U.S. patent application number 10/814203 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for duplicator for recording medium and method for duplicating recording medium.
Invention is credited to Chou, Yu-Sheng.
Application Number | 20040264338 10/814203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32594592 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040264338 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chou, Yu-Sheng |
December 30, 2004 |
Duplicator for recording medium and method for duplicating
recording medium
Abstract
The present invention relates to a duplicator for recording
medium and a method for duplicating recording medium, wherein a
fast duplicating effect is achieved by FIFO buffers and direct
memory access controllers (DMACs).
Inventors: |
Chou, Yu-Sheng; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gauthier & Connors LLP
Suite 3300
225 Franklin Street
Boston
MA
02110
US
|
Family ID: |
32594592 |
Appl. No.: |
10/814203 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10814203 |
Mar 31, 2004 |
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10328817 |
Dec 24, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
369/84 ;
360/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 13/28 20130101;
G06F 3/0673 20130101; G06F 3/0601 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/084 ;
360/015 |
International
Class: |
G11B 005/86 |
Claims
1. A duplicator for recording medium, comprising: a source
recording medium; a source DMAC; a source FIFO buffer; a
multiplexer; a plurality of target FIFO buffers; a plurality of
target DMACs; and a plurality of target recording mediums, wherein
the data of said source recording medium are transmitted to said
source FIFO buffer through said source DMAC; the data of said
source FIFO buffer are transmitted to a plurality of said target
FIFO buffers through said multiplexer; and the data of said target
FIFO buffer are transmitted to said target recording medium through
said target DMAC.
2. (Cancelled)
3. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1,
further comprising a plurality of comparators, wherein the data of
said source recording medium are transmitted to said source FIFO
buffer through said source DMAC; the data of said target recording
medium are transmitted to said target FIFO buffer through said
target DMAC; and the data of said source FIFO buffer are
transmitted to said comparators through said multiplexer and
compared with the data of target FIFO buffer by said
comparators.
4. (Cancelled)
5. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1,
wherein said recording medium is a hard disc.
6. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1,
wherein said recording medium is an optical disc.
7. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1,
wherein said recording medium is a rewritable optical disc.
8. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1,
wherein said recording medium is a floppy disc.
9. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1,
wherein said recording medium is a memory.
10. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 1 or 3,
further comprising a transferring interface provided between said
source recording medium and said source DMAC.
11. The duplicator for recording medium as defined in claim 10,
wherein said transferring interface is an ATA, serial ATA or SCSI
control interface.
12. (Cancelled)
13. (Cancelled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a duplicator for recording
medium and a method for duplicating recording medium, more
particularly to a duplicator for recording medium and a method for
duplicating recording medium, wherein a fast duplicating effect is
achieved by FIFO buffers and direct memory access controllers
(DMACs).
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] Conventionally, in a duplicator for recording medium, for
example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,141, a control signal
generator is used to decide on/off of a data bus switch and a
control signal switch to control the flow of source data. That is
to say, when the control signal generator determines that a
duplication of data can be proceeded, a signal is sent to turn on
the data bus switch and the control signal switch, and data output
from a source data terminal (hardware) are transmitted to each
duplicator to complete a duplicating procedure.
[0003] However, in the prior art mentioned above, the duplication
of second data starts after the duplication of first data is
completed. The duplication of third data starts after the
duplication of second data is completed, and so on. Therefore,
there is a propagation delay in duplicating data. When large volume
of data are to be duplicated, it is time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In view of the problems mentioned above, the present
invention utilizes FIFO buffers and DMACs to overcome the problem
of time-consuming in duplicating data.
[0005] When a FIFO buffer is used to store data, if the FIFO buffer
is not empty, the first stored data would be output.
[0006] A DMAC can directly access the data without the control of a
processor. The DMAC combined with FIFO buffer can be used to avoid
propagation delay in duplicating data.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a
duplicator for recording medium, comprising:
[0008] a source recording medium;
[0009] a source DMAC;
[0010] a source FIFO buffer;
[0011] a multiplexer;
[0012] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;
[0013] a plurality of target DMACs; and
[0014] a plurality of target recording mediums,
[0015] wherein the data of the source recording medium are
transmitted to the source FIFO buffer through the source DMAC; the
data of the source FIFO buffer are transmitted to a plurality of
target FIFO buffers through the multiplexer; and the data of the
target FIFO buffer are transmitted to the target recording medium
through the target DMAC.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
duplicator for recording medium, comprising:
[0017] a data source;
[0018] a multiplexer;
[0019] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;
[0020] a plurality of target DMACs; and
[0021] a plurality of target recording mediums,
[0022] wherein the data of the data source are transmitted to a
plurality of target FIFO buffers through the multiplexer; and the
data of the target FIFO buffer are transmitted to the target
recording medium through the target DMAC.
[0023] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a duplicator for recording medium, comprising:
[0024] a source recording medium;
[0025] a source DMAC;
[0026] a source FIFO buffer;
[0027] a multiplexer;
[0028] a plurality of comparators;
[0029] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;
[0030] a plurality of target DMACs; and
[0031] a plurality of target recording mediums,
[0032] wherein the data of the source recording medium are
transmitted to the source FIFO buffer through the source DMAC; the
data of the target recording medium are transmitted to the target
FIFO buffer through the target DMAC; and the data of the source
FIFO buffer are transmitted to the comparators through the
multiplexer and compared with the data of the target FIFO buffer by
the comparators.
[0033] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
duplicator for recording medium, comprising:
[0034] a data source;
[0035] a multiplexer;
[0036] a plurality of comparators;
[0037] a plurality of target FIFO buffers;
[0038] a plurality of target DMACs; and
[0039] a plurality of target recording mediums,
[0040] wherein the data of the target recording medium are
transmitted to the target FIFO buffer through the target DMAC; and
the data of the data source are transmitted to the comparators
through the multiplexer and compared with the data of the target
FIFO buffer by the comparators.
[0041] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method for duplicating recording medium, comprising the steps
of:
[0042] detecting a source recording medium and a plurality of
target recording mediums;
[0043] configuring a source DMAC for the source recording medium
and a plurality of target DMACs for the target recording
mediums;
[0044] transmitting the data of the source recording medium to a
source FIFO buffer through the source DMAC;
[0045] transmitting the data of the source FIFO buffer to a
plurality of target FIFO buffers through a multiplexer; and
[0046] transmitting the data of a plurality of target FIFO buffers
to a plurality of target recording mediums through a plurality of
target DMACs.
[0047] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method for comparing recording medium, comprising the steps of:
[0048] detecting a source recording medium and a plurality of
target recording mediums;
[0049] configuring a source DMAC for the source recording medium
and a plurality of target DMACs for the target recording
mediums;
[0050] transmitting the data of the source recording medium to a
source FIFO buffer through the source DMAC;
[0051] transmitting the data of a plurality of target recording
mediums to a plurality of target FIFO buffers through a plurality
of target DMACs;
[0052] transmitting the data of the source FIFO buffer to a
plurality of comparators through a multiplexer; and
[0053] comparing the data of the source FIFO buffer with the data
of the target FIFO buffer by a plurality of comparators.
[0054] In the present invention, the recording medium can be
selected from a hard disc, an optical disc, a rewritable optical
disc, a floppy disc or a memory.
[0055] In the present invention, a transferring interface is
provided between the source recording medium and the source
DMAC.
[0056] In the present invention, the transferring interface can be
selected from an ATA, serial ATA or SCSI control interface.
[0057] The other objects, merits and novel features of the present
invention are obvious by the following detailed description
together with accompany drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0058] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the duplicator according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the duplicator according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the method for duplicating
recording medium according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0061] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the method for comparing
recording medium according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0062] Now referring to FIG. 1, the duplicator for recording medium
according to the first embodiment of the present invention
comprises: a source recording medium 13; a source DMAC 12; a source
FIFO buffer 11; a multiplexer 14; a plurality of target FIFO
buffers 101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . and 101.sub.n; a plurality of
target DMACs 102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . . . and 102.sub.n; and a
plurality of target recording mediums 103.sub.1, 103.sub.2, . . .
and 103.sub.n. When a source recording medium 13 is detected, a
source DMAC 12 is configured. The data of the source recording
medium 13 are transmitted to the source FIFO buffer 11 through the
source DMAC 12. When the data of the source FIFO buffer 11 are not
empty, the data of the source FIFO buffer 11 are transmitted to a
plurality of target FIFO buffers (101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . and
101.sub.n) through a multiplexer 14. Thereafter, the data of target
FIFO buffers (101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . and 101.sub.n) are
transmitted and duplicated to the target recording medium
(103.sub.1, 103.sub.2, . . . and 103.sub.n) through the target
DMACs (102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . . . and 102.sub.n).
[0063] Alternatively, when the data to be duplicated are from an
external data source 16, the data of the data source 16 are
transmitted to a plurality of target FIFO buffers (101.sub.1,
101.sub.2, . . . and 101.sub.n) through the multiplexer 14.
Thereafter, the data of target FIFO buffers (101.sub.1, 101.sub.2,
. . . and 101.sub.n) are transmitted and duplicated to the target
recording medium (103.sub.1, 103.sub.2, . . . and 103.sub.n)
through the target DMACs (102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . . . and
102.sub.n).
[0064] A transferring interface can be provided between the source
recording medium 13 and the source DMAC 12 for connection. The
transferring interface could be an ATA, serial ATA or SCSI control
interface, depending on what the source recording medium 13 is.
