Fine-grained synchronization of a decompressed audio stream by skipping or repeating a variable number of samples from a frame

Claim 2

A data processing device for processing a stream of data, comprising: means for decoding the stream of data to form a stream of decompressed audio data; a first memory circuit operable to hold at least a first frame of the stream of decompressed audio data, the first frame of data having a predetermined number of decompressed audio data words, the memory circuit connected to an address bus and to a data bus; a port for transferring the stream of decompressed audio data to another device; means for determining a first presentation time for the frame of decompressed audio data; means for determining a first reference time; a processing unit connected to the first memory circuit and to the port; the processing unit operable to transfer the first frame of decompressed audio data to the port, the processing unit being further operable to determine a first time difference between the first presentation time and the first reference time; and means for transferring only a first portion of the first frame in accordance with the first time difference, wherein the first portion of the first frame is a number of decompressed audio data words selected from a range consisting of any whole number between and including 1 and the predetermined number of data words, whereby synchronism between a second presentation time of a second frame of data and a second reference time is improved.

Claim 3

The data processing device of claim 1 , wherein the means for transferring comprises: a first register operable to hold a breakpoint address, the breakpoint address corresponding to an address within the first frame of data; and a first comparison circuit connected to the address bus and to the first register with a breakpoint interrupt request output connected to the processing unit, the first comparison circuit operable to compare an address provided on the address bus with the breakpoint address held in the first register, the first comparison circuit being further operable to assert a breakpoint interrupt request on the interrupt request output when the address provided on the address bus is equal to the breakpoint address.

Claim 4

The data processing device of claim 2 , wherein the first memory circuit is a first portion of a larger memory circuit.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 , wherein the selected portion of data words of the frame of data is less than the predetermined number by a delta value when the first presentation time is earlier than the first reference time, where the delta value is a number of data words which would require a time to transfer that is approximately equal to the time difference.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5 , where in the step of transferring further comprises transferring the entire first frame of the stream of data in addition to transferring the selected portion of data words of the first frame of data a second time when the first presentation time is later than the first reference time, where the selected portion is a number of data words which would require a time to transfer that is approximately equal to the time difference.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of transferring further comprises: calculating a breakpoint address which is an address in the memory circuit of a last word in the selected number of data words; sequentially transferring words of data from the frame of data to the output port while comparing an address of each word of data to the breakpoint address; and discontinuing the transferring step when the breakpoint address is detected.

Claim 10

An audio reproduction system, comprising: means for acquiring a stream of data which contains encoded audio data; a data device for processing the stream of data connected to the means for acquiring, the data device operable to form at least one channel of PCM data on an at least one device output terminal; a digital to analog converter connected to the output terminal operable to convert the channel of PCM data to an analog audio signal on a D/A output terminal; a speaker subsystem connected to the D/A output terminal; wherein the data device further comprises: means for decoding the stream of data to form a stream of decompressed audio data; a first memory circuit operable to hold at least a first frame of the stream of decompressed audio data, the first frame of data having a predetermined number of decompressed audio data words, the memory circuit connected to an address bus and to a data bus; a port for transferring the stream of decompressed audio data to another device; means for determining a first presentation time for the frame of decompressed audio data; means for determining a first reference time; a processing unit connected to the first memory circuit and to the port; the processing unit operable to transfer the first frame of decompressed audio data to the port, the processing unit being further operable to determine a first time difference between the first presentation time and the first reference time; and means for transferring only a first portion of the first frame in accordance with the first time difference, wherein the first portion of the first frame is a number of decompressed audio data words selected from a range consisting of any whole number between and including 1 and the predetermined number of decompressed audio data words, whereby synchronism between a second presentation time of a second frame of data and a second reference time is improved.

Claim 11

An audio reproduction system, comprising: means for acquiring a stream of data which contains encoded audio data; a data device for processing the stream of data connected to the means for acquiring, the data device operable to form at least one channel of PCM data on an at least one device output terminal; a digital to analog converter connected to the output terminal operable to convert the channel of PCM data to an analog audio signal on a D/A output terminal; a speaker subsystem connected to the D/A output terminal; wherein the data device further comprises: means for decoding the stream of data to form a stream of decompressed audio data; a first memory circuit operable to hold at least a first frame of the stream of decompressed audio data, the first frame of data having a predetermined number of decompressed audio data words, the memory circuit connected to an address bus and to a data bus; a port for transferring the stream of decompressed audio data to another device; means for determining a first presentation time for the frame of decompressed audio data; means for determining a first reference time; a processing unit connected to the first memory circuit and to the port; the processing unit operable to transfer the first frame of decompressed audio data to the port, the processing unit being further operable to determine a first time difference between the first presentation time and the first reference time; and means for transferring only a first portion of the first frame in accordance with the first time difference, wherein the first portion of the first frame is a number of decompressed audio data words selected from a range consisting of any whole number between and including 1 and the predetermined number of decompressed audio data words, whereby synchronism between a second presentation time of a second frame of data and a second reference time is improved.

Claim 12

The audio reproduction system of claim 8 , wherein the means for acquiring comprises a satellite broadcast receiver.

Claim 13

The audio reproduction system of claim 8 , wherein the means for acquiring comprises a digital disk player.

Claim 14

The audio reproduction system of claim 8 , wherein the means for acquiring comprises a cable TV receiver.

Claim 17

The method of claim 12 , where if the first presentation time is earlier than the first reference time, then the step of selecting omits of number of data words of the first frame which would require a time to play that is approximately equal to the time difference.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 , wherein if the first presentation time is later than the first reference time, then the step of selecting selects only a number of data words of the first frame which would require a time to play that is approximately equal to the time difference; and wherein the step of playing further comprises playing the entire first frame of the stream of decompressed audio data in addition to playing the selected portion of decompressed audio data words of the first frame.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of selecting further comprises: calculating a breakpoint address which is an address in the memory circuit of a last word in the selected number of decompressed audio data words; sequentially transferring words of decompressed audio data from the frame of decompressed audio data to be played while comparing an address of each word of decompressed audio data to the breakpoint address; and discontinuing the transferring step when the breakpoint address is detected.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14 , wherein each decompressed audio data word is a pulse code modulated data word.