Most
of today's home networking applications are primarily concerned with ensuring
the integrity of delivered data, but devices and paths are typically not
synchronized, so the timing of delivery can't be precisely predicted. However,
applications for timing-aware networking are growing, and some network AV
distribution systems already use a combination of standards-based protocols and
proprietary technology to achieve synchronization. Meanwhile, standards are
evolving to broadly transition networks to become inherently timing-aware and
deterministic, namely with the IEEE's Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) standards.
This white paper explores the basis, scope, and direction of synchronous and
deterministic networks in the home, with insight to system design and
implementation requirements that are key to achieving predictable and reliable
performance.