Apparatus and method for communicating transmit parameters to a data transmitter

A system and method are disclosed for communicating transmit parameters to a data transmitter for transmitting a data frame. Two or more levels of transmit parameters are associated with each data frame and are accessible and adjustable by a processor, such as a firmware processor. A data transmitter retrieves the transmit parameters of a level only if all attempts (initial attempt and retransmissions) at the previous level were unsuccessful. Each level includes a continuation data element, such as a designated bit, to indicate to the data transmitter that a subsequent level exists. The processor may adjust the transmit parameters in a transmit control table and may add levels of transmit parameters to the transmit control table based on transmission performance information.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of data communication, and more particularly to communicating to a data transmitter transmit parameters for transmitting data.

2. Related Art

Devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, computers, peripheral devices, and many other devices communicate data by transmitting data frames. A data frame is a data packet that includes the data to be transmitted along with a header. The data is the payload and the header includes supplemental information for processing the payload.

A transmitting device typically includes a processor (to execute transmit software) and transmit hardware (i.e., a data transmitter) for executing transmission attempts for each data frame. For transmitting a data frame, the processor communicates the data frame to a queue of the transmit hardware. Transmit data associated with each data frame is communicated along with the data frame and stored in a buffer. The transmit data includes transmit parameters that define characteristics of the transmission attempt(s) for the data frame. The transmit parameters may define the transmit rate, the bandwidth of the transmission, the modulating scheme, the transmission media, and/or other transmission characteristics for the respective data frame.

The transmitting device provides for multiple transmission attempts in the event that an acknowledge (ACK) signal is not received from the receiving device after a data frame is sent. To increase the likelihood of a successful transmission, the transmit data for each data frame includes not just one but multiple sets of varied transmit parameters. If a transmission attempt consistently fails using a first set of transmit parameters, a subsequent attempt may be made using a second, different transmit parameter set. Transmit data may include up to ten or more different transmit parameter sets to increase the likelihood that a data frame will be received. The number of transmit parameter sets in the transmit data is fixed and all of the transmit parameter sets (e.g., ten parameter sets) are communicated to the buffer when a data frame is queued for transmission.

The process of communicating the transmit data to the buffer includes the read/write operations that are executed to write all of the transmit parameter sets to the buffer for each queued frame. This process may be relatively inefficient under many circumstances. Consider, for example, that a data frame may be successfully sent on the first (or early) attempt. In that case, a majority of the time and resources that were used to write all of the transmit parameter sets to the buffer were unnecessary overhead for transmitting the data frame. Also, a transmitting device typically includes several queues. Therefore, the total inefficiency is a multiple of the number of queues because each queue has an associated memory block in the buffer; all of the transmit parameter sets for each queued data frame are written to the memory blocks regardless of whether they will be utilized. A further shortcoming of this process is that it does not allow a transmit parameter to be adjusted within any transmit parameter set (even those not currently being used) once the transmit data is written to the buffer. An improved approach is desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following embodiments relate to systems and methods of writing transmit data to a buffer memory in communication with a data transmitter. The transmit data is comprised of transmit parameter levels. The number of levels of transmit parameters that comprise the transmit data may be increased as needed to improve the performance of the data transmitter. Adding levels to the transmit data only as needed provides an efficient use of the buffer memory and other system resources.

In an exemplary embodiment, a first level of transmit parameters, associated with a data frame, is retrieved by a data transmitter from a buffer. The data transmitter is configured to transmit the data frame in accord with the first level of transmit parameters. The data transmitter may retransmit the data frame using the first level of transmit parameters. The data transmitter retrieves a second level of transmit parameters from the buffer only if an acknowledge signal is not received in response to transmitting and retransmitting (up to a predetermined number of retries) the data frame using the first level of transmit parameters. In that case, the data transmitter is configured to transmit the data frame in accord with the second level of transmit parameters.

The number of transmit levels in transmit data may be increased based upon the performance of the data transmitter. Adjusted transmit data may be written to the buffer at any time, including while the data transmitter is using a transmit level of the (pre-adjusted) transmit data. A table version bit, included with the adjusted transmit data, indicates whether the transmit data has been adjusted.

