Digital filtering method and device and sound image localizing device

A digital filter device for executing digital filtering processing for a plurality of channels, said digital filter device comprising:

• a first section that collectively transfers, via a bus of a computer, a plurality of samples of digital data to be filtered for each one of the plurality of channels;
• a second section that executes filtering processing, based on a predetermined filter function, on the plurality of samples of digital data for each one of the plurality of channels transferred by said first section, at a rate higher than a predetermined sampling rate;
• and
• a third section that buffers the digital data having been subjected to the filtering processing by said second section.

A machine-readable recording medium containing a group of instructions of a program for causing a processor to execute a method of filtering processing for a plurality of channels, said method comprising the steps of:

• a first step of collectively transferring, via a bus of a computer, a plurality of samples of digital data to be filtered for one of the plurality of channels;
• a second step of executing filtering processing, based on a predetermined filter function, on the plurality of samples of digital data for the one channel transferred by said first step, at a rate higher than a predetermined sampling rate;
• a third step of buffering the digital data having been subjected to the filtering processing;
• and
• a fourth step of repeating said first to third steps for each of the remaining ones of the plurality of channels.

A digital filter device for executing filtering arithmetic processing for a plurality of channels, said digital filter device comprising:

• an interface section that collectively receives, via a computer bus, a predetermined number of samples of digital data for each one of the plurality of channels at one or more giver time points within a predetermined frame period;
• a filtering arithmetic processing section that executes predetermined filtering arithmetic processing on the digital data received by said interface section;
• and
• an output section that buffers filtered data outputted by said filtering arithmetic processing section and then outputs the filtered data buffered thereby.

A machine-readable medium containing a program for causing a processor to carry out a method of filtering processing for a plurality of channels, said processor operatively coupled to a bus of a computer, said computer collectively transferring, via the bus, a predetermined number of samples of digital data at one or more given time points within a predetermined frame period, said method of filtering comprising the steps of:

• a first step of receiving the digital data transferred for each one of the plurality of channels from said computer via the bus;
• a second step of executing predetermined filtering arithmetic processing, for at least one frame period, on the digital data received by said first step, the filtering arithmetic processing being executed intermittently in response to reception, by said first step, of the digital data via the bus;
• and
• a third step of buffering filtered data provided by said second step and then outputting the filtered data buffered thereby.