Command queuing for multimedia storage devices

Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej (12) PATENT DESCRIPTION ₍and₉₎PL ₍n) 229 216 (13) B1 (21) Filing number: 376089 (51) IntCI.

(22) Filing date: 11/12/2003 H04B 1/38 (2015.01) (86) Date and number of the international application:

2003-12-11, PCT / US03 / 039842 (87) International application publication date and number:

2004-07-22, W004 / 062169

An interface for coupling the portable electronic device to the multimedia device

<td></td><td>(73) The right holder of the patent:</td>

<td>(30) Priority:</td><td>MOTOROLA MOBILITY, LLC., Chicago, US</td>

<td>2002-12-31, US, 10 / 335,139</td><td>(72) Inventor (s):</td>

<td>(43) Application announced:</td><td>CHRISTOPHER BECKER, Palatine, US</td>

<td>12.12.2005 BUP 25/05</td><td>MICHAEL DOLL, Gurnee, US JOSEPH HANSEN, Williams Bay, US</td>

<td>(45) The grant of the patent was announced:</td><td></td>

<td>29.06.2018 WUP 06/18</td><td>(74) Representative:</td>

<td></td><td>thing, pat. Magdalena Pietrosiuk</td>

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PL 229 216 B1

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to an interface for coupling a portable electronic device to a multimedia device.

Portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistant type devices are known, which are capable of presenting multimedia content, for example, graphic elements or images, videos, MP3 audio files, and combinations thereof.

The Multi-Media Card Association and the SD Association recommend an industry standard that dictates specific electrical and physical parameters for multimedia devices used in portable communication devices such as cellular phones. When used in mobile phones, the multimedia team provides ringing tones, games, pictures, videos, audio files, and so on. A problem with multimedia units such as multimedia cards, hereinafter referred to as multimedia units in this specification, is that the electronic device with which they are coupled can slow down significantly due to the time required to execute commands directed at the multimedia units, and also the speed at which information is sent to and retrieved from such teams.

A solution is known in which a multimedia unit interface interfaces the multimedia unit with a processor or controller for a portable electronic device such as a portable radio or a cellular telephone. When the portable electronic device sends a command to the multimedia unit, the command first passes through the multimedia unit interface which sends a data delivery request to the multimedia unit. When a mobile device driver requests data, it typically also specifies the amount of data that should be read. The multimedia unit responds to the request for data delivery and begins transferring the data. The amount of data determined by the controller for the portable electronic device is transmitted by the multimedia unit. The ability to send commands to the multimedia unit at any time would improve the operation of the portable communication devices to which the multimedia unit is coupled.

From WO0219664A2 there is known an interface for coupling a portable electronic device to a multimedia unit comprising a command processor, a command queuing buffer and a multimedia interface driver.

The inventive interface comprises a command processor, a command queuing buffer and a multimedia interface driver, and is characterized in that the command processor is coupled to the portable electronic device and the multimedia unit to receive a command from the portable electronic device and transmit it to the multimedia unit, and the command queuing buffer is is operationally coupled to the command processor and is provided with an interface interfacing the multimedia unit, wherein the command queuing buffer is adapted to store commands to the multimedia unit sent from the portable electronic device, the multimedia interface driver for identifying commands from the portable electronic device to be stored in the command queuing buffer is coupled to the portable electronic device with the command processor and with the command queuing buffer.

Preferably, the portable electronic device is at least one of the following: a cell phone transceiver, MP3 player, personal digital assistant, two-way radio, two-way pager, one-way pager, digital camera, web tool.

Preferably, the multimedia interface driver comprises a processor coupled to the command queuing buffer for sending the command directly to the multimedia unit and sending the command from the command queuing buffer to the multimedia unit.

