Methods and apparatus for transmitting data streams via a heterogeneous network

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that enable a community of devices having differing underlying protocols to stream media data such as video or audio data. In one exemplary embodiment, this invention enables IEEE 1394-compliant (“FireWire” enabled) devices to communicate across an Ethernet infrastructure, such as one enabled by the Ethernet AVB Standard(s). This enhances connectivity, and also supports obviating one or more physical ports within the device(s). In another embodiment, or more wireless transports are utilized.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus configured to interoperate with a heterogeneous fabric, comprising:
 an interface to the heterogeneous fabric, the heterogeneous fabric configured to support multiple different device protocols;   a user interface;   a processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable apparatus having a storage medium with at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program configured to, when executed on the processor, cause the apparatus to:   responsive to a connection to the heterogeneous fabric, register the apparatus with a network daemon;   identify one or more other devices connected to the heterogeneous fabric via the network daemon; and   responsive to a user request via the user interface, initiate a data connection to at least a target device of the one or more other devices within a user session.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the user session is initiated and terminated based at least in part on user input received by the user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the interface to the heterogeneous fabric is configured to format packets of a first protocol into packets of a second protocol, the second protocol being native to the heterogeneous fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first protocol is native to the target device.