Method for processing font data in embedded system

• US 8,144,157 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MStar Semiconductor Incorporated (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: LEE, YING CHUN
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): He, Weiming
• Application Number:
  US12/208,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/501
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/225 comprising a loadable character generator character generators per se G09G5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/227 Resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats, resolution change between memory contents and display screen

Abstract

A method for processing font data is used in an embedded system exhibiting a display function. The embedded system includes a first processor, a second processor, a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory. The method for processing font data includes steps of: issuing a request by the first processor; converting vector-based font data stored in the non-volatile memory into bit-based font data by the second processor wherein the bit-based font data are stored in the volatile memory, and generating a finish notice by the second processor after the vector-based font data are converted into the bit-based font data; and activating the on screen display function of the embedded system responding to the finish notice by the first processor.

Claims

1. A method for processing font data for an embedded system, been a television system or a mobile cell phone, having on screen display function, said embedded system comprising a first processor, a second processor, a graphics processor, a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, the method for processing font data comprising:

issuing a request from the first processor to the second processor for generating font data from a vector-based font file;

converting vector-based font data stored in the non-volatile memory into bit-based font data by the second processor wherein the bit-based font data are stored in the volatile memory;

generating a finish notice by the second processor after the vector-based font data are converted into the bit-based font data; and

activating said on screen display function of said embedded system by the first processor in response to said finish notice.

2. The method for processing font data of claim 1, wherein said first processor is an 8051 micro controller, and said second processor is a RISC (reduced instruction set computer) CPU.

3. The method for processing font data of claim 1, wherein said request to generate font data issued by said first processor is an interrupt signal, said second processor receives the interrupt signal to generate font data, said second processor retrieves said vector-based font file from said non-volatile memory and computes to generate said bit-based font data and store said bit-based font data in said volatile memory.

4. The method for processing font data of claim 1, wherein said finish notice is an interrupt signal, and, responding to the interrupt signal, said first processor activates on screen display function of said embedded system to facilitate a graphics processor displaying text with said bit-based font data.

5. The method for processing font data of claim 1, wherein said request to generate font data issued by said first processor is stored in a first register, said second processor retrieves said first register by polling data, and further responding to said request said second processor retrieves said vector-based font file from said non-volatile memory and generates said bit-based font data, and said second processor stores said bit-based font data in said volatile memory.

6. The method for processing font data of claim 1, wherein said finish notice is stored in a second register, said first processor retrieves said second register by polling data, and further responding to said finish notice said first processor activates said on screen display function of said embedded system to facilitate a graphics processor displaying text with said bit-based font data.

7. A method for processing font data for an embedded system, been a television system or a mobile cell phone, said embedded system having on screen display function, said embedded system comprising a first processor, a second processor, a graphics processor, a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory, the method for processing font data comprising:

issuing a request to load vector-based font data from a vector-based font file by said first processor;

retrieving the vector-based font file from said non-volatile memory and storing said vector-based font file in said volatile memory responding to said request to load vector-based font data by said second processor;

issuing a request to display text then resuming other computing tasks by said first processor; and

generating bit-based font data corresponding to said request to display text by computing on said vector-based font file by said second processor for text displaying.

8. The method for processing font data of claim 7, wherein said first processor is an 8051 micro controller, and said second processor is a RISC (reduced instruction set computer) CPU.

9. The method for processing font data of claim 7, wherein said request to load vector-based font data generated by said first processor is an interrupt signal, and, responding to said interrupt signal associated with said request to load vector-based font data, said second processor retrieves said vector-based font file from said non-volatile memory and stores said vector-based font file in said volatile memory.

10. The method for processing font data of claim 7, wherein said request to display text is an interrupt signal, and, responding to said interrupt signal associated with said request to display text, said second processor computes on said vector-based font file to generate bit-based font data in response to said request to display text, to facilitate a graphics processor displaying text with said bit-based font data.

11. The method for processing font data of claim 7, wherein said request to load vector-based font data generated by said first processor is stored in a first register, said second processor retrieves said first register by polling data, and further responding to said request to load vector-based font data said second processor retrieves said vector-based font file from said non-volatile memory and stores said vector-based font file in said volatile memory.

12. The method for processing font data of claim 7, wherein said request to display text is stored in a second register, said second processor retrieves said second register by polling data, and further responding to said request to display text said second processor computes on said vector-based font file and generates bit-based font data in response to said request to display text to facilitate a graphics processor displaying text with said bit-based font data.