Integrated circuit having circuit blocks that are selectively interconnectable using programming instructions received from a remote location, such as the internet
OwnerRobert J Distinti, Harry F Smithinventors
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Abstract
Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a substrate having a plurality of digital signal processors, including at least one analog circuit block, and means on said substrate for programmably interconnecting said processors and said at least one analog circuit block together. Also disclosed is a programming system comprising means for converting a programmable analog array specification into one or more programs executable by one or more digital signal processors so as to perform the identical or substantially identical function or functions as the programmed analog array.
Claims40
An integrated circuit comprising a substrate on which are disposed at least one digital processor circuit block, at least one analog signal processor circuit block, and a plurality of buses coupled to interconnection means for interconnecting together said at least one digital processor circuit block and said at least one analog signal processing circuit block into a configuration specified by programming instructions, said interconnection means having a programming interface for coupling said interconnection means to a remote source of programming instructions, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a part of an electronic system, and wherein said remote source comprises a provider of signals that are converted by said electronic system into a human perceptible form.
An integrated circuit comprising a plurality of digital circuit blocks for operating on electrical signals representing digital data, optical circuitry for converting digital data electrical signals to digital data optical signals and digital data optical signals to digital data electrical signals, and at least one signal bus, comprised of a plurality of signal lines, for conveying digital data, said integrated circuit further comprising a programming interface for coupling said integrated circuit to an external program source, said programming interface being responsive to programming information received from said external program source for selectively coupling at least some of said signal lines between at least one of said plurality of digital logic blocks and said optical circuitry in a configuration specified by said programming information, wherein said external program source is coupled to said programming interface through the Internet.
A television device comprising an integrated circuit containing at least one digital processor circuit block, at least one analog signal processor circuit block, and a plurality of buses coupled to interconnection means for interconnecting together said at least one digital processor circuit block and said at least one analog signal processing circuit block into a configuration specified by programming information, said interconnection means having a programming interface for coupling said interconnection means to a remote source of television signals and programming information.
A radio device comprising an integrated circuit containing at least one digital processor circuit block, at least one analog signal processor circuit block, and a plurality of buses coupled to interconnection means for interconnecting together said at least one digital processor circuit block and said at least one analog signal processing circuit block into a configuration specified by programming information, said interconnection means having a programming interface for coupling said interconnection means to a remote source of radio signals and programming information.
An electronic system comprising an integrated circuit containing at least one digital processor circuit block, at least one analog signal processor circuit block, and a plurality of buses coupled to interconnection means for interconnecting together said at least one digital processor circuit block and said at least one analog signal processing circuit block into a configuration specified by programming information, said interconnection means having a programming interface for coupling said interconnection means, through the Internet, to a remote source of programming information.
An electronic system comprising an integrated circuit containing at least one digital processor circuit block, at least one analog signal processor circuit block, and a plurality of buses coupled to interconnection means for interconnecting together said at least one digital processor circuit block and said at least one analog signal processing circuit block into a configuration specified by programming information, said interconnection means having a programming interface for coupling said interconnection means, through the World Wide Web (WWW), to a remote source of programming information.
A method for operating an electronic device, comprising steps of:
- providing said electronic device so as to contain at least one integrated circuit comprising at least one digital processor circuit block, at least one analog signal processor circuit block, and a plurality of buses coupled to interconnection means;
- coupling said electronic device to a remote source of programming information;
- inputting programming information to said electronic device;
- storing said inputted programming information within said electronic device;
- and
- connecting together said at least one digital processor circuit block and said at least one analog signal processing circuit block into a configuration specified by said stored programming information.
A method for operating an electronic device, comprising steps of:
- providing said electronic device so as to contain at least one integrated circuit that comprises a plurality of digital signal circuit blocks and a plurality of signal lines coupled to signal line connection means;
- coupling said electronic device through the Internet to a remote source of programming information;
- inputting programming information to said electronic device;
- storing said inputted programming information within said electronic device;
- and
- connecting together at least some of said plurality of digital signal circuit blocks through said signal line connection means and at least some of said plurality of signal lines into a configuration specified by said stored programming information.
A method for operating an electronic device, comprising steps of:
- providing said electronic device so as to contain at least one integrated circuit that comprises a plurality of circuit blocks and a plurality of optical signal paths coupled to optical signal path connection means;
- coupling said electronic device through the Internet to a remote source of programming information;
- inputting programming information to said electronic device;
- storing said inputted programming information within said electronic device;
- and
- connecting together at least some of said plurality of circuit blocks through said optical signal path connection means and at least some of said plurality of optical signal paths into a configuration specified by said stored programming information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.