[0065] Now referring to FIG. 2, the duplicator for recording medium
according to the second embodiment of the present invention
comprises:
[0066] a source recording medium 13; a source DMAC 12; a source
FIFO buffer 11; a multiplexer 14; a plurality of comparators
105.sub.1, 105.sub.2, . . . and 105.sub.n; a plurality of target
FIFO buffers 101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . and 101.sub.n; a plurality
of target DMACs 102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . . . and 102.sub.n; and a
plurality of target recording mediums 103.sub.1, 103.sub.2, . . .
and 103.sub.n. When a source recording medium 13 is detected, a
source DMAC 12 is configured. The data of the source recording
medium 13 are transmitted to the source FIFO buffer 11 through the
source DMAC 12. When the data of the source FIFO buffer 11 are not
empty, the data of the source FIFO buffer 11 are transmitted to a
plurality of comparators (105.sub.1, 105.sub.2, . . . and
105.sub.n) through a multiplexer 14. The data of the target
recording medium (103.sub.1, 103.sub.2, . . . and 103.sub.n) are
transmitted to the target FIFO buffers (101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . .
and 101.sub.n) through the target DMACs (102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . .
. and 102.sub.n). Thereafter, the data of source FIFO 11 are
compared with the data of target FIFO buffers (101.sub.1,
101.sub.2, . . . and 101.sub.n) by comparators (105.sub.1,
105.sub.2, . . . and 105.sub.n), respectively.
[0067] Alternatively, when the data to be compared are from an
external data source 16, the data of the data source 16 are
transmitted to a plurality of comparators (105.sub.1, 105.sub.2, .
. . and 105.sub.n) through the multiplexer 14. The data of the
target recording medium (103.sub.1, 103.sub.2, . . . and 103.sub.n)
are transmitted to the target FIFO buffers (101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, .
. . and 101.sub.n) through the target DMACs (102.sub.1, 102.sub.2,
. . . and 102.sub.n). Thereafter, the data of the data source 16
are compared with the data of target FIFO buffers (101.sub.1,
101.sub.2, . . . and 101.sub.n) by comparators (105.sub.1,
105.sub.2, . . . and 105.sub.n), respectively.
[0068] A transferring interface can be provided between the source
recording medium 13 and the source DMAC 12 for connection. The
transferring interface could be an ATA, serial ATA or SCSI control
interface, depending on what the source recording medium 13 is.
[0069] FIG. 3 shows the flow chart of method for duplicating
recording medium according to the third embodiment of the present
invention. First, at Step 11, the type of the recording medium is
detected. Consequently, at Step 12, DMAC is configured according to
the type of the recording medium. Step 13 determines whether the
source FIFO is full. If the determining result of Step 13 is No,
the process proceeds to Step 14. At Step 14, the data of the source
recording medium are transmitted to the source FIFO. If the
determining result of Step 13 is Yes, the process proceeds to Step
15. Step 15 determines whether the source FIFO is not empty and all
target FIFOs are not full. If the determining result of Step 15 is
Yes, the process proceeds to Step 16. At Step 16, the data of
source FIFO are transmitted to the target FIFO. If the determining
result of Step 15 is No, i.e. the source FIFO is empty or the
target FIFO is full, the process proceed to Step 17. Step 17
determines whether the target FIFO is empty. If the determining
result of Step 17 is No, the process proceeds to Step 18. At Step
18, the data of target FIFO are transmitted to target recording
medium. If the determining result of Step 17 is Yes, the process
proceeds to Step 19. Step 19 determines whether all requested data
of source recording medium are transmitted to target recording
medium. If the determining result of Step 19 is Yes, the process
goes to end. If the determining result of Step 19 is No, the
process proceeds to Step 13.
[0070] FIG. 4 shows the flow chart of method for comparing
recording medium according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0071] First, at Step 21, the type of the recording medium is
detected. Consequently, at Step 22, DMAC is configured according to
the type of the recording medium. Step 23 determines whether the
source FIFO is full. If the determining result of Step 23 is No,
the process proceeds to Step 24. At Step 24, the data of the source
recording medium are transmitted to the source FIFO. If the
determining result of Step 23 is Yes, the process proceeds to Step
25. Step 25 determines whether the target FIFO is full. If the
determining result of Step 25 is No, the process proceeds to Step
26. At Step 26, the data of the target recording medium are
transmitted to the target FIFO. If the determining result of Step
25 is Yes, the process proceeds to Step 27. Step 27 determines
whether all the source FIFO and the target FIFOs are not empty. If
the determining result of Step 27 is Yes, the process proceeds to
Step 28. Step 28 compares the data of the source FIFO with the data
of the target FIFO by comparators. If the determining result of
Step 27 is No, the process proceeds to Step 29. Step 29 determines
whether all requested data of source recording medium are compared
with all data of target recording medium. If the determining result
of Step 29 is Yes, the process goes to end. If the determining
result of Step 29 is No, the process proceeds to Step 23.
[0072] While several embodiments of the present invention have been
described using specific terms, such description is for
illustrative purposes only, and it should be understood that
changes and variations may be made without departing from the
spirit of scope of the following claims.
* * * * *