Preferably, the command processor has at least one of the following means: means for testing the validity of commands from the communication device, means for adding cyclic redundancy check to commands from the communication device, means for detecting and correcting at least one error in the responses from the multimedia unit by means of an error correction code, means for receiving a response from the multimedia unit, means for validating the response from the multimedia team, means for notifying the portable communication device of receiving a response from the multimedia unit.

Preferably, the response queuing buffer is a shift register.

PL 229 216 B1

Preferably, the multimedia interface driver is a controller for tracking the execution of commands transmitted to the multimedia unit by the portable electronic device.

Preferably, the interface comprises a data processing controller operably interconnecting the multimedia unit to a second controller on the portable communication device.

More preferably the data processing controller is a serial to parallel data processing controller.

More preferably, the data processing controller is a controller for controlling data communications between the portable communication device and the multimedia unit.

The subject of the invention is shown in the drawing in which: Fig. 1 shows a portable electronic device and a multimedia memory device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a multimedia unit interface as part of a portable communication device according to the invention and a multimedia memory unit coupled to the unit interface. multimedia, fig. 3 - block diagram illustrating a method of coupling a multimedia memory unit to a personal communication device according to the invention;

Fig. 1 shows a portable electronic communication device 10, which in this case is a cellular telephone, and a multimedia memory unit 16. The multimedia memory unit 16 is, for example, a chip card 12-2. In fig. 1 the card 12-2 is inserted into a slot 12-1 in the portable electronic device 10, where the electrical contacts of the card 12-1 make an electrical connection with additional electrical contacts with the portable electronic device 10, which for simplicity are not shown in Fig. 1.

In the description, the term "portable electronic device" includes all devices containing radio transmitters, radio receivers and transceivers that are capable of unidirectional or bidirectional communication, regardless of the modulation type: analog: CDMA, TDMA, GSM and others, or the frequency range, in which these devices operate, for example 800 MHz, 900 MHz and higher, but also including optical or infrared signals and acoustic signals. Examples of radio devices include two-way radios, pagers, and GPS devices. The term "portable electronic device" also includes personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, MP3 players, digital cameras and web tools, which include devices through which Internet access signals are sent and received, for example, web browser, e-mail, and other forms. data packets. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, portable electronic device 10 comprises a radio device, such as a cellular telephone, that has a radio system with which two-way communication is performed.

With regard to a cellular telephone, a portable electronic device includes a radio communication system, i.e. a transmitter and / or receiver and / or transceiver, used in portable and mobile, two-way cellular devices, regardless of the frequency range in which such devices operate, or the type of modulation used by these devices.

Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a multimedia unit interface 18, i.e. an interface for a multimedia unit that forms part of a portable electronic device 10. In Fig. 2, the portable electronic device 10 is a cellular telephone and includes a radio circuit 26. In the case of cellular telephones, a radio circuit 26 it comprises a radio transceiver or transceiver by means of which two-way communication is carried out.

The multimedia unit interface 18 operatively interfaces the portable electronic device 10 with the multimedia memory unit 16, abbreviated as multimedia unit, whereby the portable electronic device 10 effectively sends commands to the multimedia memory unit 16, which transmits data to the portable electronic device 10.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first processor 30, hereinafter referred to as the MCU, of the portable electronic device 10 sends a command to the multimedia memory unit 16 requesting delivery of the file. MCU 30 notifies or informs the second processor 28

With the size of the file requested by the multimedia memory unit 16. The second processor 28 then monitors the data it receives from the multimedia memory unit 16.

Information signals, i.e. data signals, may be exchanged, i.e. sent or received, between the multimedia storage unit 16 and the portable electronic device 10 in accordance with the specifications of the Multi-Media Card Association, but also in accordance with the SD Card Association. Although, in a preferred example, information is communicated between the multimedia memory unit 16 and the portable electronic device 10 via electrical signals, other or equivalent information transfer methods include the use of infrared, acoustic, optical, or radio frequency signals.

