US 5,297,231 AGranted

Digital signal processor interface for computer system

AssigneeCompaq Computer Corporation

InventorDavid A. Miller

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Abstract

Method and apparatus for interfacing audio equipment and a computer system. Compressed parallel digital audio data originating on a system bus associated with the computer system is transmitted to a first data interface where the compressed parallel digital audio data is converted into compressed serial digital audio data. The compressed serial digital audio data is then transmitted to a second data interface associated with a digital signal processor. The second data interface routes the compressed serial digital audio data from the first data interface to the digital signal processor where the data is expanded and then returned to the second data interface. The second data interface then routes the processed serial digital audio data to a digital-to-analog converter where the processed serial digital audio data is converted to analog audio data and transmitted to the audio equipment for output. Analog audio data produced by the audio equipment is transmitted to a analog-to-digital converter for conversion into serial digital data. The analog-to-digital converter then transmits the serial digital audio data to the second data interface which routes the data to the digital signal processor. The digital signal processor compresses the serial digital audio data and returns the data to the second data interface. The second data interface then routes the compressed serial digital audio data to the first data interface where the data is converted into compressed parallel digital audio data and transmitted to the computer system bus.

Claims18

Dependent claims

Apparatus for interfacing audio equipment and a computer system, comprising:

first interfacing means for exchanging digital audio data with a system bus of said computer system;
second interfacing means for exchanging digital audio data with said first interfacing means;
and
converter means for converting digital audio data received from said second interfacing means into analog format for output to said audio equipment and analog audio data received from said audio equipment into digital format for output to said second interfacing means, said second interfacing means including means including means for routing digital audio data received from said first interfacing means to said converter means and said audio equipment including means for routing analog audio data originating thereat to said converter means;
wherein
said second interfacing means further comprises:
a first serial-in port for receiving digital audio data transmitted by said first interfacing means;
a first internal serial-out port;
a second serial-in port;
said first internal serial-out port directly propagating received digital audio data to said second serial-in port when said first internal serial-out port is directly interconnected with said second serial-in port and indirectly propagating received digital audio data to said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor when said first internal serial-out port is indirectly interconnected with said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor, said digital signal processing digital audio data propagated from said first internal serial-out port to said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor;
and
a second internal serial-out port for routing signal audio data received from said second serial-in port to said converter means;
said second interfacing means routing digital audio signals received from said converter means to said first interfacing means.

10 more elements

Apparatus for interfacing audio equipment and a computer system, comprising:

a first data interface connected to a system bus of said computer system, said first data interface receiving parallel digital audio data from said computer system bus and converting said parallel digital audio data into serial digital audio data;
a second data interface connected to said first data interface, said second data interface receiving serial digital audio data from said first data interface, said second data interface including:
a first serial-in port for receiving serial digital audio data transmitted by said first data interface;
a first internal serial-out port;
a second serial-in port;
said first internal serial-out port directly propagating received serial digital audio data to said second serial-in port when said first internal serial-out port is directly interconnected with said second serial-in port and indirectly propagating received signal serial digital audio data to said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor when said first internal serial-out port is indirectly interconnected with said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor, said digital signal processor processing serial digital audio data propagated from said first internal serial-out port to said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor;
and
a second internal serial-out port for routing digital audio data received from said second serial-in port;
a digital-to-analog converter connected to said second internal serial-out port of second data interface and to said audio equipment, said digital-to-analog converter converting serial digital audio data received from said second data interface into analog audio data and transferring said analog audio data produced thereby to audio output equipment.

6 more elements

Apparatus for interfacing audio equipment and a computer system, comprising:

first interfacing means for exchanging digital audio data with a system bus of said computer system;
second interfacing means for exchanging digital audio data with said first interfacing means;
and
converter means for converting digital audio data received from said second interfacing means into analog format for output to said audio equipment and analog audio data received from said audio equipment into digital format for output to said second interfacing means;
said second interfacing means further comprising:
a first serial-in port for receiving digital audio data transmitted by said first interfacing means;
a first internal serial-out port;
a second serial-in port;
said first internal serial-out port directly propagating received digital audio data to said second serial-in port when said first internal serial-out port is directly interconnected with said second serial-in port and indirectly propagating received digital audio data to said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor when said first internal serial-out port is indirectly interconnected with said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor, said digital signal processor processing digital audio data propagated from said first internal serial-out port to said second serial-in port via said digital signal processor;
a second internal serial-out port for routing digital audio data received from said second serial-in port to said converter means;
a third serial-in port for receiving digital audio transmitted by said converter means;
a third internal serial-out port;
a fourth serial-in port;
means for interconnecting said third internal serial-out port directly with said fourth serial-in port or indirectly via said digital signal processor;
said third internal serial-out port directly propagating received digital audio data to said fourth serial-in port when said third internal serial-out port is directly interconnected with said fourth serial-in port and indirectly propagating received digital audio data to said fourth serial-in port via said digital signal processor when said third internal serial-out port is indirectly interconnected with said fourth serial-in port via said digital signal processor, said digital signal processor processing digital audio data propagated from said third internal serial-out port to said fourth serial-in port via said digital signal processor;
and
a fourth internal serial-out port for routing digital audio data received from said third serial-in port to said first interfacing means.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.