The first level of transmit parameters may include a continuation bit to indicate to the data transmitter that the transmit data includes the second level of transmit parameters. Other levels may also include a continuation bit to indicate that a subsequent level exists.

The system may implement a method that includes incrementing a transmit level count each time a data frame is transmitted in accord with the first level of transmit parameters. The transmit level count may be compared to a transmit count that indicates the maximum number of transmit attempts allowed at the first level. If the transmit level count is equal to the transmit count, a continuation bit of the first level of transmit parameters is read by the data transmitter to determine whether a transmit control table (i.e., the transmit data comprising the transmit parameter levels) includes a second level of transmit parameters.

The system may also implement a method that includes queuing a transmit frame for transmission by the data transmitter and selecting the transmit frame for transmission by the data transmitter. The transmit frame includes a first pointer to a first memory location having a data frame. A transmit information header of the transmit frame is read to obtain transmit data and a second pointer to a second memory location in the buffer. The second memory location may include the first level of transmit parameters. The method may further include reading the transmit information header of the transmit frame to obtain a transmit level that indicates a current retry level of the transmit control table, and determining a memory location of the current retry level of transmit parameters based on the second pointer and the transmit level.

According to another aspect of the invention, transmit data is written to a memory in communication with a data transmitter, the transmit data is adjusted, and the adjusted transmit data is written to the memory while a data frame is queued by a data transmitter for transmission in accord with the transmit data. The transmit data may be adjusted by adding a level of transmit parameters to the transmit data. After a transmission attempt, transmit performance information may be determined based on transmit information, and the transmit data may be adjusted. A field in the transmit data may be adjusted to indicate that the transmit data has been adjusted.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer readable storage medium includes processor executable instructions to execute one or more of the following: adjust transmit data that includes a first level of transmit parameters and a second level of transmit parameters while a data frame is queued; adjust the transmit data by adding additional levels to the transmit data; adjust the second level of transmit parameters while the data frame is queued for transmission in accord with the first level of transmit parameters, and record an indication that the second level of transmit parameters has been adjusted; add an additional level of transmit parameters to a transmit control table having the first and second levels of transmit parameters and write the transmit control table to the buffer, including the additional level.

According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes one or more of: means for transmitting a data frame in accord with a first level of transmit parameters retrieved from a memory; means for retrieving a second level of transmit parameters from the memory only if an acknowledge signal is not received in response to transmitting the data frame in accord with the first level of transmit parameters; means for configuring the data transmitter to transmit the data frame in accord with the second level of transmit parameters; means for adjusting transmit data associated with a data frame while a data frame is queued; means for determining whether transmit data has a second level of transmit parameters; means for adjusting a second level of transmit parameters while a data frame is queued for transmission in accord with a first level of transmit parameters, and recording an indication that the second level of transmit parameters has been adjusted; means for incrementing a transmit level count of first level transmit attempts, comparing the transmit level count to a transmit count, and determining whether a transmit control table includes the second level of transmit parameters only if the transmit level count is equal to the transmit count; means for queuing a transmit frame for transmission by the data transmitter, selecting the transmit frame for transmission by the data transmitter, reading a transmit information header of the transmit frame to obtain transmit data and a second pointer to a second memory location in the buffer, reading the transmit information header of the transmit frame to obtain a transmit level that indicates a current retry level of a transmit control table, and determining a memory location of the current retry level based on the second pointer and the transmit level; and means for adding an additional level of transmit parameters to a transmit control table and writing the transmit control table to memory.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes one or more of: means for writing transmit data to a memory in communication with a data transmitter, adjusting the transmit data, and writing the adjusted transmit data to the memory while a data frame is queued by a data transmitter for transmission in accord with the transmit data; means for adding a level of transmit parameters to the transmit data; means for communicating to the memory transmit information related to the first set of transmit parameters; means for determining transmit performance information based on the transmit information and adjusting the transmit data based on the transmit performance information, and writing the adjusted transmit data to the memory; means for changing a field in the transmit data to indicate that the transmit data has been adjusted; means for disregarding the transmit performance information if the field indicates that the transmit data has been adjusted; and means for determining whether transmit data was adjusted while a data frame was queued.

