Audio controller for portable electronic devices

A controller for enabling a plurality of audio files to be played on a computer subsystem of a computer system if said computer system is in an inactive state, said controller comprising:

• a switch having a first state and a second state, wherein said switch in said first state decouples said controller from said computer subsystem and from an audio IC coupled to said computer subsystem, wherein said audio IC is configured to play said plurality of audio files if said switch is in said first state, and wherein said switch in said second state couples said controller to said computer subsystem in response to said computer system being in said inactive state;
• a drive interface configured to interface with a drive of said computer subsystem depending on a state of said switch, wherein said drive interface is configured to access compressed audio data on said drive if said switch is in said second state;
• and
• decoder circuitry for receiving said compressed audio data and output decompressed audio data to a speaker so as to play said plurality of audio files if said switch is in said second state, wherein said speaker is selectively coupled to said audio IC and said decoder circuit according to said state of said switch.

A method for playing a plurality of audio files in a computer system comprising a computer subsystem, said method comprising:

• decoupling an audio controller comprising a switch and a drive interface from said computer subsystem and from an audio IC coupled to said computer subsystem if said computer system is in an active state,
• playing said plurality of audio files by said audio IC if said computer system is in said active state;
• coupling said audio controller to said computer subsystem if said computer system is in an inactive state;
• controlling access and playing of said plurality of audio files by said audio controller if said computer system is in said inactive state;
• and
• selectively coupling said audio IC and said audio controller to a speaker according to said active state and said inactive state.