Apparatus and method for processing ultrasonic data

An apparatus for processing data, the apparatus comprising:

• a data downsampler configured to downsample a first ultrasonic data, on which beamforming is not performed;
• a data compressor configured to compress the downsampled first ultrasonic data, and store the compressed first ultrasonic data in a memory;
• a data decompressor configured to read the compressed first ultrasonic data from the memory, and decompress the read first ultrasonic data;
• a data upsampler configured to upsample the decompressed first ultrasonic data if the stored first ultrasonic data is a compressed and downsampled first ultrasonic data;
• and
• an internal cache configured to temporarily store the upsampled first ultrasonic data in the internal cache accessible by a plurality of processors configured to perform beamforming and transfer the upsampled first ultrasonic data to the plurality of processors in response to a request for the upsampled first ultrasonic data from plurality of processors so that the plurality of processors do not have to perform the decompressing and the upsampling, the internal cache being external to the plurality of processors,
• wherein the data decompressor is further configured to transfer the upsampled first ultrasonic data to a processor configured to perform beamforming so that the processor does not have to perform the decompressing and the upsampling, and
• wherein the data compressor is further configured to receive a second ultrasonic data obtained as a result of the beamforming from the processor, compress the received second ultrasonic data, and store the compressed second ultrasonic data in the memory.

A method of processing data, the method comprising:

• compressing a first ultrasonic data, on which beamforming is not performed, wherein the compressing of the first ultrasonic data comprises downsampling the first ultrasonic data;
• storing the compressed first ultrasonic data in a memory;
• reading the stored first ultrasonic data from the memory;
• decompressing the read first ultrasonic data, wherein the decompressing of the read first ultrasonic data comprises upsampling the decompressed first ultrasonic data if the read first ultrasonic data is a compressed and downsampled first ultrasonic data;
• temporarily storing the upsampled first ultrasonic data in an internal cache accessible by of processors configured to perform beamforming;
• transferring the upsampled first ultrasonic data to the plurality of processors in response to a request for the upsampled first ultrasonic data from the plurality of processors so that the plurality of processors do not have to perform the decompressing and the upsampling;
• receiving a second ultrasonic data obtained as a result of the beamforming from the processor;
• compressing the received second ultrasonic data;
• and
• storing the compressed second ultrasonic data in the memory,
• wherein the internal cache is external to the plurality of processors.