Two dimensional direct memory access in image processing systems

• US 6,449,664 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViewAhead Technology, Inc. (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Honary, Hooman, Moskalev, Anatoly
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perveen, Rehana
• Application Number:
  US09/192,616
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 710/1, 710/22, 710/25, 710/35, 712/10, 712/14, 711/149
• US Class Current: 710/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/60 Memory management

Abstract

A two-dimensional direct memory access system that maximizes processing resources in image processing systems. The present invention includes a two-dimensional direct memory access machine. Also, it employs a ping-pong style memory buffer to assist in the transfer and management of data. In certain applications of the invention, the type of data used by the invention is image data. The two-dimensional direct memory access machine transfers a specific cross sectional area of the image data to a processor. The efficient method of providing the processor only with the specific cross sectional area of the image data that is to be processed at a given time provides decreased processing time and a better utilization of processing resources within the two-dimensional direct memory access system. The present invention may be contained in a variety of image processing systems operating as either a peripheral or a stand alone device including but not limited to color photo-copy machines, color facsimiles, color printers, black and white printers, digital cameras, and digital printers. In certain embodiments, the two-dimensional direct memory access system exchanges image data between random access memory and a digital signal processor using the two-dimensional direct memory access machine and the ping-pong style memory buffer.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional direct memory access system that maximizes processing resources in image processing systems, the two-dimensional direct memory access system comprising:

a two-dimensional direct memory access machine capable of transferring at least one plurality of data, the at least one plurality of data having substantially two-dimensional characteristics,

at least one processor in signal communication with the two-dimensional direct memory access machine;

least one ping-pong memory buffer for storing the at least one plurality of data;

the at least one ping-pong memory buffer delivers at least a portion of the at least one additional plurality of data to the at least one processor; and

the at least one ping-pong memory buffer receives the at least a portion of the at least one plurality of data from the at least one processor.

2. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 1, further comprising a ping-pong buffer to assist in the transferring of the at least one plurality of data.

3. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one plurality of data is selected from a data array;

further comprising at least one memory buffer which receives the at least one plurality of data from the data array; and

the at least one memory buffer transfers the at least one plurality of data to the data array.

4. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data having substantially two-dimensional characteristics comprises image data.

5. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional direct memory access machine and the at least one processor are contained within a multi-function peripheral.

6. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional direct memory access machine and the at least one processor are contained within a stand alone device.

7. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 1, wherein the at least one plurality of data possess at least one characteristic;

and

the at least one characteristic of the at least one plurality of data determines whether the at least one processor operates on the at least one plurality of data.

8. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor comprises a digital signal processor.

9. A two-dimensional direct memory access system that maximizes processing resources in image processing systems, the two-dimensional direct memory access system comprising:

a two-dimensional direct memory access machine capable of transferring at least one plurality of data, the at least one plurality of data having substantially two-dimensional characteristics, the at least one plurality of data being selected from a plurality of data.

at least one ping-pong memory buffer for storing the at least one plurality of data, the at least one ping-pong memory buffer being in signal communication with the two-dimensional direct memory access machine, the two-dimensional direct memory access machine shares the at least one plurality of data to the at least one ping-pong memory buffer; and

at least one processor that operates on the at least one plurality of data, the at least one processor being in signal communication with the two dimensional direct memory access machine, the at least one ping-pong memory buffer shares the at least one plurality of data to the at least one processor.

10. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 9, further comprising at least one additional two-dimensional direct memory access machine that operates jointly with the two-dimensional direct memory access machine for transferring the at least one plurality of data.

11. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 9, wherein the at least one memory buffer is partitioned into a plurality of sub-buffers.

12. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of data having substantially two-dimensional characteristics comprises image data.

13. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional direct memory access machine;

at least one memory buffer; and

the at least one processor are contained within a multi-function peripheral.

14. The two-dimensional direct memory access system of claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional direct memory access machine;

at least one memory buffer; and

the at least one processor are contained within a stand alone device.

15. A method for maximizing processing resources in image processing systems comprising:

selecting at least one plurality of data from a plurality of data;

transferring the at least one plurality of data to at least one processor using a two-dimensional direct memory access machine, the at least one plurality of data having substantially two-dimensional characteristics;

processing the at least one plurality of data using the at least one processor to generate a plurality of processed data;

returning the plurality of processed data to the plurality of data; and

storing the at least one plurality of data in at least one ping-pong memory buffer prior to processing while storing a second at least one plurality of data in the ping-pong buffer memory after processing.

16. The method for maximizing processing resources of claim 15 being performed using a multi-functional peripheral.

17. The method for maximizing processing resources of claim 15 being performed using a stand alone device.

18. The method for maximizing processing resources of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor comprises a digital signal processor.

19. A two-dimensional direct memory access system that maximizes processing resources in image processing systems, the two-dimensional direct memory access system comprising:

a two-dimensional direct memory access machine capable of transferring at least one first plurality of data selected from a second plurality of data to and from the second plurality of data, the at least one first plurality of data having substantially two-dimensional characteristics; and

at least one processor in signal communication with the two-dimensional direct memory access machine via a ping-pong buffer.

20. A two-dimensional direct memory access system that maximizes processing resources in image processing systems, the two-dimensional direct memory access system comprising:

a two-dimensional direct memory access machine capable of transferring at least one first plurality of data to and from a second plurality of data, the at least one plurality of data having substantially two-dimensional characteristics, the at least one plurality of data being selected from the second plurality of data;

at least one ping-pong memory buffer for storing the at least one first plurality of data, the at least one ping-pong memory buffer being in signal communication with the two-dimensional direct memory access machine, the two-dimensional direct memory access machine shares the at least one first plurality of data to the at least one ping-pong memory buffer; and

at least one processor that operates on the at least one first plurality of data, the at least one processor being in signal communication with the two-dimensional direct memory access machine, the at least one ping-pong memory buffer shares the at least one first plurality of data to the at least one processor.