The invention is an architecture, a system and a method for monitoring
data structures over an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. The data
structures are portions of entries that are posted and stored to a
descriptor mechanism. Preferably, the entries are schedule entries posted
and stored to an AV/C resource schedule bulletin board subunit. According
to the invention, a resource request is submitted by a requesting control
device to the AV/C resource schedule bulletin board subunit, where
request data is stored and posted as a schedule entry. The requesting
control device also submits a corresponding notify command data frame to
the AV/C bulletin board subunit. The notify command frame instructs the
bulletin board subunit to monitor a specified data structure within the
schedule entry. Preferably, the notify command frame also specifies the
type of access activity that is monitored. When a competing control
device performs the specified type of access activity on the specified
data structure, the bulletin board subunit sends a notify response frame
to the original requesting control device. The notify response frame
provides an alert to the original requesting control device that the
specified access activity has been performed on the specified data
structure by a competing control device. The original requesting control
device can then review that accessing activity performed on the data
structure and any modifications made to the data structure to determine
whether further scheduling is required. Preferably, the access activity
of the competing device and modifications made to the schedule entry are
stored within the memory unit of the bulletin board subunit to provide a
detailed history of the schedule entry.