Systems and methods for caching multimedia data
First Claim
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1. A multimedia playback apparatus, comprising:
- a mass storage device having a multiplicity of blocks of multimedia data stored thereon, said multimedia data including video and audio data;
a cache buffer coupled to said mass storage device for storing a plurality of blocks of said multimedia data read from said mass storage device, said cache buffer having a capacity for storing a first amount of said multimedia data;
a track buffer coupled to said cache buffer and having a storage capacity for storing a second amount of said multimedia data read from said cache buffer; and
a cache manager coupled to said cache buffer and said track buffer for controlling transfer of said multimedia data from said mass storage device to said cache buffer and from said cache buffer to said track buffer, said cache manager responding to a read request of a particular block of multimedia data fetches said requested block of multimedia data from said mass storage device and fetches additional blocks of multimedia data anticipated being subject to future read requests to substantially fill said cache buffer for transfer to said track buffer and said mass storage device enters a reduced power consumption mode responsive to said cache buffer being filled with a plurality of untransferred blocks of multimedia data to a first threshold level, said mass storage device exiting said reduced power consumption mode responsive to said plurality of untransferred blocks of multimedia data being below a second threshold level, said cache manager replacing blocks of transferred multimedia data in accordance with a priority hierarchy based on at least one characteristic of said blocks of multimedia data.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for caching media data to thereby enhance media data read and/or write functionality and performance. A multimedia apparatus, comprises a cache buffer configured to be coupled to a storage device, wherein the cache buffer stores multimedia data, including video and audio data, read from the storage device. A cache manager coupled to the cache buffer, wherein the cache buffer is configured to cause the storage device to enter into a reduced power consumption mode when the amount of data stored in the cache buffer reaches a first level.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A multimedia playback apparatus, comprising:
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a mass storage device having a multiplicity of blocks of multimedia data stored thereon, said multimedia data including video and audio data; a cache buffer coupled to said mass storage device for storing a plurality of blocks of said multimedia data read from said mass storage device, said cache buffer having a capacity for storing a first amount of said multimedia data; a track buffer coupled to said cache buffer and having a storage capacity for storing a second amount of said multimedia data read from said cache buffer; and a cache manager coupled to said cache buffer and said track buffer for controlling transfer of said multimedia data from said mass storage device to said cache buffer and from said cache buffer to said track buffer, said cache manager responding to a read request of a particular block of multimedia data fetches said requested block of multimedia data from said mass storage device and fetches additional blocks of multimedia data anticipated being subject to future read requests to substantially fill said cache buffer for transfer to said track buffer and said mass storage device enters a reduced power consumption mode responsive to said cache buffer being filled with a plurality of untransferred blocks of multimedia data to a first threshold level, said mass storage device exiting said reduced power consumption mode responsive to said plurality of untransferred blocks of multimedia data being below a second threshold level, said cache manager replacing blocks of transferred multimedia data in accordance with a priority hierarchy based on at least one characteristic of said blocks of multimedia data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a multimedia storage device, the method comprising:
- providing a rotating media storage drive with a multiplicity of blocks of multimedia data stored thereon;
providing a cache memory and a track buffer;
transferring said plurality of blocks of multimedia data read from said rotating media storage drive into said cache memory and from said cache memory to said track buffer responsive to a read request for one of the plurality of blocks of multimedia data;
transferring additional blocks of said plurality of blocks of multimedia data anticipated being subject to future read requests to substantially fill said cache memory for transfer to said track buffer;
placing said rotating media storage drive in a reduced power consumption mode responsive to said cache memory being filled with a plurality of untransferred blocks of multimedia data to a first threshold level;
taking said rotating media storage drive out of said reduced power consumption mode responsive to said plurality of untransferred blocks of multimedia data being below a second threshold level;
replacing blocks of transferred multimedia data in accordance with a priority hierarchy based on at least one characteristic of said blocks of multimedia data;
receiving a scan command; and
if said multimedia data corresponding to said scan command is stored in said cache memory, transferring said corresponding multimedia data from said cache memory to said track buffer for subsequent rendering. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
- providing a rotating media storage drive with a multiplicity of blocks of multimedia data stored thereon;
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17. A method of processing multimedia data, comprising:
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determining that multimedia data is to be read from a rotating media storage device; transferring a quantity of multimedia data from said rotating media storage device to a cache memory responsive to a read request for a first portion of said quantity of multimedia data, a remaining portion of said quantity of multimedia data being multimedia data anticipated being subject to future read requests; responsive to said first quantity of said multimedia data being stored in said cache memory, ceasing further transfer of said multimedia data from said rotating media storage device into said cache memory and causing said rotating media storage device to spin down and thereby enter into a power saving mode; sequentially writing portions of said quantity of multimedia data from said cache memory to a track buffer for subsequent rendering; and at least partly in response to a portion of said quantity of multimedia data yet to be written to said track buffer stored in said cache memory falling below a threshold value, causing said rotating media storage device to spin up and thereby exit said power saving mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification