ALSA: doc: ReSTize timestamping document

A simple conversion from a plain text file.
Put to designs subdirectory.

Signed-off-by: Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de>
This commit is contained in:
Takashi Iwai 2016-11-10 11:06:55 +01:00
parent e9df12c3ba
commit 20a1d0f44d
2 changed files with 80 additions and 64 deletions

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@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Designs and Implementations
control-names control-names
channel-mapping-api channel-mapping-api
compress-offload compress-offload
timestamping
procfile procfile
powersave powersave
oss-emulation oss-emulation

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@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
=====================
ALSA PCM Timestamping
=====================
The ALSA API can provide two different system timestamps: The ALSA API can provide two different system timestamps:
- Trigger_tstamp is the system time snapshot taken when the .trigger - Trigger_tstamp is the system time snapshot taken when the .trigger
@ -22,15 +26,15 @@ the ring buffer and the amount of queued samples.
The use of these different pointers and time information depends on The use of these different pointers and time information depends on
the application needs: the application needs:
- 'avail' reports how much can be written in the ring buffer - ``avail`` reports how much can be written in the ring buffer
- 'delay' reports the time it will take to hear a new sample after all - ``delay`` reports the time it will take to hear a new sample after all
queued samples have been played out. queued samples have been played out.
When timestamps are enabled, the avail/delay information is reported When timestamps are enabled, the avail/delay information is reported
along with a snapshot of system time. Applications can select from along with a snapshot of system time. Applications can select from
CLOCK_REALTIME (NTP corrections including going backwards), ``CLOCK_REALTIME`` (NTP corrections including going backwards),
CLOCK_MONOTONIC (NTP corrections but never going backwards), ``CLOCK_MONOTONIC`` (NTP corrections but never going backwards),
CLOCK_MONOTIC_RAW (without NTP corrections) and change the mode ``CLOCK_MONOTIC_RAW`` (without NTP corrections) and change the mode
dynamically with sw_params dynamically with sw_params
@ -38,7 +42,7 @@ The ALSA API also provide an audio_tstamp which reflects the passage
of time as measured by different components of audio hardware. In of time as measured by different components of audio hardware. In
ascii-art, this could be represented as follows (for the playback ascii-art, this could be represented as follows (for the playback
case): case):
::
--------------------------------------------------------------> time --------------------------------------------------------------> time
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
@ -50,6 +54,7 @@ case):
|<----------------- delay---------------------->| | |<----------------- delay---------------------->| |
|<----ring buffer length---->| |<----ring buffer length---->|
The analog time is taken at the last stage of the playback, as close The analog time is taken at the last stage of the playback, as close
as possible to the actual transducer as possible to the actual transducer
@ -113,11 +118,11 @@ audio applications...
Due to the varied nature of timestamping needs, even for a single Due to the varied nature of timestamping needs, even for a single
application, the audio_tstamp_config can be changed dynamically. In application, the audio_tstamp_config can be changed dynamically. In
the STATUS ioctl, the parameters are read-only and do not allow for the ``STATUS`` ioctl, the parameters are read-only and do not allow for
any application selection. To work around this limitation without any application selection. To work around this limitation without
impacting legacy applications, a new STATUS_EXT ioctl is introduced impacting legacy applications, a new ``STATUS_EXT`` ioctl is introduced
with read/write parameters. ALSA-lib will be modified to make use of with read/write parameters. ALSA-lib will be modified to make use of
STATUS_EXT and effectively deprecate STATUS. ``STATUS_EXT`` and effectively deprecate ``STATUS``.
The ALSA API only allows for a single audio timestamp to be reported The ALSA API only allows for a single audio timestamp to be reported
at a time. This is a conscious design decision, reading the audio at a time. This is a conscious design decision, reading the audio
@ -135,12 +140,14 @@ the hardware, there is a risk of misalignment with the avail and delay
information. To make sure applications are not confused, a information. To make sure applications are not confused, a
driver_timestamp field is added in the snd_pcm_status structure; this driver_timestamp field is added in the snd_pcm_status structure; this
timestamp shows when the information is put together by the driver timestamp shows when the information is put together by the driver
before returning from the STATUS and STATUS_EXT ioctl. in most cases before returning from the ``STATUS`` and ``STATUS_EXT`` ioctl. in most cases
this driver_timestamp will be identical to the regular system tstamp. this driver_timestamp will be identical to the regular system tstamp.
Examples of typestamping with HDaudio: Examples of typestamping with HDaudio:
1. DMA timestamp, no compensation for DMA+analog delay 1. DMA timestamp, no compensation for DMA+analog delay
::
$ ./audio_time -p --ts_type=1 $ ./audio_time -p --ts_type=1
playback: systime: 341121338 nsec, audio time 342000000 nsec, systime delta -878662 playback: systime: 341121338 nsec, audio time 342000000 nsec, systime delta -878662
playback: systime: 426236663 nsec, audio time 427187500 nsec, systime delta -950837 playback: systime: 426236663 nsec, audio time 427187500 nsec, systime delta -950837
@ -150,6 +157,8 @@ playback: systime: 852896415 nsec, audio time 853854166 nsec, systime delta -95
playback: systime: 937903344 nsec, audio time 938854166 nsec, systime delta -950822 playback: systime: 937903344 nsec, audio time 938854166 nsec, systime delta -950822
2. DMA timestamp, compensation for DMA+analog delay 2. DMA timestamp, compensation for DMA+analog delay
::
$ ./audio_time -p --ts_type=1 -d $ ./audio_time -p --ts_type=1 -d
playback: systime: 341053347 nsec, audio time 341062500 nsec, systime delta -9153 playback: systime: 341053347 nsec, audio time 341062500 nsec, systime delta -9153
playback: systime: 426072447 nsec, audio time 426062500 nsec, systime delta 9947 playback: systime: 426072447 nsec, audio time 426062500 nsec, systime delta 9947
@ -158,6 +167,8 @@ playback: systime: 681915317 nsec, audio time 681916666 nsec, systime delta -13
playback: systime: 852741306 nsec, audio time 852750000 nsec, systime delta -8694 playback: systime: 852741306 nsec, audio time 852750000 nsec, systime delta -8694
3. link timestamp, compensation for DMA+analog delay 3. link timestamp, compensation for DMA+analog delay
::
$ ./audio_time -p --ts_type=2 -d $ ./audio_time -p --ts_type=2 -d
playback: systime: 341060004 nsec, audio time 341062791 nsec, systime delta -2787 playback: systime: 341060004 nsec, audio time 341062791 nsec, systime delta -2787
playback: systime: 426242074 nsec, audio time 426244875 nsec, systime delta -2801 playback: systime: 426242074 nsec, audio time 426244875 nsec, systime delta -2801
@ -181,6 +192,8 @@ shows how compensating for the delay exposes a 1ms accuracy (due to
the use of the frame counter by the driver) the use of the frame counter by the driver)
Example 3: DMA timestamp, no compensation for delay, delta of ~5ms Example 3: DMA timestamp, no compensation for delay, delta of ~5ms
::
$ ./audio_time -p -Dhw:1 -t1 $ ./audio_time -p -Dhw:1 -t1
playback: systime: 120174019 nsec, audio time 125000000 nsec, systime delta -4825981 playback: systime: 120174019 nsec, audio time 125000000 nsec, systime delta -4825981
playback: systime: 245041136 nsec, audio time 250000000 nsec, systime delta -4958864 playback: systime: 245041136 nsec, audio time 250000000 nsec, systime delta -4958864
@ -191,6 +204,8 @@ playback: systime: 745087741 nsec, audio time 750000000 nsec, systime delta -49
playback: systime: 870037336 nsec, audio time 875000000 nsec, systime delta -4962664 playback: systime: 870037336 nsec, audio time 875000000 nsec, systime delta -4962664
Example 4: DMA timestamp, compensation for delay, delay of ~1ms Example 4: DMA timestamp, compensation for delay, delay of ~1ms
::
$ ./audio_time -p -Dhw:1 -t1 -d $ ./audio_time -p -Dhw:1 -t1 -d
playback: systime: 120190520 nsec, audio time 120000000 nsec, systime delta 190520 playback: systime: 120190520 nsec, audio time 120000000 nsec, systime delta 190520
playback: systime: 245036740 nsec, audio time 244000000 nsec, systime delta 1036740 playback: systime: 245036740 nsec, audio time 244000000 nsec, systime delta 1036740