Kernel-Mode Audio Processing Modules

• US 20080140241A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Puryear, Martin G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,663,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/183 Channel-assigning means for polyphonic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/225 Portamento, i.e. smooth continuously variable pitch-bend, without emphasis of each chromatic pitch during the pitch change, which only stops at the end of the pitch shift, as obtained, e.g. by a MIDI pitch wheel or trombone
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/281 Reverberation or echo
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/291 SCSI, i.e. Small Computer System Interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/295 Packet switched network, e.g. token ring
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/002 using a common processing for different operations or calculations, and a set of microinstructions (programme) to control the sequence thereof

Abstract

Multiple kernel-mode audio processing modules or filters are combined to form a module or filter graph. The graph is implemented in kernel-mode, reducing latency and jitter when handling audio data (e.g., MIDI data) by avoiding transfers of the audio data to user-mode applications for processing. A variety of different audio processing modules can be used to provide various pieces of functionality when processing audio data.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a module including a plurality of instructions for execution in kernel-mode that, when executed in kernel-mode by one or more processors of a computer, causes the one or more processors to perform acts including:

receiving a data packet including audio data;

identifying a variable amount by which the pitch of the audio data is to be altered; and

modifying a pitch value of the audio data by the variable amount.

2. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein an indication of the amount to alter the pitch of audio data and how to vary the amount over time is received by the module via a set parameters interface.

3. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform the modifying only if the data packet matches one or more of:

a particular one or more notes, a particular one or more channels, and a particular one or more channel groups.