According to another aspect of the invention, a computer readable storage medium includes processor executable instructions to write transmit data to a memory in communication with a data transmitter, adjust the transmit data, and write the adjusted transmit data to the memory while a data frame is queued by a data transmitter for transmission in accord with the transmit data. The computer readable storage medium may also include processor executable instructions to execute one or more of the following: add a level of transmit parameters to the transmit data; determine transmit performance information based on transmit information received from a data transmitter, adjust the transmit data based on the transmit performance information, and write the adjusted transmit data to the memory; change a field in the transmit data to indicate that the transmit data has been adjusted; disregard the transmit performance information if the field indicates that the transmit data has been adjusted; and determine whether transmit data was adjusted while a data frame was queued.

The embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts or elements throughout the different views.

The embodiments below relate to a technique for providing transmit parameters associated with a data frame to a buffer in communication with a data transmitter. The technique also includes providing multiple sets of transmit parameters to the buffer so that the data transmitter may retransmit the data frame using different sets of transmit parameters, if necessary. More specifically, the technique includes adjusting the number of levels of transmit parameters in transmit data (in a transmit control table) based on the performance of the data transmitter. Any number of levels may be implemented, and adjusted transmit data may be written to the buffer. The data transmitter determines whether an additional (successive) level exists by reading a continuation bit of the current level.

The technique provides an efficient use of the buffer (and read/write cycles to the buffer) and flexibility to implement transmit control tables of different sizes. For example, a transmit control table of a first size may be used to transmit data frames to a first destination/client, and a transmit control table of a second size may be used to transmit data frames to a second destination/client. The size of either transmit control table may be adjusted to improve the performance of the data transmitter. The technique also provides flexibility that allows transmit parameters of a transmit control table to be adjusted and written to the buffer, even if the associated data frame is currently being transmitted using the transmit parameters of the transmit control table. The transmit parameters of a level may be adjusted and additional levels may be added according to an algorithm that incorporates data and success/failure rates of previous transmission attempts, as an example.

FIG. 1is an illustration of a device10that transmits data for receipt by one or more other devices (not shown). The device10may be a cell phone, personal digital assistant, computer, peripheral device, or any other device that transmits data. The device10may transmit data in accord with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard 802.11a/b/g/n HT (high-throughput) or other standard by way of a wireless or wired data communication channel, as examples.

The device10includes a processor20, such as a firmware processor, in communication with data memory22. For transmitting a data frame, the processor20retrieves the data frame from the data memory22and communicates the data frame to a memory location in a buffer26. The processor20also communicates the memory location of the data frame to a data transmitter24. The data transmitter24may be a media access control (MAC) hardware device, as an example. The data transmitter24communicates transmission signals to a signal transmitter28, such as an antenna (as shown) or other device that outputs communication signals for transmission by way of a wireless or wired communication channel.

FIG. 2illustrates a version of a data transmitter30that receives memory locations of transmit frames (e.g., transmit frame38) selected by a processor (such as processor20) for transmission. The memory locations of the transmit frames are received at one or more queues of the data transmitter30. In the illustrated embodiment, the data transmitter30has eight queues34(a)-34(h). A scheduler32selects individual queues for transmission. The memory location of a transmit frame associated with a selected queue is communicated to a transmit frame output terminal36for communication to data frame transmission hardware (not shown) of the data transmitter30. As illustrated inFIG. 2, a transmit frame38includes a transmit information header40that includes both transmit data and a rate pointer to a memory location having transmit parameters for the selected frame38. The transmit frame38also includes the data frame, including both the header and payload.

FIG. 3is an illustration of an embodiment of the data structure of a transmit information header100. The transmit information header100includes N words102. In one version, each word is associated with a 32-bit field104. A transmit information header100is written to the data buffer26by the processor20for each transmit frame sent to the queues34(a)-34(h). At the data buffer26, the fields of the transmit information header100may be written to and read from by both the processor20and the data transmitter24. Exemplary fields of a transmit information header100are described in Table 1. A function implemented by software (as indicated in the table) may be performed by the processor20, as an example. A function performed by hardware may be performed by the data transmitter24, as an example.

