Method and apparatus for digital signal processing and method of providing extension function

• US 7,096,461 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Furui, Sunao, Hamada, Ichiro, Nakamura, Masashi, Moriwaki, Hisayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): KENDALL, CHUCK O
• Application Number:
  US09/889,459
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 717115-139, 712/221, 712/245, 707/513
• US Class Current: 717/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

Elements necessary for a digital television receiver are structured as blocks that are a plurality of digital signal processing blocks and a host arithmetic operation processing block. The blocks are connected through a general-purpose bus. Commands for controlling operations of the blocks and data of streams are transferred through the bus. An extension plug-in card for a new service can be attached and detached to/from the bus. The extension plug-in card has hardware that accomplishes an extension function and a script for commands of the hardware. When the extension plug-in card is attached to the bus through an interface, the script for the commands is automatically uploaded to the host arithmetic operation processing block side. The host arithmetic operation processing block can operate the extension plug-in card corresponding to the transferred script for the commands.

Claims

1. A digital signal processing apparatus, comprising:

a host processing block for controlling entire of said digital signal processing apparatus through outputting a command that does not depend on hardware and that is not on real time basis;

a plurality of digital signal processing blocks each having means for interpreting said command from said host processing block and for controlling a hardware component;

a bus for connecting said host processing block and said plurality of digital signal processing blocks; and

an interface for an extension function providing medium connected to said bus,

wherein the extension function providing medium comprises

means for accomplishing an extension function, and

a script embedding a command for operating the extension function, and

wherein, when the extension function providing medium is attached to said bus through said interface, the script is sent to said host processing block side and a function of the extension function providing medium is operated corresponding to the command embedded in the script.

2. The digital signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the command is described and embedded in a script of hypertext,

wherein the hypertext is interpreted by a browser and a picture for operating the extension function is displayed, and

wherein a command corresponding to the function is embedded and displayed in the picture for operating the extension function.

3. A digital signal processing system, comprising:

a digital signal processing apparatus comprising;

a host processing block for controlling entire of said digital signal processing apparatus through outputting a command that does not depend on hardware and that is not on real time basis,

a plurality of digital signal processing blocks each having means for interpreting said command from said host processing block for controlling a hardware component,

a bus for connecting said host processing block and said plurality of digital signal processing blocks, and

an interface for an extension function providing medium connected to said bus; and

an extension function providing medium attached to said interface of the extension function providing medium on the digital signal processing side,

wherein said extension function providing medium comprises;

means for accomplishing an extension function, and

a script embedding a command for operating the extension function, and

wherein, when said extension function providing medium is attached to said bus through said interface, the script is sent to said host processing block side and a function of said extension function providing medium is operated corresponding to the command embedded in the script.

4. The digital signal processing system as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the command is described and embedded in a script of hypertext,

wherein the hypertext is interpreted by a browser and a picture for operating the extension function is displayed, and

wherein a command corresponding to the function is embedded and displayed in the picture for operating the extension function.

5. An extension function providing method, comprising:

structuring functions necessary for processing a digital signal as a plurality of digital signal processing blocks and a host processing block;

controlling a digital signal processing apparatus through a command that does not depend on hardware and that is not on real time basis;

interpreting said command and controlling a hardware component;

connecting the host arithmetic operation processing block and the plurality of digital signal processing blocks through a bus; and

providing an interface for an extension function providing medium connected to the bus,

wherein the extension function providing medium comprises

means for accomplishing an extension function, and

a script embedding a command for operating the extension function, and

wherein, when the extension function providing medium is attached to the bus through the interface, the script is sent to the host processing block side ard a function of the extension function providing medium is operated corresponding to the command embedded in the script.

6. The extension function providing method as set forth in claim 5,

wherein the command is described and embedded in a script of hypertext,

wherein the hypertext is interpreted by a browser and a picture for operating the extension function is displayed, and

wherein a command corresponding to the function is embedded and displayed in the picture for operating the extension function.