Patent ID: 6434645
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A peripheral audio processing device coupled to a computer system having a memory, wherein the peripheral audio processing device establishes a plurality of direct memory access connections with the memory of the computer system, the audio processing device comprising:a bus interface coupled to the memory of the computer system; and a direct memory access controller coupled to the bus interface, wherein the direct memory access controller establishes and maintains the plurality of direct memory access connections with the memory of the computer system by way of the bus interface such that each direct memory access connection is maintained by a direct memory access request, and the direct memory access controller initiates a selected memory access request for a selected direct memory access connection, whereby the peripheral audio processing device obtains access to the memory by way of the direct memory access request and retrieves a selected data from a plurality of data from the memory; a plurality of buffer memories, a selected buffer memory being associated with the selected direct memory access connection such that the selected buffer memory buffers the selected data retrieved by way of the selected direct memory access request; and a buffer memory controller, the buffer memory controller monitoring an unused capacity of each of the plurality of buffer memory reaches a predetermined level the buffer memory controller informs the direct memory access controller that the selected direct memory access connection requires maintenance by way of the selected direct memory access request associated with the selected direct memory access connection; whereby the direct memory access controller initiates the selected direct memory access request and retrieves the selected data from the memory for buffering by the selected buffer memory.