TABLE 1Exemplary Transmit Information Header Fields(SW = Software; HW = Hardware)Field NameDescriptionMaximum TransmitSW sets this field to the maximum number ofAttempts Allowedattempts that may be made to send the data frameif ACK is not received.Transmit AttemptsHW writes to this field the number of transmissionattempts made for the data frame.Transmit StatusHW writes the status of the data frame:0 = successfully transmitted; 1 = frame droppedFrame AddressSW writes the memory location of the data frame.Transmit ParameterSW writes to this field to indicate whether to useSourcetransmit parameters indicated in this table, or touse the transmit parameters from a transmit controltable: 0 = use transmit parameters from this table;1 = use transmit parameters from transmit controltable.Transmit ParametersSW sets transmit parameters of this table. Examplesof transmit parameters include: transmit rate;transmit bandwidth; which antenna to select; transmitpower setting; whether to enable high-throughput.Transmit ControlSW sets this field to point to the memory locationTable Pointerof the transmit control table.Transmit LevelIndicates which table entry (retry level) to use in thetransmit control table for the next transmissionattempt. Updateable by HW to indicate the offset ofthe next level to be used.Transmit LevelNumber of transmission attempts made at the currentCounttable entry (retry level) in the transmit control table.Updateable by HW after each transmission attemptat a level.

Table 1 shows that the transmit information header100includes data pertaining to transmission attempts allowed and made, the status of a transmission attempt, the location of a data frame, and where to obtain the transmit parameters for the current attempt. In the embodiment discussed above, the transmit parameters may be obtained either directly from a transmit information header field or from a transmit control table, depending on the status of the Transmit Parameter Source field. If the transmit parameters for a queued data frame are obtained from the transmit information header field, they are fixed for all transmission attempts when the transmit information header field is written to the data buffer26. If the transmit parameters for a queued data frame are obtained from a transmit control table, they are adaptable because an adjusted transmit control table may be written to the data buffer26as/when needed. A portion (referred to as “level”) of the transmit control table for a queued frame may be updated by the processor20(in memory22) at any time before the transmit control table is written to the data buffer26. The processor20may also add levels to the transmit control table.

The memory location of a level of the transmit control table is determined by the data transmitter24based on the transmit control table pointer and the transmit level fields in the transmit information header. For example, the first level of the transmit control table is at the memory location indicated in the transmit control table pointer field. The second level is at the memory location indicated by the sum of the transmit control table pointer field and an address offset determined based on the transmit level field of the transmit information header. If the offset is equal to the size of a level of the transmit control table, then the memory location of the second level is based on the sum of the transmit control pointer and the offset (multiplied by one).

An embodiment of a transmit control table200is shown inFIG. 4. Although the illustrated transmit control table200includes six fields202totaling 32 bits (204), the actual size of the transmit control table200is flexible because the transmit control table200may include additional levels. Each additional level would also include the six fields202, but the data of each field202, including the transmit information208, may be different from level to level. A table continuation bit214is set to zero if the transmit control table200does not include an additional level beyond the current level, and is set to one if there is at least one additional level. Thus, the data transmitter24determines whether there is an additional level to be read from the data buffer26(or any memory that includes the transmit control table200) based on the table continuation bit214. In this embodiment, only the level of the transmit control table200that is needed for the current transmission attempt (or retry) is read by the data transmitter from the data buffer26(or other memory). The processor20may update/adjust the transmit parameters of any level before the transmit control table200is written from the memory22to the buffer26. The processor20may update/adjust transmit parameters in memory22based on the results of other transmission attempts, as an example. Further, the processor20may increase the number of levels of the transmit control table200. For example, the processor20may add a level to the transmit control table200even as the data transmitter24is transmitting a corresponding data frame using the parameters of a level of the transmit control table200.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, the transmit control table200includes a transmit information field208that has the transmit parameters for the respective level. The transmit parameters may define one or more of the transmit rate; transmit bandwidth; which antenna to select; transmit power setting; and whether to enable high-throughput, as examples. In an embodiment, the transmit information field208defines the parameters shown in Table 2.

As discussed above, if the transmit parameter source field of the transmit information header (Table 1) is set to zero, the transmit parameters from Table 1 are used. If the transmit parameter source field is set to one, the transmit parameters from the transmit control table (Table 2) are used.