For example, the multimedia memory unit 16 stores acoustic files for use as ringing tones by the portable electronic device 10. The multimedia memory unit 16 also stores, for example, images, video streams or MP3 audio files played on the display screen of the portable electronic device 10 as output from the loudspeaker. or other input / output device 24 with which the portable electronic device 10 is equipped.

Fig. 5 shows a more general embodiment of a portable electronic device 10 that includes devices such as a CD player, MP3 player, DVD player, web tool, or PDA, having the reference numeral 100, provided with a multimedia unit interface 18.

When the transfer of the file from the multimedia unit 16 takes place, a second command may be issued to the multimedia unit 16 from the MCU 30, on the basis of which the interface 18 of the multimedia unit receives the second command and stores it in the command queuing buffer 42 until the multimedia unit 16 will be able to do them.

The multimedia unit interface 18 limits the overall data processing associated with the transfer of data between the multimedia memory unit 16 and the portable electronic device 10. The primary function of the interface 18 of the multimedia unit is to enable the processor in the portable electronic device 10 controlling the multimedia memory unit 16 to issue commands to the multimedia memory unit 16 even when the multimedia memory unit 16 is unable to operate them. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the multimedia unit interface 18 allows the MCU 30 to issue a first command to the multimedia memory unit 16.

An example of a command for the multimedia memory unit 16 is a request to transfer a file from the multimedia memory unit 16 to the portable electronic device 10. While the multimedia memory unit 16 is executing the first command, the multimedia unit interface 18 allows the MCU 30 to issue a different command to the multimedia memory unit 16j. . The multimedia unit interface 18 includes a command queuing buffer 42 in which the second command waits in a queue until the multimedia memory unit 16 is able to execute the second command. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the queued, i.e., second command will only be executed by the multimedia memory unit 16 after the previously issued, i.e., the first, command has been executed. The MCU 30 need not wait for one command to the multimedia memory unit 16 to be executed before issuing another command.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the multimedia unit interface 18 comprises a command processor 32 which receives information 34, e.g. commands, also optionally containing data, from at least one of the processors 28 or 30 of the portable electronic device 10. Upon receipt of the command by the command processor 32 from the MCU 30, it communicates the command to the multimedia interface controller 36, which is, for example, a processor such as a microcontroller or microprocessor and a digital signal processor DSP or combinational and / or sequential logic. The command processor 32 is preferably combination logic, gate array, or special purpose integrated circuit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the MCU generates a command by configuring registers in the command processor 32. The command processor 32 provides error correction through a cyclic redundancy check, or CRC, to be added to the commands issued to the multimedia memory unit 16 by the MCU 30.

Commands to the multimedia memory unit 16 are transmitted via a command processor 32. The multimedia interface controller 36 controls when the command is sent to the multimedia memory unit 16. If the multimedia memory unit 16 is able to execute it.

After a command, the media interface controller 36 may send a command directly to the media memory unit 16. The interface 36 also queues commands for the media memory unit 16 in the command queuing buffer 42.

The command processor 32 receives responses from the multimedia memory unit 16 and determines the correctness of these responses, typically by performing a cyclic redundancy check or CRC appended to the response. The command processor 32 notifies the communication portable electronic device controllers that a response has been received from the multimedia memory unit 16 and that the multimedia memory unit 16 is available to execute the next command.

Another function of the multimedia interface controller 36 is to monitor the execution of commands sent to the multimedia memory unit 16. The multimedia interface controller 36 monitors the status or execution of the commands by testing the responses 38 that are received from the multimedia memory unit 16 in response to the commands 40 that have been sent thereto. .

A command queuing buffer 42, which is coupled to the command processor 32 and also to the multimedia interface controller 36, stores commands for the multimedia unit until they can be executed. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the command queuing buffer 42 is a 48-bit shift register. Commands are written to buffer 42 in parallel (parallel input), but with a serial shift (serial output). Alternate embodiments of the invention involve the use of a semiconductor device with random access memory (RAM), however, in such embodiments, sending information serially would require some kind of parallel-serial processing.

