Data Buffer Control via Progressive Read Pointer Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data buffer management systems face challenges in maintaining stable output data streams, particularly in audio applications, as they struggle to avoid data overflow or underflow, leading to discontinuities, noise, and distortion due to coarse adjustments or interpolation methods.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus that detects occupancy differences between current and target buffer levels, using output control circuitry to adjust the read pointer and interpolate data items, progressively varying the read offset displacement to maintain buffer occupancy within acceptable margins, thereby preventing data stream disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coarse adjustment by dropping or repeating output data items is used to manage buffer occupancy, then data overflow or underflow is avoided, but discontinuities occur in the output data stream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that calculates a target read pointer position based on buffer occupancy and uses progressive adjustment with interpolation to smoothly transition between data items. This intermediary calculation layer prevents direct coarse adjustments that cause discontinuities while maintaining buffer occupancy stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the read pointer position based on real-time buffer occupancy conditions. When occupancy deviates from target, the system progressively varies the read offset displacement to smoothly transition to the target position, making the adjustment process adaptive and continuous rather than static and discrete.
2Stability of the object's composition
If interpolation amongst output data items is used to maintain continuity, then output data stream discontinuities are reduced, but noise and distortion are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors buffer occupancy and uses this feedback to control when and how interpolation is applied. By only initiating progressive adjustment when occupancy difference exceeds a threshold and stopping when the target is reached, the feedback mechanism minimizes unnecessary interpolation operations that would introduce noise and distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies interpolation progressively and partially rather than continuously. The read offset displacement is varied in steps to gradually reach the target position, applying interpolation only to the extent necessary to correct buffer occupancy issues without over-interpolating, thereby reducing noise and distortion.
3Reliability
If the read pointer is adjusted to correct buffer occupancy differences, then buffer stability is improved, but data rate discrepancies cause continuous adjustment needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the target read pointer position in advance based on expected buffer occupancy requirements. By determining the target position before adjustment is needed and then progressively moving toward it, the system prepares control actions ahead of time, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making while maintaining buffer stability.
Data Source
AI summary
Control apparatus to control operation of a data buffer to which data items are written according to a write pointer which advances in position in response to an input data item rate and from which data items are read according to a read pointer which advances in position in response to an output data item rate, comprises: a detector configured to detect an occupancy difference between a current buffer occupancy and a target buffer occupancy, in which the current buffer occupancy represents a difference between the read and write pointers; an output data item interpolator configured to interpolate a data item at an interpolated data buffer location displaced by a read offset displacement from a data buffer location pointed to by the read pointer; and output control circuitry configured, in response to a current occupancy difference exceeding a threshold occupancy difference, to change the read pointer from an initial read pointer to a target read pointer by a change amount so as to reduce the occupancy difference, the output control circuitry being configured to progressively vary the read offset displacement so as to define an interpolated data buffer location which progresses over the output of a transitional group of data items towards the location pointed to by the target read pointer; the output control circuitry being further configured, when the occupancy difference is less than the threshold occupancy difference and the interpolated data buffer location is aligned with the target read pointer, to inhibit operation of the output data item interpolator and to control output of an output data item from the data buffer location pointed to by the read pointer.