The transmit control table200includes a transmit count field210that defines the total number of transmit attempts (first attempt plus the number of retries) that may be made at the current level if an ACK signal is not received. The data transmitter24compares the transmit count field210to the transmit level count field of the transmit information header to determine whether there is another level of the transmit control table200. For example, if the transmit count field210is equal to the transmit level count field (e.g., eight transmit attempts allowed at this level), the data transmitter24uses the table continuation bit214to determine whether there is another level. In one version, the transmit count field210for the last level is reserved. Instead, the number of transmission attempts allowed at the last level is determined by subtracting the sum of the transmit counts210for all previous levels of the transmit control table200from the Maximum Transmit Attempts Allowed field of Table 1.

The transmit control table200also includes a reserved field212, a table version field213, and a drop frame indicator field216. The reserved field212may be used for any purpose requiring one or two bits. The table version field213is a single bit that is toggled by the processor20for all levels of a transmit control table200whenever at least one parameter of any level is changed or if a level is added to the transmit control table200. For each frame, the data transmitter24copies, as transfer information, the table version field213bit for each level attempted. After the frame is transmitted, the processor20reads the bit for each level from the transfer information provided by the data transmitter24. If the bit toggled between any two levels the processor20disregards the frame when calculating the performance of the transmission because the frame was transmitted using parameters from two different versions of the transmit control table200.

The drop frame indicator field216is set by the processor20to zero to allow a data frame to be transmitted, and is set to one to indicate that the data frame is not to be transmitted. The processor20may use the drop frame indicator field216to “delete” a frame after it has been queued but before it has been fetched from the queue by the data transmitter24.

Use of the transmit control table200may be disabled on a frame-by-frame basis or globally (i.e., for all frames). To disable use of the transmit control table200for a frame, a reserved “drop-transmit-control” bit in the buffer26is set to one by the processor20. To disable use of the transmit control table200globally, a reserved bit in the buffer26“global-drop bit” is set to one by the processor20. If use of the transmit control table200is disabled, the data transmitter24uses the transmit parameters from the transmit information header (FIG. 3and Table 1).

FIG. 5shows acts for communicating a data frame and transmit parameters to a data transmitter, in accord with an embodiment of the invention. A processor queues transmit frames to the data transmitter (Act302). The data transmitter selects a queued frame for transmission (Act304) and fetches the data frame, the transmit information, and a memory location of the transmit parameters for the selected frame (Act306). The data transmitter is configured with the transmit parameters of the current level (Act308). The data transmitter transmits the data frame (Act310) and waits for an acknowledge (ACK) signal from the receiver (Act312). If an ACK signal is received (Act314), a data element (e.g., bit) in the transmission information header is set to indicate that the frame was transmitted (Act316). If an ACK signal is not received (Act314), the data transmitter updates the transmit information associated with the data frame and re-queues the data frame (Act318). In this case, at some time afterward the scheduler selects the data frame for transmission and, if the count has not been reached at the current transmission level (Act320), the data frame is retransmitted using the transmit parameters of the current level. If the count has been reached (Act320), the transmission level is incremented (Act322), the memory location of the transmit parameters for the next level are fetched (Act324), the data transmitter is configured according to the transmit parameters of that level (Act308), and subsequent Acts are performed, as shown.

Referring now toFIGS. 6(a) to6(h), various exemplary implementations of the present invention are shown. Referring toFIG. 6(a), the present invention may be embodied in a hard disk drive (HDD)400. HDD400may communicate with a host device (not shown) such as a computer, mobile computing devices such as personal digital assistants, cellular phones, media or MP3 players and the like, and/or other devices via one or more wired or wireless communication links408.

The present invention may be implemented with either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified inFIG. 6(a) at402. In some implementations, the signal processing and/or control circuit402and/or other circuits (not shown) in the HDD400may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, and/or format data that is output to and/or received from a magnetic storage medium406. HDD400may be connected to memory409, such as random access memory (RAM), a low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, read only memory (ROM) and/or other suitable electronic data storage.

