Audio data inputting apparatus and audio data outputting apparatus

An audio data inputting apparatus for receiving external audio data, performing processing, and then supplying the audio data to a host apparatus via a communication bus at predetermined frame periods, the audio data inputting apparatus comprising:

• a recording portion which has a first-in, first-out recording buffer, and performs a recording operation of writing one sample of the external audio data for a plurality of channels into the recording buffer at predetermined sampling periods;
• a transmitting portion which has a first-in, first-out transmission buffer, and performs, in accordance with a request for input transmitted from the host apparatus to the audio data inputting apparatus via the communication bus at the predetermined frame periods, a transmitting operation of transmitting a plurality of samples of audio data for the plurality of channels stored in the transmission buffer to the host apparatus via the communication bus;
• a processor which controls at least part of the audio data inputting apparatus;
• and
• a controller which controls respective operations of the transmitting portion and the recording portion in accordance with an instruction from the processor, the processor
• providing, when receiving, from the host apparatus via the communication bus, a parameter relating to audio data which is to be transmitted, the parameter to the controller;
• and
• instructing, when receiving, from the host apparatus via the communication bus, an instruction to start input of audio data, the controller to start operating;
• wherein the controller is configured for clearing, in accordance with the instruction from the processor to start operating, the transmission buffer and the recording buffer, disabling the transmitting operation of the transmitting portion, stopping the recording operation of the recording portion, and thereafter at the predetermined frame periods,
• instructing, if the recording operation of the recording portion is being stopped, the recording portion to start the recording operation;
• transferring, if the recording portion is in the recording operation with the transmitting operation of the transmitting portion being disabled, the audio data stored in the recording buffer to the transmission buffer, and enabling, if audio data stored in the recording buffer reaches a threshold amount, the transmitting operation of the transmitting portion;
• transferring, if the recording portion is in the recording operation with the transmitting operation of the transmitting portion being enabled and if the audio data inputting apparatus receives the request for input transmitted from the host apparatus, audio data stored in the recording buffer to the transmission buffer;
• and
• if the recording portion is in the recording operation with the transmitting operation of the transmitting portion being enabled and if the audio data inputting apparatus does not receive the request for input transmitted from the host apparatus, (a) deleting audio data for a frame period stored in the transmission buffer and transferring audio data stored in the recording buffer to the transmission buffer or (b) deleting audio data for a frame period stored in the recording buffer.

An audio data outputting apparatus for receiving, from a host apparatus at predetermined frame periods, audio data supplied via a communication bus, and then outputting the audio data, the audio data outputting apparatus comprising:

• a receiving portion which performs a receiving operation of receiving audio data transmitted from the host apparatus via the communication bus;
• a reproducing portion which has a reproduction buffer and performs a reproducing operation of reading out one sample of the audio data stored in the reproduction buffer to output the read data at predetermined sampling periods;
• a processor which controls at least part of the audio data outputting apparatus;
• and a controller which controls respective operations of the receiving portion and the reproducing portion in accordance with an instruction from the processor, the processor
• instructing, when receiving from the host apparatus via the communication bus an instruction to start output of audio data, the controller portion to start operating;
• wherein the controller is configured for clearing, in accordance with the instruction from the processor to start operating, the reproduction buffer, enabling the receiving operation of the receiving portion, and thereafter transferring the received audio data from the reception portion to the reproduction buffer at the predetermined frame periods;
• instructing, at a frame period in which audio data stored in the reproduction buffer reaches a threshold amount, the reproducing portion to start the reproducing operation;
• and
• stopping, if the receiving portion has received audio data with the reproduction buffer being full or short of data, the reproducing operation of the reproducing portion, clearing audio data stored in the reproduction buffer, and instructing, at a frame period in which audio data stored in the reproduction buffer reaches a threshold amount, the reproducing portion to start the reproducing operation as an automatic recovery process.

An audio data inputting apparatus for receiving external audio data and then supplying the audio data to a host apparatus via a communication bus at predetermined frame periods, the audio data inputting apparatus comprising:

• a recording portion which has a recording buffer and performs a recording operation of writing the external audio data into the recording buffer at predetermined sampling periods;
• a transmitting portion which has a transmission buffer and performs, in accordance with a request for input transmitted from the host apparatus to the audio data inputting apparatus via the communication bus at the predetermined frame periods, a transmitting operation of transmitting audio data stored in the transmission buffer to the host apparatus via the communication bus;
• a processor which controls at least part of the audio data inputting apparatus;
• and
• a controller which controls respective operations of the transmitting portion and the recording portion in accordance with an instruction from the processor, the processor
• instructing, when receiving from the host apparatus via the communication bus an instruction to start input of audio data, the controller to start operating;
• wherein the controller is figured for clearing, in accordance with the instruction from the processor to start operating, the transmission buffer and the recording buffer, instructing the recording portion to start the recording operation, and thereafter transferring audio data from the recording buffer to the transmission buffer at the predetermined frame periods;
• enabling, at a frame period in which audio data stored in the recording buffer reaches a threshold amount, the transmitting operation of the transmitting portion, and
• if the audio data inputting apparatus does not receive the request for input transmitted from the host apparatus, (a) deleting audio data for a frame period stored in the transmission buffer and transferring audio data stored in the recording buffer to the transmission buffer, or (b) deleting audio data for a frame period stored in the recording buffer.