As noted above, the command queuing buffer 42 stores commands received from the MCU 30 until the multimedia memory unit 16 is able to execute those commands. The determination of when the multimedia memory unit 16 will be able to execute the next command is made at the second processor 28 notifying the MCU 30 that the previously issued command has been executed.

For example, the MCU / processor 30 may request delivery of a file from multimedia memory unit 16j. To accomplish this, the controller / MCU 30 issues a command which is received by the command processor 32. The command processor may determine the state of the multimedia memory unit 16 by monitoring the current or recent responses 38. For example, if the responses 38 of multimedia unit 16 indicate that multimedia unit 16 is not busy, the command to send the file will be sent to command queuing buffer 42. The multimedia interface controller 36 may pass through the gateway or send a command 40 to transfer a file from multimedia memory unit 16 by selecting a command from command queuing buffer 42 and causing the command queuing buffer 42 to write command 40 to multimedia memory unit 16.

By tracking or monitoring the execution of commands sent to multimedia memory unit 16j, the controller 36 does not substantially burden the controller / MCU 30 and the second processor 28, e.g., DSP, portable electronic device 10, causing them to be free to perform other tasks. Thus, the MCU 30 does not need to wait for the data transfer to complete before issuing a command to the multimedia memory unit 16.

A data processing controller 46 is provided in the interface 18 of the multimedia unit. The data processing controller 36 receives data 44 from the multimedia memory unit 16 and converts it to an appropriate parallel format. In cases where data needs to be transferred to the multimedia memory unit 16 from the portable electronic device 10, the data processing controller 46 may perform parallel-serial processing.

The data processing controller 46 includes an amount of random access memory (RAM) in which data can be stored from the multimedia memory unit 16 regarding the current availability of the second controller / DSP 28 for data transfer to the radio 26 or other unit in the portable device. electronic 10.

Fig. 3 shows a method of coupling a portable electronic device to a multimedia memory device 16.

In step 302, the interface 18 of the multimedia unit receives the command for the multimedia unit 16. In step 304, the command for the multimedia unit is queued in the buffer until the multimedia unit 16 completes the execution of the previously issued command. By queuing a command for a multimedia memory unit,

A portable electronic device may perform other tasks instead of waiting for the multimedia memory unit to become available.

In step 306, the conditions for sending the queued command are tested. When the multimedia memory unit 16 is able to execute the command sent to it, as will be determined by monitoring the data being transferred from or to the multimedia memory unit 16, the queued command is sent to the multimedia memory unit 16 in step 308.

In step 310 of FIG. 4, execution of the command by multimedia memory unit 16 is monitored and / or tested via multimedia unit interface 18 by monitoring and / or testing data that is received at multimedia unit interface 18 from multimedia unit 16. Responses 38 received from the multimedia memory unit 16, sometimes in the form of their cancellation information, indicate when the execution of the previously issued command is complete. In step 308, part of testing the data from multimedia memory unit 16 is integrity testing to ensure that data from multimedia memory unit 16 is received unchanged, which in some embodiments is done by adding checksums to the data stream, parity bits added to bytes. data or cyclic redundancy check, and all these methods are considered to be equivalent examples of data integrity testing.

Data is transferred to and from the multimedia unit in a serial manner. The portable electronic device 10, on the other hand, uses parallel data. Accordingly, in step 312, the data received from the multimedia memory unit 16 is converted into a serial format. Instead, in step 314, the data directed to the multimedia memory unit 16 from the portable electronic device 10 is converted from a parallel format.

By coupling a portable electronic device 10, such as a portable telephone, pager, or personal digital assistant, to a multimedia memory unit via an intelligent controller or interface, the communication data processing potential of the portable electronic device may allow other tasks to be performed freely, while the multimedia unit interface monitors the command status and the ability of the multimedia memory unit to respond.