities of each USBH. Receiving, by the USBDs, information about the USB hosts. And then, initiating by the USBDs USB-over-network connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts.

Abstract: Connecting USB devices with USB hosts over a network supporting distributed initiations of USB connections over the network, including the following steps: Connecting non-collocated USB hosts with respective non-collocated USB host adaptors (USBHs), according to USB specification timings. Connecting non-collocated USB devices with respective non-collocated USB device adaptors (USBDs). Enabling the USBDs and the USBHs to communicate over the network and to discover the presence and capabilities of one another. Initiating, by the USBDs or the USBHs, via the network control plane, USB-over-network-data-plane connections between the USB devices and the USB hosts. And operating at least two of the USB-over-network-data-plane connections essentially simultaneously and without any common network node.

Abstract: A CEC block termination function, operated by a manipulating switch including at least one HDMI-CEC input port and at least two HDMI-CEC output ports, enables the manipulating switch to receive a CEC block which was initiated by a device, optionally acknowledge (ACK) the block, modify the received block, and supply the modified block to one or more devices. Optionally, a section of the CEC block may be modified, the entire CEC block may be modified, or the CEC message may be partially or completely modified.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a packet switch that communicates packets with error indication, including the steps of: receiving a packet comprising an error detection field; utilizing the error detection field to identify an error in the packet; marking the occurrence of the error in an error propagation field in the packet; updating the value of the error detection field; and forwarding the modified packet, with the updated value of the error detection field and the error propagation field, according to information carried in the packet.

Abstract: Receivers designed to reduce decision based filter error propagation by feedback from PCS to slicer. One embodiment includes a slicer, a physical coding sublayer (PCS), and a decision based filter (DBF). The frames include symbols of at least two different modulation orders. The slicer has slicing functions suitable for the different modulations and feeds the PCS with the slicing results. The PCS identifies frame boundaries and modulation information, which are modulated according to a predetermined modulation order, uses the identified modulation information to determine the modulation of a nonempty set of dynamically modulated symbols in each frame, and provides the slicer with an indication of which slicer function output to use to feed the DBF.

Abstract: Receivers configured to handle dynamically modulated symbols. One receiver includes a slicer, a physical coding sublayer (PCS), and a decision based filter (DBF). Each of most of the received frames comprising (i) modulation information modulated according to a predetermined modulation order, and (ii) symbols of at least two different modulation orders that are dynamically modulated in accordance with the modulation information. The slicer configured to feed the PCS with essentially the minimal combination of slicing results that essentially covers all the predetermined modulation order. And the PCS configured to identify the modulation information, to use the identified modulation information to determine the modulation of the dynamically modulated symbols, and to provide the slicer with an indication of which slicer function output to use to feed the DBF.

Abstract: Method and device for using or dropping erroneous packets, including the steps of: receiving, by a network adaptor, first and second packets having headers, payloads, error propagation fields, and error detection fields. The error propagation fields indicate reception errors while the error detection fields do not indicate reception errors. Determining that the first packet is addressed to a first application and dropping the first packet. And determining that the second packet is addressed to a second application and enabling an end-device coupled to the adaptor to use the erroneous data stored in the second payload.