Integrated wireless transceiver and audio processor

• US 20060099927A1
• Filed: 11/11/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Malachowsky, Chris Alan
• Application Number:
  US10/987,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20060099927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/90 Wireless transmission systems

Abstract

Circuits, methods, and apparatus incorporate both a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit on a single integrated circuit. The wireless physical interface may include a receiver, transmitter, or a complete transceiver. The audio processing unit is typically in communication with both the wireless interface and one or more wired physical interfaces. The integrated circuit may be as simple as a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit, or it may include other circuits such as graphics processors, networking interfaces, memories, or other circuits.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to receive audio information in the form of a first RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol;

an audio processor coupled to the wireless transceiver configured to process the audio information; and

an output cell configured to provide the processed audio information.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver is further configured to demodulate the first RF signal.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 2 wherein the wireless standard or protocol is a short range RF standard or protocol.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 3 wherein the short range RF standard or protocol is one of the group consisting of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.1 μ

g, and Bluetooth.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the audio processor is configured to manipulate the audio information as part of its processing.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the output cell is configured to provide the processed audio information to a speaker.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the output cell is configured to provide the processed audio information to a storage unit.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver is further configured to receive audio information in the form of a second RF signal and the audio processor is further configured to process the audio information from the first RF signal together with the audio information from the second RF signal.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 1 further comprising:

an input cell configured to receive audio information; and

a wireless transmitter configured to receive processed audio information and transmit it in the form of a second RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol,

wherein the audio processor is further coupled between the input cell and the wireless transmitter.

10. An integrated circuit comprising:

an input cell configured to receive audio information;

an audio processor coupled to the input cell and configured to process the audio information; and

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the processed audio information and transmit it in the form of an RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to modulate the processed audio information with an RF carrier.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 11 wherein the wireless standard or protocol is a short range RF standard or protocol.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 11 wherein the short range RF standard or protocol is one of the group consisting of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and Bluetooth.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein the audio processor is configured to manipulate the audio information as part of its processing.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein the input cell is configured to receive the audio information from a media player.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 10 further comprising:

a wireless receiver configured to receive audio information in the form of a second RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol; and

an output cell configured to provide the processed audio information,

wherein the audio processor is further coupled between wireless receiver and the output cell.

17. A method of receiving and processing audio information comprising:

establishing a wireless communication link;

receiving audio information over the communication link using a receiver on the integrated circuit;

processing the audio information using a processor on the integrated circuit; and

outputting the processed audio information.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the wireless communication link is with a transmitter coupled to a computer.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the processed audio information is output to a speaker.

20. A method of transmitting processed audio information comprising:

receiving audio information with a processing circuit on an integrated circuit;

processing the audio information with the processing circuit;

establishing a wireless communication link; and

transmitting the processed audio information over the wireless communication link using a wireless transmitter on the integrated circuit.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the wireless communication link is with a transmitter coupled to a speaker.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the audio information is received from a media player.

23. A method of transferring and processing audio data comprising:

transferring audio data between an audio processor on an integrated circuit and a first wireless circuit on the integrated circuit;

transferring modulated audio data between the first wireless circuit on the integrated circuit and a second wireless circuit over a wireless communications link; and

transferring audio data between the second wireless circuit and the Internet.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

processing the audio data with the audio processor.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the first wireless circuit comprises a transmitter, and the modulated audio data is transmitted by the first wireless circuit to the second wireless circuit.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the first wireless circuit comprises a receiver, and the modulated audio data is received by the first wireless circuit from the second wireless circuit.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the wireless communications link is consistent with a wireless standard or protocol.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the wireless standard or protocol is a short range RF standard or protocol.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the short range RF standard or protocol is one of the group consisting of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and Bluetooth.