Integrated circuit with multipurpose processing and for video/audio processing optimization

• US 9,361,259 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Socionext Inc.
• Original Assignee: Socionext Inc.
• Inventors: Michiyama, Junji, Kimura, Kozo, Kiyohara, Tokuzo, Mizuno, Hiroshi, Kitamura, Tomohiko, Yamaguchi, Ryoji, Kuroda, Manabu, Yamada, Nobuhiko, Ohgose, Hideyuki, Yamana, Akifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRENTE, RICHARD T
• Application Number:
  US14/314,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20140310442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 375/240.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

An integrated circuit for video/audio processing in which design resources obtained by development of video/audio devices can also be used for other types of video/audio devices. The integrated circuit includes a microcomputer that includes a CPU, a stream input/output for inputting/outputting a video and audio stream to and from an external device, a media processor that executes the media processing including at least one of compressing and decompressing the video and audio stream inputted to the stream input/output, an AV input/output that converts the video and audio stream subjected to the media processing by the media processor into video and audio signals and outputting these signals to the external device. A memory interface controls a data transfer between the microcomputer, the stream input/output, the media processor and the AV input/output and an external memory.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit for video/audio processing that processes a video and audio signal, comprising:

an I/O processing block executing an operation including I/O processes; and

a secondary-I/O processing block executing an operation including I/O processes fewer than the I/O processes executed by said I/O processing block,

wherein each of said I/O processing block and said secondary-I/O processing block is defined into a real-time processing part for executing real-time processes and a secondary-real-time processing part for executingsecondary-real-time processes;

wherein said real-time processing part of said I/O processing block and said secondary-I/O processing block process a video and audio signal,

wherein said secondary-I/O processing block is for multipurpose processing and operable to stop at least one of a power and a clock to be supplied thereto independently of said I/O processing block,

wherein said secondary-real-time processes executed by said secondary-real-time processing part are fewer than said real-time processes executed by said real-time processing part,

wherein

a first block is configured with said secondary-real-time processing part of said secondary-I/O processing block;

a second block is configured with said real-time processing part of said secondary-I/O processing block;

a third block is configured with said secondary-real-time processing part of said I/O processing block; and

a fourth block executing a real-time I/O process is configured with said real-time processing part of said I/O processing block, and

wherein said first block and said second block that both execute a secondary-I/O process are operable to stop at least one of power and a clock from being supplied thereto independently of said third block and said fourth block.

2. The integrated circuit for video/audio processing according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth block accessing an external memory,

wherein each of said second, third and fourth blocks is coupled to said fifth block.

3. The integrated circuit for video/audio processing according to claim 2, wherein

said second block, said third block and said fourth block are connected to said fifth block by plural data buses, and

when data is exchanged between any two of said second block, said third block and said fourth block, said data is exchanged therebetween through said fifth block by using said external memory.

4. The integrated circuit for video/audio processing according to claim 2, wherein

said first block includes a microcomputer including a central processor unit (CPU),

said third block includes a stream input/output operable to receive/output a video and audio stream to/from an external device,

said second block includes a media processor operable to execute a media processing including at least one of compression and decompression of the video and audio stream input to said stream input/output or output from said stream input/output,

said fourth block includes an AV input/output operable to convert the video and audio stream subjected to the media processing in said media processor and output the video and audio stream to a first external apparatus, or acquire the video and audio signal from a second external apparatus and convert the video and audio signal into a video and audio stream subjected to the media processing in said media processor, and

said fifth block includes a memory interface operable to control a data transfer between said external memory and one of said stream input/output, said media processor and said AV input/output.