Unified Bus Interface for Multiformat Digital Audio

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bus communication systems face challenges in efficiently handling multiple data formats and asynchronous processes, leading to increased complexity, power consumption, and the need for multiple interfaces, which complicates data transmission and synchronization across devices.

Innovation Solution

The unified bus communication protocol allows for a single interface to handle bitstream and digital word data, using a unified bitstream frame format with multiplexed frame channels to reduce bandwidth and power consumption, and incorporates a control channel for command and synchronization data, enabling bi-directional data transfer and error detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate interfaces are used to handle different data formats (bitstream and digital word), then data format compatibility is improved, but device complexity and number of interfaces increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata format compatibilityVSAvoidnumber of interfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bus interface is designed to universally handle both bitstream and digital word data formats through a single unified interface. The interface can dynamically adapt its operation mode based on the data type being transmitted, eliminating the need for separate dedicated interfaces for each format while maintaining full compatibility with both data types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface operates in dynamic mode, switching between bitstream mode and digital word mode based on the current data transmission requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the same physical interface to serve multiple functions, reducing the total number of interfaces needed while maintaining support for various data formats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separate interfaces are used for bitstream and digital word data, then data transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the previously separate bitstream interface and digital word interface into a single unified bus interface. This merging reduces the total number of active interface circuits, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining reliable data transmission for both formats through carefully designed multiplexing and control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple interfaces are implemented for different data formats, then data transmission capability is improved, but bandwidth efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The unified interface segments data transmission into distinct phases and channels, with separate control logic for bitstream and digital word modes. This segmentation allows efficient resource allocation and prevents bandwidth waste by ensuring that only the necessary data transmission path is active at any given time, improving overall bandwidth efficiency while maintaining full transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2856689B1A multiformat digital audio interface
Publication Date: 2019.02.06 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2856689B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2856689B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2856689B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

Embodiments of various methods, devices and systems are described herein that use a unified bus communication protocol. One such device comprises an interface for sending and receiving signals, and a mux and sync engine coupled to the interface and configured to determine time slots for sent and received signals according to a unified bitstream frame format. The unified bitstream frame format comprises a plurality of frame channels for transmitting data in a bitstream mode of communication such that data from the frame channels are time-multiplexed across the frame channels one bit at a time, wherein one of the frame channels is allocated as a control channel comprising individual control bits from control data, and at least one of the frame channels is allocated as a virtual frame channel comprising individual data bits taken from digital word data.