Media data reproduction methods and embedded systems utilizing the same

• US 20060167575A1
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Chin, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,630,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence

Abstract

A media data reproduction method is implemented in an embedded system comprising a media reader, a storage device, and a converter. First, a reproduction request is received. Media data is automatically copied from storage media read by the media reader to the storage device in response to the reproduction request. The converter converts the copied media data in the storage device to a new format. During conversion of the copied media data, system resources of the, embedded system occupied by modules other than the converter are detected. The workload of converting the copied media data is dynamically adjusted based on the detected system resources to ensure that system resources utilized by the converter do not exceed system resources unused by modules other than the converter.

Claims

1. A media data reproduction method, implemented in an embedded system comprising a media reader, a music player, a storage device, and a converter, comprising:

receiving a reproduction request;

automatically copying media data from storage media read by the media reader to the storage device in response to the reproduction request;

converting, by the converter, the copied media data in the storage device to a new format;

detecting system resources of the embedded system occupied by one or more modules other than the converter during conversion; and

dynamically adjusting the workload of conversion based on the detected system resources to ensure that system resources utilized by the converter do not exceed system resources unused by the music player.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the media data comprises audio data.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein dynamic adjustment comprises adjusting frames of media data to be converted per time unit based on the detected system resources.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the detected system resources comprise utilization information of a processor or a Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the detected system resources correspond to a plurality of levels comprising high, middle, and low levels, further comprising:

when the utilization information of the processor or the Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer satisfies parameters of the high level, determining that the detected system resources correspond to the high level;

when the detected system resources do not satisfy the parameters of the high level, and the utilization information of the processor or the Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer satisfies parameters of the middle level, determining that the detected system resources correspond to the middle level; and

when the detected system resources do not satisfy the parameters of the high and middle levels, determining, that the detected system resources correspond to the low level.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein when the detected system resources correspond to the high level, conversion of copied media data is suspended.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising initiating the music player to respond to the reproduction request before converting the copied media data.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising, when processor utilization of the embedded system is 50%˜

100%, or the ratio of data removal from the Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer is lower than ratio of data transmission to the DMA buffer by the music player, determining that the detected system resources correspond to the high level.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising ensuring that system resources utilized by the converter do not exceed system resources unused by the duplication module.

10. An embedded system, comprising:

a media reader;

a music player;

a storage device;

a control module receiving a reproduction request;

a duplication module automatically copying media data from storage media read by the media reader to the storage device in response to the reproduction request;

a converter converting the copied media data in the storage device to a new format;

a resource detector detecting system resources of the embedded system occupied by one or more modules other than the converter during converting the copied media data, wherein the converter dynamically adjusts the workload of conversion based on the detected system resources to ensure that system resources utilized by the converter do not exceed system resources unused by the music player.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the media data comprises audio data.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the converter dynamically adjusts frames of media data to be converted per time unit based on the detected system resources.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the detected system resources comprise utilization information of a processor or a Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the detected system resources correspond to a plurality of levels comprising high, middle, and low levels, when the utilization information of the processor or the Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer satisfies parameters of the high level, the detected system resources are determined to correspond to the high level, when the detected system resources do not satisfy the parameters of the high level, and the utilization information of the processor or the Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer satisfies parameters of the middle level, the detected system resources are determined to correspond to the middle level, and when the detected system resources do not satisfy the parameters of the high and middle levels, the detected system resources are determined to correspond to the low level.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein when the detected system resources correspond to the high level, the converter suspends conversion.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the music player is initiated to respond to the reproduction request before converting the copied media data.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising, when processor utilization of the embedded system is 50%˜

100%, or ratio of data removal from the Direct Memory Access (DMA) buffer is less than the ratio of data transmission to the DMA buffer by the music player, the detected system resources are determined to correspond to the high level.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the embedded system comprises an audio player.