Apparatus with and a method for a dynamic interface protocol

An apparatus with a dynamic interface protocol and a method for a dynamic interface protocol are provided. The apparatus is capable of consolidating multiple interface protocols to a single output terminal to reduce the number of output pins and the complexity and the cost of the apparatus. The apparatus is characterized by providing an output via the output terminal of the apparatus in accordance with a data protocol in a data mode, and providing the output via the output terminal in accordance with a video protocol in a video mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for a dynamic interface protocol. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for a dynamic interface protocol, which provides output via an output terminal in accordance with different interface protocols in different operating modes.

2. Description of the Related Art

In modem digital systems, there are integrated circuits (IC) that have to provide outputs in accordance with different interface protocols in different operating modes. For example, an IC in a digital system may provide data, such as an MPEG (motion picture expert group) bit stream, received from a DVD servo directly as output in accordance with the IDE (integrated drive electronics) protocol in an operating mode. Additionally, the IC may provide video signals obtained from decoding the data in accordance with the CCIR656 standard proposed by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) in another operating mode.

In conventional systems, due to differences among interface protocols, integrated circuits provide output via different output terminals during different operating modes. Basically, those operating modes do not activate simultaneously in most cases, that is, an IC is usually in a single operating mode at a time. Since multiple output terminals increase the number of output pins, the complexity and the cost of such integrated circuits, it is desirable to have an apparatus to consolidate multiple interface protocols to a single output terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus with a dynamic interface protocol. The apparatus is capable of consolidating multiple interface protocols to a single output terminal so as to reduce the number of output pins and the complexity and cost of the apparatus.

The present invention is also directed to a method for a dynamic interface protocol. The method is capable of consolidating multiple interface protocols to a single output terminal so as to reduce the number of output pins and to enhance the flexibility of applications of the apparatus to which the output terminal belongs.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus with a dynamic interface protocol is provided. The apparatus is characterized by providing an output via an output terminal of the apparatus in accordance with a data protocol in a data mode, and providing the output via the same output terminal in accordance with a video protocol in a video mode.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a video decoder and a video output interface. The video decoder is coupled to an input terminal of the apparatus, receives and decodes a video signal into a decoded video signal, and provides the decoded video signal. The video output interface is coupled between the video decoder and the output terminal, converts the decoded video signal into a converted video signal in accordance with the video protocol, and provides the converted video signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a first switching device and a second switching device. The first switching device is coupled between the input terminal and the video decoder. The second switching device is coupled among the first switching device, the video output interface and the output terminal. The first switching device directs the video signal to the video decoder in the video mode, and directs a data signal to the second switching device in the data mode. The second switching device directs the converted video signal to the output terminal in the video mode, and directs the data signal to the output terminal in the data mode.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the data protocol conforms to IDE.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the video protocol conforms to CCIR656.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus has a plurality of video modes, and each of the video modes corresponds to a different video protocol.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for a dynamic interface protocol is provided. The method is characterized by providing an output via an output terminal in accordance with a data protocol in a data mode, and providing the output via the output terminal in accordance with a video protocol in a video mode.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of receiving and decoding a video signal into a decoded video signal, and converting the decoded video signal into a converted video signal in accordance with the video protocol and providing the converted video signal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIG. 1.FIG. 1is a schematic diagram showing the apparatus100with a dynamic interface protocol according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the apparatus100is used in a home DVD (digital versatile disc) player, a desktop computer or a notebook computer. The input110of the apparatus100is an MPEG bit stream from a DVD servo.

The apparatus100has multiple operating modes that are a data mode and a plurality of video modes. In the data mode, the apparatus100provides its output111in accordance with a data protocol, such as IDE in this embodiment, via the output terminal106. The output111is provided to an IDE device in the data mode. In one of the video modes, the apparatus100provides its output111obtained from decoding the MPEG bit stream110in accordance with a video protocol, such as CCIR656 proposed by ITU, via the same output terminal106. In this embodiment, the output111is provided to a TV encoder or a video data processor in one of the video modes.

In the scope of the present invention, the data protocol is not limited to IDE. The data protocol can be any interface protocol suitable for transmitting binary data. Also in the scope of the present invention, the apparatus100has at least one video mode, wherein each video mode corresponds to a different video protocol.

The apparatus100comprises the video decoder104, the video output interface103, and the switching devices101and102. The data flow of the apparatus100in the data mode is shown in solid lines inFIG. 2. In the data mode, the switching device102receives a data signal, which is the data bit stream110in this embodiment, from the input terminal105and directs the data signal to the switching device IO. The switching device101directs the data signal to the output terminal106.

On the other hand, the data flow of the apparatus100in any one of the video modes is shown in solid lines inFIG. 3. In one of the video modes, the switching device102receives a video signal, which is the MPEG bit stream110in this embodiment, from the input terminal105and directs the video signal to the video decoder104. The video decoder104receives and decodes the video signal into a decoded video signal, and provides the decoded video signal to the video output interface103. The video output interface103converts the decoded video signal into a converted video signal in accordance with the video protocol, and outputs the converted video signal. Finally, the switching device101directs the converted video signal to the output terminal106.

Since the apparatus100use the same output terminal106no matter in the data mode or in one of the video modes, only a single bus is needed for various protocol exchanges. Moreover, the video decoder104and the video output interface103of the apparatus100can be programmed to support proprietary video protocols and their corresponding video modes. In this way, the apparatus100is capable of providing advanced data formats for various applications, such as multi-channel audio, progressive video and high-definition video.

In this embodiment, the pins of the output terminal106are shared by the interface protocols of the operating modes.FIG. 4is a table showing the usage of the pins of the output terminal106in the operating modes of the apparatus100. In this embodiment, the apparatus100has a data mode and two video modes. The pins carry the standard IDE signals in the data mode, and carry the standard CCIR656 signals in video mode2. The interface protocol used in video mode1is a proprietary video protocol. The signals of the proprietary protocol are explained in the table inFIG. 5.

The proprietary protocol in video mode1uses the Y-CB-CR domain to describe colors instead of the RGB domain, wherein Y stands for illuminance, CB and CR stand for color difference. Each of the Y, CB and CR components of a color is quantized into 8 bits (data bits2to9). Since there are enough output pins, the complete color information is provided in the proprietary video protocol.

In this embodiment, the pins of the output terminal106are shared by the protocols. However, in the scope of the present invention, if there are enough output pins, it is possible that the interface protocols do not share pins at all. That is, each interface protocol occupies an individual set of pins, and the sets do not overlap.

As can be seen in the discussions above, the apparatus100in this embodiment provides output via the output terminal106no matter in the data mode or in one of the video modes. Therefore the apparatus100is capable of consolidating various interface protocols to a single output terminal. A single bus is enough for various protocol exchanges. In this way, the pin count of the apparatus100is lower than that of its conventional counterparts. For example, consider the embodiment shown inFIG. 4. The IDE protocol needs 40 pins and the proprietary protocol needs 27 pins. By sharing output pins, the apparatus100reduces the pin count from 67 to 40. Consequently, the complexity and the cost of the apparatus100are also reduced. And the apparatus100has higher application flexibility than that of its conventional counterparts.

In additional to the apparatus100with a dynamic interface protocol according to the previous embodiment of the present invention, the present invention also comprehends a method for a dynamic interface protocol. For one skilled in the related art of the present invention, it is easy to realize the method according to the operation of the apparatus100in the previous embodiment of the present invention.