System for maintaining a minimum level of
digitized data signal quality while allowing
bandwidth dependent quality enhancement with
additional enhancement data packets
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to the copending application "Dynamic
Data Rate Adjustment To Maintain Throughput Of A Time Varying Signal"
Ser. No. 08/667,072 filed Apr. 18, 1996, now pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the field of the transfer of data
over a bus. More specifically, the present invention relates to
methods of transferring an assured minimum level of data supplemented
by quality improvements.
BACKGROUND
Digital systems continue to process escalating quantities of signals
representing video, audio, and other time varying phenomena over
limited bandwidth communication channels. Typically, such time
varying signals are transferred via at least one shared signal line
or processed by a component which also handles signals from multiple
devices. The various signal sources must compete in an environment
where bandwidth is a precious commodity.
Consequently, sustaining communication of a time varying signal over
the shared signal line(s) to a processing system often requires a
compromise between bandwidth sharing and signal quality. That is,
either the peak signal quality suffers in order to preserve adequate
bandwidth for other devices, or the time varying signal unduly
monopolizes the available bandwidth.
One instance where this problem arises is in transferring a
continuous natural data type (i.e. motion video and/or audio) over a