Apparatus, system and method for buffering audio data to allow low power states in a processing system during audio playback
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an audio buffer control configured to be coupled to an audio controller in a processing system and configured to control buffering of at least one audio data stream received from the audio controller in the processing system, the buffering occurring external to the processing system; and
an audio codec coupled to the audio buffer, the audio codec being configured to receive the at least one buffered audio data stream transferred from the audio buffer external to the processing system while the processing system is in a low power state and to convert the at least one buffered audio data stream into at least one audio output, the audio buffer control being configured to transfer the buffered audio data stream to the audio codec independent of a the low power state of the processing system.
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Abstract
An audio data stream from a processing system may be buffered to allow low power states in the processing system during audio playback. An audio buffer may be provided external to the processing system and between the processing system and an audio codec. The audio buffer may also shift to an alternate audio data interface mode when the processing system is in the low power state. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
18 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an audio buffer control configured to be coupled to an audio controller in a processing system and configured to control buffering of at least one audio data stream received from the audio controller in the processing system, the buffering occurring external to the processing system; and an audio codec coupled to the audio buffer, the audio codec being configured to receive the at least one buffered audio data stream transferred from the audio buffer external to the processing system while the processing system is in a low power state and to convert the at least one buffered audio data stream into at least one audio output, the audio buffer control being configured to transfer the buffered audio data stream to the audio codec independent of a the low power state of the processing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a processing system including an audio controller configured to control at least one audio data stream, the processing system having a plurality of power states including at least one low power state; an audio buffer coupled to the audio controller and external to the processing system, the audio buffer being configured to receive and buffer the at least one audio data stream from the audio controller; and an audio codec coupled to the audio buffer, the audio codec being configured to receive the at least one buffered audio data stream transferred from the audio buffer while the processing system is in the at least one low power state and to convert the buffered audio data stream into at least one audio output, the audio buffer being configured to transfer the buffered audio data stream to the audio codec independent of the at least one low power state. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing at least one audio data stream from an audio controller in a processing system; buffering the at least one audio data stream external to the processing system; transitioning the processing system to a low power state; transferring the at least one buffered audio data stream to an audio codec while the processing system is in the low power state; and converting the buffered audio data stream into at least one audio output at the audio codec. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a system bus; a processor coupled to the system bus; a chipset coupled to the system bus, the chipset including a graphics and memory controller hub and an I/O controller hub configured to control an audio data stream; a system memory coupled to the graphics and memory controller hub; a buffered audio codec coupled to the I/O controller hub, the buffered audio codec comprising; an audio buffer control configured to be coupled to the I/O controller hub and configured to control buffering of the audio data stream received from the I/O controller hub external to the processor; at least one memory coupled to the audio buffer control and configured to store the buffered audio data stream temporarily; and an audio codec coupled to the audio buffer, the audio codec being configured to receive the buffered audio data stream transferred from the audio buffer while the processing system is in a low power state and to convert the audio data stream into at least one audio output, the audio buffer control being configured to transfer the buffered audio data stream to the audio codec independent of the low power state of the processing system; an audio device coupled to the buffered audio codec and configured to receive the at least one audio output and convert the at least one audio output into sound. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification