U.S. patent application number 11/798205 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-13 for apparatus for digital/analog audio storage and playback.
Invention is credited to Chi-Wei Hsiao, Hsiang-Chi Hsieh, Ching-Chun Huang, Wen-Ming Huang, Yu-Feng Lin, Wen-Fu Tsai, Hsin-Ching Yin.
Application Number | 20080282010 11/798205 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39970570 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080282010 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Wen-Ming ; et
al. |
November 13, 2008 |
Apparatus for digital/analog audio storage and playback
Abstract
An audio data storage and playback apparatus is provided,
including at least a USB hub or USB SIE, at least a storage media
interface, and an audio codec. An upstream port of the USB hub or
the USB SIE is connected to an electronic device with a USB
interface. The storage media interface is connected to a downstream
port of the USB hub or an endpoint of a USB SIE. The storage media
interface can be connected to a portable storage media, such as
flash memory, CD-R/W, DVD-R/W, and hard disk drive, to enable
bi-directional data transmission and storage between the electronic
device with a USB interface and the portable storage media
connected to the storage media interface. The audio codec player
forms a bi-directional data transmission connection with the
storage media interface. The audio codec player is connected to at
least an audio player and an audio input device. The audio data
from the electronic device with a USB interface, the portable
storage media connected to the storage media interface or the audio
input device can be sent to the audio codec for encoding/decoding,
and then stored or played back by the audio player or the
electronic device with a USB interface to achieve the object of the
present invention of multi-directional transmission,
encoding/decoding, storage and playing back of audio data.
Inventors: |
Huang; Wen-Ming; (Dasi
Township, TW) ; Huang; Ching-Chun; (Taipei City,
TW) ; Hsiao; Chi-Wei; (Jhonghe City, TW) ;
Tsai; Wen-Fu; (Renwu Township, TW) ; Yin;
Hsin-Ching; (Gangshan Township, TW) ; Hsieh;
Hsiang-Chi; (Sindian City, TW) ; Lin; Yu-Feng;
(Mailiao Township, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
39970570 |
Appl. No.: |
11/798205 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/305 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/162 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/305 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/06 20060101
B65H003/06 |
Claims
1. An audio data storage and playback apparatus, comprising: a USB
hub, having an upstream port and a plurality of downstream ports,
the upstream port being adapted to connect to a USB interface port
of an electronic device; at least a storage media interface,
connected to the downstream ports of the USB hub, the storage media
interface being portable media storage interface for connecting to
at least a portable storage media, to form a bi-directional data
transmission with said electronic device with a USB interface; and
an audio codec, connected to the storage media interface and to at
least an audio player and an audio input device for providing audio
data encoding/decoding and playback functions for audio data
transmitted between the electronic device connected to the USB hub
and the portable storage media connected to the storage media
interface in order to decode and play back audio data from the
electronic device connected to the USB hub, the portable storage
media connected to the storage media interface and the audio input
device on the audio player, and encode and store audio data from
the electronic device connected to the USB hub, the portable
storage media connected to the storage media interface and the
audio input device.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
downstream port of the USB hub; a flash memory access controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable flash memory storage media; a flash memory, connected to
the controlled by the flash memory access controller; and a
parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the flash
memory access controller for providing bi-directional data
transmission of audio data.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage media
interface is a portable card reader storage media interface.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
downstream port of the USB hub; a card reader access controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable card reader storage media; a memory connector, connected
to a memory card and the card reader controller for enabling the
memory card to be controlled by the card reader access controller;
and a parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the
flash memory access controller for providing bi-directional data
transmission of audio data.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage media
interface is a portable ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media
interface.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
downstream port of the USB hub; an ATA/ATAPI interface controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media; a plurality of
interface connectors, connected to the ATA/ATAPI interface
controller and a plurality of ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media
for enabling the ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media to be
controlled by the ATA/ATAPI interface controller; and a
parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the flash
memory access controller for providing bi-directional data
transmission of audio data.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media is a CD-R/W, a DVD-R/W or a hard
disk drive.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
downstream port of the USB hub; a flash memory access controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable flash memory storage media; a flash memory, connected to
and controlled by the flash memory access controller; a card reader
access controller, connected to the USB controller for providing
data access to portable card reader storage media; a memory
connector, connected to a memory card and the card reader
controller for enabling the memory card to be controlled by the
card reader access controller; an ATA/ATAPI interface controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media; a plurality of
interface connectors, connected to the ATA/ATAPI interface
controller and a plurality of ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media
for enabling the ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media to be
controlled by the ATA/ATAPI interface controller; and a
parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the flash
memory access controller, the card reader controller and the
ATA/ATAPI controller for providing bi-directional data transmission
of audio data.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downstream port
of the USB hub is connected to a digital/analog interface
converter, and the digital/analog interface converter further
comprises: a USB controller, connected to the downstream port of
the USB hub; a digital/analog signal processor, connected to the
USB controller for providing data conversion of digital TV/analog
TV/digital audio broadcast/analog audio broadcast (DTV/ATV/DAB/AAB)
signals; and a digital/analog signal input interface, connected to
the digital/analog signal processor and a digital/analog signal
source, the digital/analog signal source providing DTV/ATV/DAB/AAB
signals transmitted to the digital/analog signal processor.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the digital/analog
signal source is a DTV/ATV.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the digital/analog
signal source is a DAB/AAB.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio codec
player further comprises a parallel/serial transmission
interface.
13. An audio data storage and playback apparatus, comprising: a USB
serial interface engine (SIE), having an upstream port and a
plurality of endpoints, the upstream port being connected to a USB
interface port of an electronic device; at least a storage media
interface, connected to the endpoint of the USB SIE, the storage
media interface being portable media storage interface for
connecting to at least a portable storage media, to form a
bi-directional data transmission with the electronic device with a
USB interface; and an audio codec, connected to the storage media
interface and to at least an audio player and an audio input device
for providing audio data encoding/decoding and playback functions
for audio data transmitted between the electronic device connected
to the USB SIE and the portable storage media connected to the
storage media interface in order to decode and play back audio data
from the electronic device connected to the USB SIE, the portable
storage media connected to the storage media interface and the
audio input device on the audio player, and encode and store audio
data from the electronic device connected to the USB SIE, the
portable storage media connected to the storage media interface and
the audio input device.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
endpoint of the USB SIE; a flash memory access controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable flash memory storage media; a flash memory, connected to
and controlled by the flash memory access controller; and a
parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the flash
memory access controller for providing bi-directional data
transmission of audio data.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the storage media
interface is a portable card reader storage media interface.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
endpoint of the USB SIE; a card reader access controller, connected
to the USB controller for providing data access to portable card
reader storage media; a memory connector, connected to a memory
card and the card reader controller for enabling the memory card to
be controlled by the card reader access controller; and a
parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the flash
memory access controller for providing bi-directional data
transmission of audio data.
17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the storage media
interface is a portable ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media
interface.
18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
endpoint of the USB SIE; an ATA/ATAPI interface controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media; a plurality of
interface connectors, connected to the ATA/ATAPI interface
controller and a plurality of ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media
for enabling the ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media to be
controlled by the ATA/ATAPI interface controller; and a
parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the flash
memory access controller for providing bi-directional data
transmission of audio data.
19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the
ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media is a CD-R/W, a DVD-R/W or a hard
disk drive.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the storage media
interface further comprises: a USB controller, connected to the
endpoint of the USB SIE; a flash memory access controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable flash memory storage media; a flash memory, connected to
and controlled by the flash memory access controller; a card reader
access controller, connected to the USB controller for providing
data access to portable card reader storage media; a memory
connector, connected to a memory card and the card reader
controller for enabling the memory card to be controlled by the
card reader access controller; an ATA/ATAPI interface controller,
connected to the USB controller for providing data access to
portable ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media; a plurality of
interface connectors, connected to the ATA/ATAPI interface
controller and a plurality of ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media
for enabling the ATA/ATAPI-interfaced storage media to be
controlled by the ATA/ATAPI interface controller; and a
parallel/serial transmission interface, connected to the flash
memory access controller, the card reader controller and the
ATA/ATAPI controller for providing bi-directional data transmission
of audio data.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the endpoint of
the USB SIE is connected to a digital/analog interface converter,
and the digital/analog interface converter further comprises: a USB
controller, connected to the endpoint of said USB SIE; a
digital/analog signal processor, connected to the USB controller
for providing data conversion of digital TV/analog TV/digital audio
broadcast/analog audio broadcast (DTV/ATV/DAB/AAB) signals; and a
digital/analog signal input interface, connected to the
digital/analog signal processor and a digital/analog signal source,
the digital/analog signal source providing DTV/ATV/DAB/AAB signals
transmitted to the digital/analog signal processor.
22. The apparatus claimed as in claim 21, wherein the
digital/analog signal source is a DTV/ATV.
23. The apparatus claimed as in claim 21, wherein the
digital/analog signal source is a DAB/AAB.
24. The apparatus claimed as in claim 13, wherein the audio codec
player further comprises a parallel/serial transmission interface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for audio
media storage and playback and, more particularly, to an apparatus
for storing and playing digital/analog audio, and for encoding and
decoding audio data for playback and multi-directional transmission
and storage.
[0003] 2. The Related Arts
[0004] Conventional portable multimedia storage and devices, such
as flash memory, CD-R/W, DVD-R/W, hard disk drive, portable memory
stick, digital camera, and so on, need to connect to a personal
computer (PC) or a notebook computer for data conversion or
multimedia playing, such as MP3, WMA, MIDI, WAV, and so on. The
conventional audio data players are also limited to the playback of
a medium. For functions, such as data conversion, decoding or
storing, the players need to connect to a PC or a notebook computer
to perform such tasks. This further limits the popularity of
portable multimedia devices.
[0005] Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 094211770 and 094213090
disclosed structures and embodiments for a storage medium for
digital/analog TV and audio data, respectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for storing and playing back audio data, including at
least a USB hub or a USB serial interface engine (SIE), and at
least a storage media interface. An upstream port of the USB hub or
the USB SIE is connected to an electronic device with a USB
interface. The storage media interface is connected to a downstream
port of the USB hub or an endpoint of a USB SIE. The storage media
interface can be connected to a portable storage media, such as
flash memory, CD-R/W, DVD-R/W, and hard disk drive, to enable
bi-directional data transmission and storage between the electronic
device with a USB interface and the portable storage media
connected to the storage media interface.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for storing and playing back audio data, including an
audio codec player connected to the storage media interface to
enable the bi-directional data format conversion and storage
between the electronic device with a USB interface and the portable
storage media connected to the storage media interface without the
connection to a PC or a notebook computer. This improves the
convenience of audio data storage and application.
[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus for storing and playing back audio data, including an
audio codec player connected to at least an audio player and an
audio input device. The audio player can play back the audio data
of various formats on the electronic device with a USB interface or
the portable storage media connected to the storage media
interface. Alternatively, the audio input device can input an
external audio signal to the audio codec for encoding and decoding,
and then stores into the electronic device with a USB interface or
the portable storage media connected to the storage media
interface.
[0009] To achieve the aforementioned objects, the present invention
provides an apparatus for storing and playing back audio data,
including at least a USB hub or USB SIE, at least a storage media
interface, and an audio codec. An upstream port of the USB hub or
the USB SIE is connected to an electronic device with a USB
interface. The storage media interface is connected to a downstream
port of the USB hub or an endpoint of a USB SIE. The storage media
interface can be connected to a portable storage media, such as
flash memory, CD-R/W, DVD-R/W, and hard disk drive, to enable
bi-directional data transmission and storage between the electronic
device with a USB interface and the portable storage media
connected to the storage media interface. The audio codec player
forms a bi-directional data transmission connection with the
storage media interface. The audio codec player is connected to at
least an audio player and an audio input device. The audio data
from the electronic device with a USB interface, the portable
storage media connected to the storage media interface or the audio
input device can be sent to the audio codec for encoding/decoding,
and then stored or played back by the audio player or the
electronic device with a USB interface to achieve the object of the
present invention of multi-directional transmission,
encoding/decoding, storage and playing back of audio data.
[0010] The advantage of the present invention is to enable the
multi-directional encoding/decoding, playing back, and storing of
the audio data through a simple and inexpensive structure that is
easy to operate.
[0011] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from a
reading of the following brief description of the drawings, the
detailed description of the preferred embodiment, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention can be understood in more detail by
reading the subsequent detailed description in conjunction with the
examples and references made to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of a third embodiment of
the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1,
which shows an audio storage and playback apparatus 100 in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the
audio storage and playback apparatus 100 comprises at least a USB
hub 10, a plurality of storage media interfaces 20, 30, 40, and an
audio codec 50. The USB hub 10 comprises an upstream port 11 and a
plurality of downstream ports 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The upstream port
11 is connected to a USB interface 210 of an electronic device 200
for bi-directional data communication between the downstream ports
12, 13, 14, 115, 16 and the electronic device 200. The electronic
device 200 is not limited to any specific type. The present
invention uses an electronic game box with a USB interface as an
embodiment for description, but any other equivalent electronic
devices are also within the scope of the present invention.
[0019] The aforementioned storage media interfaces 20, 30, 40 are
not limited to any specific type. In the present invention,
portable storage media interfaces, such as flash memory sticks,
card reader, and ATA/ATAPI CD-RW and hard disk drive, are used as
embodiments for description. Other equivalent portable storage
media interfaces are also within the scope of the present
invention. The storage media interface 20 comprises a USB
controller 21, a flash memory access controller 22, at least a
flash memory 23 and a parallel/serial transmission interface 24.
The USB controller 21 is connected to the downstream port 12 of USB
hub 10 to form a bi-directional USB-type data connection between
the storage media interface 20 and the USB hub 10. The flash memory
access controller 22 is to control data access, and the flash
memory 23 is connected to and controlled by the flash memory access
controller 22. The flash memory 23 is not limited to any specific
type. The present invention uses NAND FLASH or NOR FLASH as
embodiment for explanation. The parallel/serial transmission
interface 24 is connected to the flash memory access controller 22
to provide bi-directional transmission of audio data.
[0020] The aforementioned flash memory access controller 22 is
connected to the USB controller 21 to form, through the USB hub 10,
a bi-directional data transmission and storage connection with the
electronic device 200. The audio data on electronic device 200 can
be transmitted to the flash memory 23 for storage, or the audio
data in flash memory 23 can be transmitted to the electronic device
200 for storage.
[0021] The aforementioned storage media interface 30 comprises a
USB controller 31, a card reader controller 32, a memory connector
33 and a parallel/serial transmission interface 34. The USB
controller 31 is connected to the downstream port 13 of the USB hub
10 to form a bi-directional USB-type data connection between the
storage media interface 30 and the USB hub 10. The card reader
controller 32 is to control data access, and the memory connector
33 is to provide external connection to at least a memory card 300.
The memory card 300 can be any know flash memory, such as CF, SD,
MMC, XD, SM, MS, MSPRO, and MS DUO. The memory connector 33 is
connected to the card reader controller 32 so that the memory card
300 is controlled by the card reader controller 32. The
parallel/serial transmission interface 34 is connected to the card
reader controller 32 to provide bi-directional data transmission of
audio data.
[0022] The aforementioned card reader controller 32 is connected to
the USB controller 31 to form, through the USB hub 10, a
bi-directional data transmission and storage connection with the
electronic device 200. The audio data on electronic device 200 can
be transmitted to the memory card 300 for storage, or audio data in
the memory card 300 can be transmitted to the electronic device 200
for storage.
[0023] The aforementioned storage media interface 40 comprises a
USB controller 41, an ATA/ATAPI interface controller 42, at least a
interface connector 43, and a parallel/serial transmission
interface 44. The USB controller 41 is connected to the downstream
port 14 of USB hub 10 to form a bi-directional USB-type data
connection between the storage media interface 40 and the USB hub
10. The ATA/ATAPI controller 42 is to control data access, and the
interface connector 43 is to provide external connection to a
CD-R/W 400, a hard disk drive 500, or a DVD-R/W 600, respectively.
The CD-R/W 400, hard disk drive 500, and DVD-R/W 600 have an
ATA/ATAPI type interface. The interface connector 43 is connected
to the ATA/ATAPI controller 42 so that the CD-R/W 400, the hard
disk drive 500, and the DVD-R/W 600 are controlled by the ATA/ATAPI
controller 42. The parallel/serial transmission interface 44 is
connected to the ATA/ATAPI interface controller 42 to provide
bi-directional data transmission of audio data.
[0024] The aforementioned ATA/ATAPI controller 42 is connected to
the USB controller 41 to form, through the USB hub 10, a
bi-directional data transmission and storage connection with the
electronic device 200. The audio data in the electronic device 200
can be transmitted to the CD-R/W 400, the hard disk drive 500, and
the DVD-R/W 600 for storage, or the audio data in the CD-R/W 400,
the hard disk drive 500, and the DVD-R/W 600 can be transmitted to
the electronic device 200 for storage.
