Multi buffer asynchronous scheme for processing incoming information

• US 8,489,783 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, Thomas James
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shyu, Jing-Yih
• Application Number:
  US11/650,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/53
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 5/16 Multiplexed systems, i.e. using two or more similar devices which are alternately accessed for enqueue and dequeue operations, e.g. ping-pong buffers

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device featuring a multi buffer scheme for processing incoming signals. For example, two buffers can be used. A processor can read and process stored signals from a first buffer while an incoming data module can concurrently store signals in a second buffer. Once, the processor is done, it can move on to the second buffer and process signals stored therein while the incoming data module stores signals in the first buffer. Also provided is a flagging scheme for allowing the processor and the incoming data module to control their respective access to the various buffers, so that only one of them accesses a single buffer at any time.

Claims

1. A method for processing incoming data by an incoming data module and a processor, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of incoming analog data by the incoming data module, the plurality of incoming analog data generated by at least applying stimulation signals to a multi-touch panel;

digitizing the plurality of incoming analog data into incoming sets of digital data,

selecting one of at least two buffers;

saving a first set of data into the selected one buffer by the incoming data module;

alerting the processor to indicated that the incoming data module has completed saving the first set of data into the selected one buffer;

processing the first set of data in the selected one buffer by the processor;

selecting the other of the at least two buffers;

saving a second set of data into the selected other buffer by the incoming data module;

alerting the processor to indicated that the incoming data module has completed saving the second set of data into the selected other buffer;

processing the second set of data in the selected other buffer by the processor;

alternately saving additional first sets of data into the selected one buffer and additional second sets of data into the selected other buffer, wherein the sets of digital data correspond to the first set of data, the second set of data, the additional first sets of data and the additional second sets of data; and

stopping the saving of at least one of;

(1) one of the additional first sets of data if the processor is busy processing another of the additional first sets of data from the selected one buffer; and

(2) one of the additional second sets of data if the processor is busy processing another of the additional second sets of data from the selected other buffer;

wherein the stopping the saving of at least one of one of the additional first sets of data or one of the additional second sets of data includes at least one of;

(1) stopping the generation of at least some of the plurality of the incoming analog data;

(2) stopping digitizing of at least some of the plurality of incoming analog data; and

(3) digitizing the plurality of incoming analog data but not saving at least portions of the sets of digital data corresponding to at least one of the ones of the additional first sets of data and the ones of the additional second sets of data.

2. The method of claim 1, stopping the generation of the at least some of the plurality of the incoming analog data includes stopping the applying of at least some of the stimulation signals to the multi-touch panel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stopping the generation of at least some of the plurality of incoming analog data is initiated by the incoming data module.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stopping of the generation of at least some of the plurality of incoming analog data is performed by stopping a generation of one or more stimulation signals.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the incoming data module and the processor operate in parallel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming data module and the processor operate in parallel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the saving of additional first sets of data into the selected one buffer and additional second sets of data into the selected other buffer includes overwriting data previously stored in and processed from the selected one buffer and the selected other buffer respectively.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein saving the first and second sets of data and processing the data includes accessing the selected buffer over a common bus, the common bus connecting the incoming data module, the processor, and the at least two buffers.

8. A method for processing data by an incoming data module and a processor, the incoming data module and processor connected to a common bus, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of incoming analog data by the incoming data module;

digitizing the plurality of incoming analog data into at least a first and second set of digital data,

consulting one or more flags by the incoming data module to select a first buffer connected to the common bus from a plurality of buffers, the first buffer being available to store information therein;

storing the first set of digital data into the first buffer by the incoming data module, the incoming data module accessing the first buffer over the common bus;

modifying at least one of the one or more flags to set a first value to indicate that new information has been stored in the first buffer by the incoming data module;

processing the information in the first buffer by the processor, the processor accessing the first buffer over the common bus; and

modifying at least another of the at least two flags by the processor to set the two flags to a second value to indicate that a second buffer is available to store information therein,

simultaneously consulting the at least two flags by the incoming data module to select the second buffer in response to the two flags being set to the second value;

storing the second set of data into the second buffer by the incoming data module, the incoming data module accessing the second buffer over the common bus;

wherein;

the processor and the incoming data module operate in parallel; and

the incoming data module is operable for stopping the generation of incoming analog data by the incoming data module when the processor has not completed processing the first set of data in the first buffer and the incoming data module has completed storing the second set of data in the second buffer.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the incoming data module is storing a second set of data into a second buffer, while the processor processes the first set of data in the first buffer.

10. A system for processing incoming information comprising:

a multi-touch panel providing a plurality of incoming analog data generated by at least applying stimulation signals to the multi-touch panel;

an incoming data module connected to receive the plurality of incoming analog data;

a processor connected to the incoming data module;

a memory comprising at least a first and a second buffer connected to the processor and the incoming data module; and

at least two flags accessible by the processor and the incoming data module;

wherein the incoming data module is configured to

digitize the plurality of incoming analog data and generate incoming sets of digital data corresponding thereto,

wait until the two flags have a first value, and when the two flags have the first value, select the first buffer,

save a first set of the incoming sets of digital data into the selected first buffer, change a value of the at least two flags, and send a first alert to the processor,

wait until the at least one flag has a second value, and when the at least two flags have the second value, select the second buffer,

save a second set of incoming sets of digital data into the selected second buffer, change a value of the at least two flags, and send a second alert to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to

receive the first alert, identify the first buffer, change the value of the at least two flags if all data in the second buffer has been processed, and process the data of the first buffer, and

receive the second alert, identify the second buffer, change the value of the at least two flags if all data in the first buffer has been processed, and process the data of the second buffer, and

wherein the incoming data module is further configured to

stop the saving of additional first sets of the incoming sets of digital data in the first buffer when the processor has not yet completed processing one of the incoming sets of digital data previously stored in the first buffer by stopping the applying of the stimulation signals to the multi-touch panel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor and the incoming data module operate in parallel.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory further comprises instructions, which are executed by the processor in order to perform its associated steps.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the incoming data module further comprises application specific logic which performs its associated steps.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the memory is random access memory.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory is a register file.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a common bus connecting the incoming data module, the memory and the processor.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the saving of the first set of the incoming sets of digital data into the selected first buffer comprises overwriting previously saved and processed data.

18. A system for processing incoming information comprising:

a source of incoming data;

an incoming data module connected to the source of incoming data;

a processor connected to the incoming data module;

a memory comprising two buffers and connected to the processor and the source of incoming data; and

two flags accessible by the processor and the source of incoming data;

wherein the incoming data module is configured to

wait until two flags have first values and when the two flags do have first values, select one of two buffers depending on the values of the flags, save a set of data received from the source of incoming data into the selected buffer, change a first flag of the two flags, and alert the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to

receive the alert and change the second flag if all data in the other one of the two buffers has been processed, and

wherein the incoming data module is further configured to wait until two flags have a second values, the second value different from the first value, and when the two flags do have the second values, select the other of the two buffers based on the values of the flags and save another set of data into the other selected buffer; and

wherein the incoming data module is configured to delay receipt of yet another set of data from the source of incoming data if both of the two buffers contain sets of data that have not yet been processed by the processor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the source of incoming data is a multi-touch panel providing analog touch signals in response at least in part to the application of stimulation signals;

the incoming data module is configured to digitize the analog touch signals to provide the sets of data; and

the incoming data module is configured to delay the application of the stimulation signals.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the processor and the incoming data module operate in parallel.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the memory further comprises instructions, which are executed by the processor in order to perform its associated steps and the incoming data module further comprises application specific logic which performs its associated steps.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is a mobile telephone.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is a portable audio player.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the incoming data module, the processor and the memory are coupled together over a common bus.

25. A mobile telephone comprising:

a source of incoming data having a multi-touch panel providing analog touch signals in response at least in part to the application of stimulation signals;

an incoming data module connected to the source of incoming data the incoming data module is configured to digitize the analog touch signals to provide sets of data;

a processor connected to the incoming data module;

a memory comprising at least two buffers and connected to the processor and the source of incoming data; and

at least two flags accessible by the processor and the source of incoming data;

wherein the incoming data module is configured to

wait until the at least two flags have a first values, and when the at least two flags do have the first values, select one of at least two buffers depending on the values of the flags, save a set of data received from the source of incoming data into the selected buffer, change at least a first flag of the at least two flags, and alert the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to

receive the alert, change at least the second of the at least two flags if all data in the other one of the two buffers has been processed, identify the selected one of the at least two buffers, and process the data of the selected buffer, and

wherein the incoming data module is further configured to

select the other of the at least two buffers based on the values of the flags when the at least two flags have the second value, the second value different from the first value and save another set of data into the other selected buffer; and

wherein the incoming data module is configured to delay receipt of yet another set of data from the source of incoming data if both of at least the two buffers contain sets of data that have not yet been processed by the processor by preventing the application of the stimulation signals to the multi-touch panel.

