ClearOne StreamNet Infrastructure and Network - Manual (Page 13)

Chapter 1: StreamNet Networking 10
avb
AVB is a umbrella term for a set of IEEE standards for providing time-synchronized low latency
streaming over Ethernet.
The currently proposed and adopted specifications are for synchronization, stream reservations
and traffic shaping.
Time-sensitive multi-media streaming is exactly what StreamNet was designed for and it is what
we do everyday at ClearOne. We applaud the IEEE efforts as they raise awareness of AV stream-
ing in general and help to shift AV designers and the whole AV industry away from legacy circuit
switched project designs.
The core AVB draft standards define new functions to be added to Ethernet switches and end-
points to better support media networking. These new functions offer support for clock synchroni-
zation and Quality of Service (QoS) in Ethernet networks and introduce a new category of behavior
into Ethernet networks aimed at supporting time sensitive traffic.
The three core AVB standards being drafted for Ethernet networks are:
802.1AS - Timing and Synchronization for Time-Sensitive Applications •
802.1Qav - Forwarding and Queuing for Time-Sensitive Streams •
802.1Qat - Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP) •
AVB networks are designed to be a “defended network” constructed from AVB-capable switches
and end devices. AVB capable switches detect whether each port is connected to another AVB
capable device or switch and build islands of connectivity in which AVB services are supported.