[0025] The aforementioned storage media interfaces 20, 30, 40 are
not limited to the individual circuit elements shown in FIG. 1. The
storage media interfaces 20, 30, 40 can be integrated into an IC or
a circuit module.
[0026] An audio codec player 50 provides the functions of
encoding/decoding and playback of various audio data formats, such
as MP3, WMA, MIDI, WAV, and so on. The audio codec player 50
comprises a parallel/serial transmission interface 51. The
parallel/serial transmission interface 51 is connected to the
parallel/serial transmission interface 24 of the media storage
interface 20, the parallel/serial transmission interface 34 of the
media storage interface 30, the parallel/serial transmission
interface 44 of the media storage interface 40, respectively to
form bi-directional data transmission between the audio codec 50
and the storage media interfaces 20, 30, 40. The audio codec player
50 is externally connected to an audio player 700 and an audio
input device 800. The audio player 700 is not limited to any
specific type. The present invention uses a loudspeaker as an
embodiment for description, but other equivalent audio players,
such as earphones, are also within the scope of the present
invention. The audio input device 800 is not limited to any
specific type. The present invention uses a microphone as an
embodiment for description, but other equivalent audio input
devices, such as CD line-in or broadcast audio input device, are
also within the scope of the present invention. The user's voice
can be input from a microphone, sent to the audio codec player 50
for recording using ADPCM. The audio codec player 50 uses the audio
player 700 and the audio input device 800 for audio data playback
and input.
[0027] The aforementioned audio codec player 50 forms, through the
parallel/serial transmission interface 51, bi-directional data
transmission among the electronic device 200, the flash memory 23,
the memory card 300, the CD-R/W 400, the hard dish drive 500, and
the DVD-R/W 600 so that audio data can be encoded/decoded for
storage or playback on the electronic device 200 or the audio
player 700; alternatively, the audio input device 800 inputs audio
signal for the audio codec player 50 to encode/decode and stored in
the electronic device 200, the flash memory 23, the memory card
300, the CD-R/W 400, the hard dish drive 500, and the DVD-R/W 600,
in a way similar to digital audio recording.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows an audio storage and playback apparatus in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, also
designated with reference numeral 100 for simplicity. A downstream
port 15 of a USB hub 10 is connected to a digital/analog interface
converter 60. The digital/analog interface converter 60 comprises a
USB controller 61, a digital/analog signal processor 62, and a
digital/analog signal input interface 63. The USB controller 61 is
connected to the downstream port 15 of the USB hub 10. The
digital/analog signal processor 62 is connected to the USB
controller 61. The digital/analog signal processor 62 provides the
function of converting digital/analog video/audio signals into a
format that is suitable for the electronic device 200. The
digital/analog signal input device 63 provides the connection to at
least a digital/analog signal source 64. The digital/analog signal
source 64 can be a signal source device, such as DTV, ATV, DAB,
AAB, and so on. The digital/analog signal input device 63 inputs
the signal from the digital/analog signal source 64, and transmits
the signals to the digital/analog signal processor 62 for
processing, and then through the USB controller 61, the downstream
port 15 of the USB hub 10, and the upstream port 11 of the USB hub
10 to the electronic device 200 for storage or playback.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows an audio data storage and playback apparatus in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, which
is also designated with reference numeral 100 for simplicity. The
audio data storage and playback apparatus 100 comprises a USB SIE
1010 with an upstream port 1011 and a plurality of endpoints 1012,
1013, 1014, 1015, 1016. The upstream port 1011 is connected to a
USB interface 210 of an electronic device 200 for bi-directional
data communication between the endpoints 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015,
1016 and the electronic device 200.
