Architecture for Control Networks: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:26, 23 May 2010

Revision as of 01:04, 26 August 2010

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{{IPstack}}

'''Architecture for Control Networks''' ('''ACN''') is a suite of [[network protocol]]s for theatrical control being developed by [[ESTA (Entertainment Services and Technology Association)]] (ESTA). The first official release is formally referred to as ANSI E1.17 - 2006 - Entertainment Technology - Architecture for Control Networks.

It may replace [[DMX (lighting)|DMX]] as the control protocol for lighting systems and will be used for controlling more complex devices like video playback servers (media servers) and [[audio mixer]]s and has been proposed as the sole or primary transport for [[Midi#HD Protocol|HD-MIDI]]. The protocol is designed to be layered on top of [[User_Datagram_ProtocolUser Datagram Protocol|UDP/IP]] and therefore will run over standard, inexpensive [[Ethernet]] and [[802.11]] (Wi-Fi) network links.

ACN relies on [[User Datagram Protocol|UDP]] in order to pass its messages. Where reliability is required, the Session Data Transport sub protocol allows semi-reliability of only the latest value for a particular "channel".

==ACN In Practicepractice==

ACN will require a number of new technologies in order to implement it compared to the [[Digital_Multiplex|DMXDMX512]] standard. ACN requires the use of [[multicast]] Ethernet, so in larger networks, a switch that is [[Internet Group Management Protocol|IGMP]] snooping compatible will greatly improve performance.

==Protocol Architecturearchitecture==

ACN defines a number of sub protocols. These protocols all follow the [[Type-length-value|TLV]] style '''Protocol Data Units''' ('''PDU'''). These can be nested in predefined hierarchy.

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There is also an XML description language which defines properties of the devices which is called the Device Description Language.

==Interoperability Profilesprofiles==

ACN is not closed in application. The protocol may be further defined via interoperability profiles which will extend various layers of the ACN stack, or define how elements of the ACN architecture must be used in a particular situation to achieve interoperability. For example, by providing specific values for timing parameters to be used in a particular network environment.

==Implementations==

E1.31 (Streaming DMX over ACN) is supported on [[Linux]] ([[ARM architecture|ARM]]; [[Intel 80386|i386]], [[x86-64]]), arm) &and [[Macintosh]] (ppc,[[PowerPC]]; i386, x86_64x86-64) by the [http://opendmx.net/index.php/OLA Open Lighting Architecture].

E1.31 (Streaming DMX over ACN) is supported on Linux (i386, x86-64, arm) & Macintosh (ppc, i386, x86_64) by the [http://opendmx.net/index.php/OLA Open Lighting Architecture].

There is currently an OpenACN implementation project in progress which is hosted by SourceForge. This will provide open source library implementation which is intended to be portable to a variety of platforms from small embedded devices, to Windows and [[POSIX]] conformant operating systems.

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* [http://www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/CP/projs.html ESTA's Technical Standards Program]

* [http://www.openacn.org/ OpenACN home page]

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