Low power digital audio decoding/playing system for computing devices

• US 7,522,964 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maishi Electronic (Shanghai) Limited
• Original Assignee: O2 Micro International Limited (O2 Micro Incorporated)
• Inventors: Du, Sterling, Her, Sheau Chuen, Ivchenko, Volodymyr, Lam, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US09/969,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,758 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 710/14
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/441 Multiboot arrangements, i.e. selecting an operating system to be loaded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/61 wherein solid state memory is used for storing A/V content storing computer data in solid state memories G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A low-power digital audio decoding and playing system and method for computing devices provides a low-cost, low power-consumption, long-battery-life audio playing and decoding system, which may be used to play compressed audio files of various formats. In one aspect, a computer system adapted to play audio files comprises a system CPU, memory, at least one drive comprising compressed audio data, and an audio controller coupled to the system CPU, memory and drive. The audio controller is adapted to cause the drive to read the compressed audio data from the drive, to cause the system CPU to decompress the compressed audio data from the drive into decompressed audio data, to cause the decompressed audio to be stored in the memory, and to cause the decompressed audio data to be retrieved from the memory for playing.

Claims

1. A computer system adapted to play an audio file, said computer system comprising:

a system CPU;

a memory coupled to said system CPU; and

a drive coupled to said system CPU and having stored thereon an audio file comprising compressed audio data;

wherein a first operating system is adapted to control at least said system CPU and said memory, wherein said first operating system is operable for decompressing said compressed audio data if said computer system is operated by said first operating system; and

wherein a second operating system is stored in BIOS and is used instead of said first operating system for retrieving a play list containing information related to a location of an audio file including a volume serial number of a drive containing said audio file, and for enabling said drive to read said audio file from said play list according to said volume serial number, and for enabling said system CPU to decompress said compressed audio data, wherein decompressed audio data is transferred through a first transfer path to an output amplifier through a circuit situated between said drive and said output amplifier if said computer system is operated by said first operating system, and wherein said decompressed audio data is transferred through a second transfer path through said circuit to said output amplifier if said computer system is operated by said second operating system, wherein on said first transfer path said decompressed audio data is not modified by said circuit but on said second transfer path play of said decompressed audio data is controlled using user-actuated function keys that are coupled to said circuit.

2. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a portable memory media device coupled to said system CPU, wherein said portable memory media device comprises a portable memory media reader and a portable memory device, and wherein said play list is stored on said portable memory media device.

3. The computer system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said portable memory media device is selected from the group consisting of a Smart Card, a PCMCIA, a CardBus card and a Memory Stick.

8. The computer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit is configured by said system CPU to receive at least one control command if said computer system is operated by said second operating system, wherein said decompressed audio data is transferred through said circuit to said output amplifier in response to said at least one control command.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said circuit is operable to provide a signal to enable said system CPU to change from a first power state to a second power state if said computer system is operated by said second operating system.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said at least one control command is received by said system CPU by bypassing said circuit if said computer system is operated by said first operating system.

4. A computer system adapted to play at least one audio file, said computer system comprising:

audio file, said computer system comprising;

a system CPU;

a memory coupled to said system CPU; and

a first device coupled to said system CPU and having stored thereon an audio file comprising compressed audio data;

wherein a first operating system is adapted to control at least said system CPU and said memory and is executed when said computer system is operating in a first mode, said first operating system adapted to decompress said compressed audio data if said computer system is operated by said first operating system; and

a second operating system is executed instead of said first operating system when said computer system is operating in a second mode, said second operating system operable for retrieving a play list, and for enabling said drive to read said audio file from said play list, and for enabling said system CPU to decompress said compressed audio data of said audio file and to provide decompressed audio data, wherein said decompressed audio data is transferred through a first transfer path to an output amplifier through a circuit situated between said first device and said output amplifier if said computer system is operated by said first operating system, and wherein said decompressed audio data is transferred through a second transfer path through said circuit to said output amplifier if said computer system is operated by said second operating system, wherein on said first transfer path said decompressed audio data is not modified by said circuit but on said second transfer path play of said decompressed audio data is controlled using user-actuated function keys that are coupled to said circuit.

5. The computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said play list includes information related to a location of said audio files, and wherein said information comprises a volume serial number of said first device.

6. The computer system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a portable memory media device coupled to said system CPU, and wherein said portable memory media device comprises a portable memory media reader and a portable memory device, and wherein said play list is stored on said portable memory media device.

7. The computer system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said portable memory media device is selected from the group consisting of a Smart Card, a PCMCIA, a Card Bus card and a Memory Stick.

11. The computer system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said circuit is configured by said system CPU to receive at least one control command if said computer system is operated by said second operating system, wherein said decompressed audio data is transferred through said circuit to said output amplifier in response to said at least one control command.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said circuit is operable to provide a signal to enable said system CPU to change from a first power state to a second power state if said computer system is operated by said second operating system.

13. The computer system of claim 11, wherein said at least one control command is received by said system CPU by bypassing said circuit if said computer system is operated by said first operating system.