[0030] The aforementioned endpoints 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016 of
the USB SIE 1010 provide connections to aforementioned storage
media interface 20, 30, 40, digital/analog interface converter 60
to provide achieve the objects of bi-directional data transmission,
storage, encoding/decoding and playback of audio data.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows an audio data storage and playback apparatus in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, also
designated with reference numeral 100 for simplicity, comprising a
storage media interface 70. The storage media interface 70 is a
monolithic compound storage media interface integrating
aforementioned storage media interfaces 20, 30, 40. The storage
media interface 70 comprises a USB controller 71, a flash memory
access controller 72, at least a flash memory 73, a card reader
controller 74, a memory connector 75, an ATA/ATAPI controller 76,
at least an interface connector 77, and a parallel/serial
transmission interface 78. The USB controller 71 is connected to a
downstream port 12 of the USB hub 10 to form a bi-directional
USB-type data connection between the storage media interface 70 and
the USB hub 10. The flash memory access controller 72 is connected
to the USB controller 71 and is to control the data access. The
flash memory 23 is connected to and controlled by the flash memory
access controller 72. The audio data on electronic device 200 can
be transmitted to the flash memory 73 for storage, or the audio
data in flash memory 73 can be transmitted to the electronic device
200 for storage.
[0032] The card reader controller 74 is connected to the USB
controller 74, and is to control data access. The memory connector
75 is to provide external connection to at least a memory card 300.
The memory card 300 can be any known flash memory card, such as CF,
SD, MMC, XD, SM, MS, MSPRO, MS DUO. The memory connector 75 is
connected to the card reader controller 74 so that the memory card
300 is controlled by the card reader controller 74. The audio data
on electronic device 200 can be transmitted to the memory card 300
for storage, or the audio data in the memory card 300 can be
transmitted to the electronic device 200 for storage.
[0033] The ATA/ATAPI controller 76 is connected to the USB
controller 71, and is to control data access. The interface
connector 77 is to provide external connection to a CD-R/W 400, a
hard disk drive 500, or a DVD-R/W 600, respectively. The CD-R/W
400, the hard disk drive 500, and the DVD-R/W 600 have an ATA/ATAPI
type interface. The interface connector 77 is connected to the
ATA/ATAPI controller 76 so that the CD-R/W 400, the hard disk drive
500, and the DVD-R/W 600 are controlled by the ATA/ATAPI controller
76. The audio data on the electronic device 200 can be transmitted
to the CD-R/W 400, the hard disk drive 500, and the DVD-R/W 600 for
storage, or the audio data in the CD-R/W 400, the hard disk drive
500, and the DVD-R/W 600 can be transmitted to the electronic
device 200 for storage.
[0034] The parallel/serial transmission interface 78 is connected
to the flash memory access controller 72, the card reader
controller 74, the ATA/ATAPI interface controller 76 and the
parallel/serial transmission interface 51 of the audio codec player
50, respectively, to provide bi-directional data transmission of
audio data to achieve the object of storage, encoding/decoding, and
playback of audio data as shown in FIGS. 1-3.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the operation of audio data
storage and playback apparatus 100 of the present invention. The
flowchart shows the encoding/decoding, storage and playback of
audio data. The method comprises the steps of:
[0036] (910) the user determining whether encoding/decoding is
required; and if so, proceeding to step (920); and otherwise,
proceeding to step (930);
[0037] (920) storing audio data through storage media interface of
hub or SIE to portable storage media;
[0038] (921) portable storage media transmitting audio data,
through the parallel/serial transmission interface, to audio codec
player for encoding/decoding;
[0039] (922) determining whether the operation being for encoding
and storage, or decoding and playback; and if encoding and storage,
proceeding to step (922A); otherwise, proceeding to step
(922B);
[0040] (922A) the audio codec player transmitting encoded audio
data, through the parallel/serial transmission interface, to the
portable storage media for storage or, through the hub or SIE, to
the electronic device;
[0041] (922B) the audio player playing back the decoded audio
data;
[0042] (930) determining whether the operation is for playback or
recording; and if for playback, proceeding to step (940);
otherwise, proceeding to step (950);
[0043] (940) the portable storage media transmitting audio data,
through the storage media interface and the parallel/serial
transmission interface, to audio codec player;
[0044] (941) the audio codec player decoding audio data and
outputting audio data to audio player for playback;
[0045] (950) the audio signal being input from audio input device
and transmitted to audio codec player for encoding;
[0046] (951) the audio codec player encoding audio signal and
transmitting encoded audio data, through storage media interface
and the parallel/serial transmission interface, to portable storage
media for storage; and
[0047] (952) audio data being stored in portable storage media or
electronic device through hub or SIE.
[0048] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangement
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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