26. A portable audio player comprising:

a source of incoming data having a multi-touch panel providing analog touch signals in response at least in part to the application of stimulation signals;

an incoming data module connected to the source of incoming data the incoming data module is configured to digitize the analog touch signals to provide sets of data;

a processor connected to the incoming data module;

a memory comprising at least two buffers and connected to the processor and the source of incoming data; and

at least two flags accessible by the processor and the source of incoming data;

wherein the incoming data module is configured to wait until the at least two flags have a first values, and when the at least two flags do have the first values, select one of at least two buffers depending on the values of the flags, save a set of data received from the source of incoming data into the selected buffer, change at least a first flag of the at least two flags, and alert the processor,

wherein the processor is configured to receive the alert, change at least the second of the at least two flags if all data in the other one of the two buffers has been processed, identify the selected one of the at least two buffers, and process the data of the selected buffer, and

wherein the incoming data module is further configured to

select the other of the at least two buffers based on the values of the flags when the at least two flags have the second value, the second value different from the first value, and save another set of data into the other selected buffer; and

wherein the incoming data module is configured to delay receipt of yet another set of data from the source of incoming data if both of at least the two buffers contain sets of data that have not yet been processed by the processor by preventing the application of the stimulation signals to the multi-touch panel.

28. A method for processing incoming sets of digital data from a multi-touch panel, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of incoming analog data, the plurality of incoming analog data generated by at least applying stimulation signals to a multi-touch panel;

digitizing the plurality of incoming analog data into incoming sets of digital data,

selecting one of at least two buffers;

saving a first set of data into the selected one buffer;

processing the first set of data in the selected one buffer by a processor;

selecting the other of the at least two buffers;

saving a second set of data into the selected other buffer;

processing the second set of data in the selected other buffer by the processor;

alternately saving additional first sets of data into the selected one buffer and additional second sets of data into the selected other buffer, wherein the incoming sets of digital data correspond to the first set of data, the second set of data, the additional first sets of data and the additional second sets of data;

stopping the saving of at least one of;

(1) one of the additional first sets of data if the processor is busy processing another of the additional first sets of data from the selected one buffer; and

(2) one of the additional second sets of data if the processor is busy processing another of the additional second sets of data from the selected other buffer; and

wherein the stopping of the saving of at least one of one of the additional first sets of data or one of the additional second sets of data includes at least one of;

(1) stopping the generation of at least some of the plurality of the incoming analog data;

(2) stopping digitizing of at least some of the plurality of incoming analog data; and

(3) digitizing the plurality of incoming analog data but not saving at least portions of the sets of digital data corresponding to at least one of the ones of the additional first sets of data and the ones of the additional second sets of data.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein stopping the generation of at least some of the plurality of the incoming analog data includes stopping the applying of at least some of the stimulation signals to the multi-touch panel.

30. A method for processing incoming sets of digital data from a multi-touch panel, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of incoming analog data, the plurality of incoming analog data generated by at least applying stimulation signals to a multi-touch panel;

digitizing the plurality of incoming analog data into incoming sets of digital data,

saving a first set of data into the a first buffer;

processing the first set of data in the first buffer by a processor;

saving a second set of data into a second buffer;

processing the second set of data in the second buffer by the processor;

alternately saving additional first sets of data into the first buffer and additional second sets of data into the second buffer, wherein the incoming sets of digital data correspond to the first set of data, the second set of data, the additional first sets of data and the additional second sets of data; and

stopping the saving of one of the additional first sets of data if the processor is busy processing another of the additional first sets of data from the first buffer;

wherein the stopping of the saving includes stopping the applying of at least some of the stimulation signals to the multi-touch panel.

31. A method for processing data by an incoming data module and a processor, the incoming data module and processor connected to a common bus, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of incoming analog data by the incoming data module, the plurality of incoming analog data generated by at least applying stimulation signals to a multi-touch panel;

digitizing the plurality of incoming analog data into incoming sets of digital data,

consulting at least two flags by the incoming data module to select at least a first buffer connected to the common bus from a plurality of buffers;

storing a first set of digital data into a first buffer by the incoming data module, the incoming data module accessing the first buffer over the common bus;

processing the information in the first buffer by the processor, the processor accessing the first buffer over the common bus; and

modifying at least another of the at least two flags by the processor to set the at least two flags to a first value to indicate that a second buffer is available to store information therein,

consulting the at least two flags by the incoming data module to select the second buffer in response to the two flags being in the first value;

storing the second set of data into the second buffer by the incoming data module, the incoming data module accessing the second buffer over the common bus;

storing additional sets of digital data in the first buffer if the processor has completed processing sets of digital data previously stored in the first buffer and inhibiting the storing of additional sets of digital data in the first buffer if the processor is busy processing at least one set of digital data previously stored in the first buffer; and

the inhibiting of the storing being performed by stopping the applying of stimulation signals to a multi-touch panel.