US 5,303,326 AGranted

Broadcast digital sound processing system

AssigneeComputer Concepts Corporation

InventorsGregory L. Dean, Gordon L. Elliott

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A broadcast digital sound processing system includes an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus compatible personal computer with a hard disk drove and a sound processor board installed in an expansion slot of the computer. The board includes a stereo input, analog to digital converter (ADC) and a stereo set of digital to analog converters (DAC's) interfaced to a digital signal processor (DSP) chip. A stereophonic audio signal is converted to digital data by the ADC and communicated to the computer by the DSP chip through a two port record first-in/first-out (FIFO) buffer for storage on the disk. A program is played back by communicating a program data file through a two port playback FIFO buffer to the DSP and from there to the DAC's for reconstruction to a stereo set of analog signals. The reconstructed audio signals may then be used as a modulating signal for radio broadcasting.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method of recording and playing analog program signals using signal processor means, computer means and reconstruction means interfaced to said signal processor means, and a read/write computer data disk interfaced to said computer means, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing on said disk first digital program data and second digital program data representing respectively a first analog program signal and a second analog program signal;
(b) outputting from said reconstruction means at least one of said first analog program signal and said second analog program signal by the steps of:
(1) retrieving the program data corresponding to at least one of said program signals from said disk by cooperation of said computer means and said signal processor means;
and
(2) reconstructing in said reconstruction means the analog program signal corresponding to the retrieved program data from said retrieved program data;
(c) selectively recording a third analog program signal by digitizing said third analog program signal to derive third digital program data and storing said third program data on said disk by use of said signal processor means;
(d) selectively outputting said first analog program signal substantially simultaneous with the outputting of at least a portion of said second analog program signal;
and
(e) selectively recording said third analog program signal substantially simultaneous with the outputting of at least one of said first and second analog program signals.

6 more elements

A method of recording and playing analog program signals using signal processor means;

analog to digital converter means, digital to analog converter means, and computer means interfaced respectively to said signal processor means;
and a read/write computer data disk interfaced to said computer means;
said method comprising the steps of:
(a) storing on said disk first digital program data and second digital program data representing respectively a first analog program signal and a second analog program signal;
(b) outputting from said signal processor means at least one of said first analog program signal and at least a portion of said second analog program signal by the steps of:
(1) retrieving program data corresponding to at least one of said program signals from said disk and transferring same from said computer means to said signal processor means through FIFO (first-in/first-out) buffer means interfacing said computer means with said signal processor means;
(2) constructing an analog signal corresponding to the retrieved program data by said signal processor means controlling digital to analog conversion of the retrieved program data by said digital to analog converter means;
(c) selectively recording a third analog program signal by the steps of:
(1) digitizing by said analog to digital converter means said third analog program signal to derive third digital program data;
(2) transferring said third program data from said signal processor means to said computer means through said FIFO buffer means;
and
(3) storing said third program data on said disk;
(d) selectively outputting said first analog program signal substantially simultaneous with the outputting of said second analog program signal;
and
(e) selectively recording said third analog program signal substantially simultaneous with the outputting of at least one of said first and second analog program signals.

12 more elements

An apparatus for recording and playing back analog program signals, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a host computer with an ISA compatible bus;
(b) a read/write data storage disk interfaced to said computer, said disk for storage of digital program data representing program signals to record program signals and for retrieval of digital program data representing program signals to play said program signals;
(c) digitizer means receiving an analog program signal and operative to convert said analog program signal to digital program data representing said analog program signal for storage on said disk;
(d) signal reconstruction means interfaced to said computer and operative to reconstruct an analog program signal from digital program data communicated thereto;
(e) signal processor means interfaced to said digitizer means, said reconstruction means, and said computer means;
said signal processor means controlling operation of said digitizer means and said reconstruction means and controlling communication of said program data from said digitizer means to said computer and from said computer to said reconstruction means;
(f) FIFO (first-in/first-out) buffer means interfacing said signal processor means and said computer and enabling independent access to said buffer means by said signal processor means and said computer to expedite transfer of said program data from said digitizer means to said computer and from said computer to said reconstruction means;
(g) said buffer means cooperating with said signal processor means and said computer to enable retrieval from said disk of program data representing two program signals and substantially simultaneous communication of said program data to said signal processor means for digitally mixing said program data and communication of the mixed program data to said reconstruction means;
(h) said buffer means cooperating with said signal processor means and said computer to enable communication of program data representing a first program signal from said digitizer means to said disk to record said first program signal and substantially simultaneous communication of program data representing a second program signal from said disk to said reconstruction means to enable playing said second program signal;
and
(i) analog signal output means coupled to said reconstruction means and operative to output a reconstructed analog program signal represented by program data communicated to said reconstruction means.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/909,183Filed 6 Jul 1992 · continuation
Priority: 30 Mar 1990
Granted: 12 Apr 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

H04H 60/07
Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linking to broadcast…:…
G06F 3/16
Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for…: sound…
G11B 20/00007
Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor: time or data compression or expansion
G11B 20/10527
Digital recording or reproducing: audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements