Retro-storing analog information in a digital storage circuit

A method for retro-storing analog information comprising a plurality of analog data, in a memory circuit, comprising the steps of:

• (A) receiving and processing the plurality of analog data into digitized data for storage in the memory circuit;
• (B) storing the digitized data in the memory circuit in a continuous loop manner;
• (C) detecting a signal indicating that storage of the analog information is required;
• (D) preventing a predetermined number of the digitized data last stored in the memory circuit before the signal is detected from being deleted, in order to retro-store the analog information.

A method for retro-storing audio information comprising a first audio message and a second audio message in a nonvolatile memory, comprising:

• (A) receiving and processing the first audio message into first digitized data;
• (B) storing the first digitized data in a buffer circuit;
• (C) receiving and processing the second audio message into second digitized data;
• (D) determining if storage of the audio information is required;
• (E) if storage of the audio information is required, then
• (i) storing the first digitized data into the nonvolatile memory from the buffer circuit;
• (ii) storing the second digitized data into the nonvolatile memory, such that when the second digitized data is retrieved, both the first and second digitized data are retrieved from the nonvolatile memory;
• (F) if storage of the audio information is not required, then deleting the first digitized data from the buffer circuit and storing the second digitized data in the buffer circuit.

An integrated circuit for retro-storing and retrieving analog information, comprising:

• (A) a signal converter for converting the analog information into digitized data;
• (B) a buffer circuit for buffering the digitized data;
• (C) a memory for storing the digitized data;
• (D) a processing circuit for processing the digitized data and for controlling the buffer circuit and the memory to store the digitized data;
• (E) a control circuit coupled to the memory, the buffer circuit, and the processing circuit for controlling the processing circuit to store the digitized data in the memory in response to a control signal, wherein when the control signal is not asserted, the control circuit controls the processing circuit to store the digitized data in the buffer circuit in a continuous loop manner, wherein when the control signal is asserted, the control circuit controls the processing circuit to store into the memory (1) the digitized data received after the control signal is asserted and (2) the digitized data already stored in the buffer circuit.