Low power digital audio decoding/playing system for computing devices

• US 20060259642A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro Incorporated
• Inventors: Du, Sterling, Lam, James, Sheng, Eva
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path

Abstract

The present invention is a computer system adapted to play audio files. The computer system includes a central processing unit, a storage unit, a first operating system, an interfacing unit, and a second operating system. The first operating system can control at least the CPU. The interface unit can interface with an external digital media device that may store a plurality of compressed audio files. The second operating system is capable of controlling the computer system operating in an audio playback mode. The power of the computer system is turned on and the computer system plays the plurality of compressed audio files in the audio playback mode when the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit.

Claims

1. A computer system adapted to play audio files, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a storage unit;

a first operating system adapted to control at least the CPU;

an interface unit adapted to interface with an external digital media device capable of storing a plurality of compressed audio files; and

a second operating system capable of transmitting the plurality of compressed audio files from the external digital media device into the storage unit, the second operating system being capable of controlling the computer system operating in an audio playback mode,

wherein the computer system is on and plays the plurality of compressed audio files in the audio playback mode when the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit.

2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a power control unit for determining whether the external digital media device is connected to the computer system.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the external digital media device and the computer system is through a wireless interface.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the communication between the external digital media device and the computer system is through a connector.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the CPU is configured to decode the plurality of compressed audio files.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the external digital media device is configured to decode the plurality of compressed audio files.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the second operating system is capable of transmitting the decoded audio files from the external digital media device to the storage unit.

8. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a speaker unit capable of playing the plurality of compressed audio files after the plurality of the compressed audio files are decoded.

9. A computer system adapted to play audio files, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

an interface unit adapted to interface with an external digital media device;

a speaker unit;

a CODEC adapted to communicate with the speaker unit; and

a filter and isolation circuit in communication with the CODEC, the filter and isolation circuit being capable of receiving analog audio signals from the external digital media device when the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit, and preventing the analog audio signals from flowing into the CODEC,

wherein the speaker unit outputs an audio according to the analog audio signals received by the filter and isolation circuit without the CPU being powered on when the computer system operates in an audio playback mode.

10. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising a power control unit for determining whether the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the external digital media device being configured to decode the compressed data.

12. The computer system of claim 9, the filter and isolation circuit being capable of eliminating a leakage current in the analog audio signals when the CODEC is powered off during the audio playback mode.

13. A computer system adapted to play audio files, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a storage unit;

a first operating system adapted to control at least the CPU;

an interface unit adapted to interface with an external digital media device capable of storing a plurality of compressed audio files;

a switch adapted to determine whether the external digital media device is interfacing with the interface unit; and

a second operating system capable of transmitting the plurality of compressed audio files from the external digital media device into the storage unit, the second operating system being capable of controlling the computer system operating in an audio playback mode,

wherein the computer system is on and plays the plurality of compressed audio files in the audio playback mode when the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the communication between the external digital media device and the computer system is through a wireless interface.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the communication between the external digital media device and the computer system is through a connector.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the CPU is configured to decode the plurality of compressed audio files.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the external digital media device is configured to decode the plurality of compressed audio files.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the second operating system is capable of transmitting the decoded audio files from the external digital media device to the storage unit.

19. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising a speaker unit capable of playing the plurality of compressed audio files after the plurality of the compressed audio files are decoded.

20. A computer system adapted to play audio files, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

an interface unit adapted to interface with an external digital media device;

a switch adapted to determine whether the external digital media device is interfacing with the interface unit;

a speaker unit;

a CODEC adapted to communicate with the speaker unit; and

a filter and isolation circuit in communication with the CODEC, the filter and isolation circuit being capable of receiving analog audio signals from the external digital media device when the external digital media device is in communication with the interface unit, and preventing the analog audio signals from flowing into the CODEC,

wherein the speaker unit outputs an audio according to the analog audio signals received by the filter and isolation circuit without the CPU being powered on when the computer system operates in an audio playback mode.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the external digital media device being configured to decode the compressed data.

22. The computer system of claim 20, the filter and isolation circuit being capable of eliminating a leakage current in the analog audio signals when the CODEC is powered off during the audio playback mode.

23. A method for playing a plurality of compressed audio files stored in a digital media device by a computer system, comprising the steps of:

detecting the digital media device being in communication with an interface unit in the computer system;

loading an operating system onto the computer system, wherein the operating system is part of a full operating system of the computer system, and wherein the operating system being capable of controlling the computer system operating in an audio playback mode;

transmitting the plurality of compressed audio files from the digital media device to a storage unit in the computer system;

decoding the plurality of compressed audio files; and

playing the plurality of the decoded audio files in the audio playback mode.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of decoding the plurality of compressed audio files at the digital media device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of decoding the plurality of compressed audio files at a central processing unit (CPU) of the computer system.