Patent ID: 8310601
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. An interface circuit for a bridging circuit configured to connect between (a) a broadcast receiver tuner and associated circuitry for the receiving and processing of broadcast radio frequency signals and (b) a general purpose computer device programmed with software demodulation code configured to engage a general purpose processor in signal demodulation functions, the tuner being configured to receive instructions from the general purpose computer device via the bridging circuit and the bridging circuit being configured to send indications of the current status of controllable aspects of the tuner to the general purpose computer device, the interface circuit comprising: a data interface comprising a packetisation buffer connected to receive (i) digital signal sample data from a signal path of the tuner and associated circuitry and (ii) indications of control settings which have been applied to one or more configurable components of the tuner during taking of the sample data, said packetisation buffer being operable to construct packets comprising blocks of sample data and header information carrying said control settings indications; and a control interface configured to receive control instructions from tuner control code running on the general purpose computer device; the interface being configured for connection to a microcontroller of the bridging circuit, the microcontroller being operable to receive the control instructions from the control interface and distribute corresponding control settings to configurable components of the tuner and associated circuitry, said microcontroller also being operable to supply indications of relevant control settings to said packetisation buffer.