Referring now toFIG. 6(b), the present invention may be implemented in a digital versatile disc (DVD) drive410. The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified inFIG. 6(b) at412, and/or mass data storage418of DVD drive410. Signal processing and/or control circuit412and/or other circuits (not shown) in DVD drive410may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, and/or format data that is read from and/or data written to an optical storage medium416. In some implementations, signal processing and/or control circuit412and/or other circuits (not shown) in DVD drive410can also perform other functions such as encoding and/or decoding and/or any other signal processing functions associated with a DVD drive.

DVD drive410may communicate with a device (not shown) such as a computer, television or other device via one or more wired or wireless communication links417. DVD drive410may communicate with mass data storage418that stores data in a nonvolatile manner. Mass data storage418may include a HDD such as that shown inFIG. 6(a). The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. DVD drive410may be connected to memory419, such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory, and/or other suitable electronic data storage.

Referring now toFIG. 6(c) the present invention may be embodied in a high definition television (HDTV)420. The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified inFIG. 6(c) at422, a WLAN interface429and/or mass data storage427of the HDTV420. HDTV420may receive HDTV input signals in either a wired or wireless format via one or more wired or wireless communication links424and generate HDTV output signals for a display426. In some implementations, signal processing circuit and/or control circuit422and/or other circuits (not shown) of HDTV420may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform any other type of HDTV processing that may be required.

HDTV420may communicate with mass data storage427that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown in eitherFIG. 6(a) and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown inFIG. 6(b). The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. HDTV420may be connected to memory428such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. HDTV420also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface429.

Referring now toFIG. 6(d), the present invention may be implemented in a control system of a vehicle430, a WLAN interface448and/or mass data storage446of the vehicle control system. In some implementations, the present invention is implemented in a power-train control system432that receives inputs from one or more sensors436such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, rotational sensors, airflow sensors and/or any other suitable sensors and/or that generates one or more output control signals such as engine operating parameters, transmission operating parameters, and/or other control signals at one or more output(s)438.

The present invention may also be embodied in other control systems440of vehicle430. Control system440may likewise receive signals from input sensors442and/or output control signals to one or more output(s)444. In some implementations, control system440may be part of an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a navigation system, a telematics system, a vehicle telematics system, a lane departure system, an adaptive cruise control system, a vehicle entertainment system such as a stereo, DVD, compact disc and the like. Still other implementations are contemplated.

Powertrain control system432may communicate with mass data storage446that stores data in a nonvolatile manner. Mass data storage446may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices, for example HDDs and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have the configuration shown inFIG. 6(a) and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown inFIG. 6(b). The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. Powertrain control system432may be connected to memory447such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Powertrain control system432also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface448. The control system440may also include mass data storage, memory and/or a WLAN interface (all not shown).

Referring now toFIG. 6(e), the present invention may be embodied in a cellular phone450that may include a cellular antenna451. The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified inFIG. 6(e) at452, a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the cellular phone450. In some implementations, cellular phone450includes a microphone456, an audio output458such as a speaker and/or audio output jack, a display460and/or an input device462such as a keypad, pointing device, voice actuation and/or other input device. Signal processing and/or control circuits452and/or other circuits (not shown) in cellular phone450may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform other cellular phone functions.

Cellular phone450may communicate with mass data storage464that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices, for example HDDs and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have a configuration shown inFIG. 6(a) and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown inFIG. 6(b). The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. Cellular phone450may be connected to memory466such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Cellular phone450also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface468.

Referring now toFIG. 6(f), the present invention may be embodied in a set top box480. The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified inFIG. 6(f) at484, a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the set top box480. Set top box480receives signals from a source such as a broadband source and outputs standard and/or high definition audio/video signals suitable for a display488such as a television and/or monitor and/or other video and/or audio output devices. Signal processing and/or control circuits484and/or other circuits (not shown) of the set top box480may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform any other set top box function.

Set top box480may communicate with mass data storage490that stores data in a nonvolatile manner. Mass data storage490may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices, for example HDDs and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have a configuration shown inFIG. 6(a) and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown inFIG. 6(b). The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. Set top box480may be connected to memory494such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Set top box480also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface496.

Referring now toFIG. 6(g), the present invention may be embodied in a media player500. The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified inFIG. 6(g) at504, a WLAN interface and/or mass data storage of the media player500. In some implementations, media player500includes a display507and/or a user input508such as a keypad, touchpad and the like. In some implementations, media player500may employ a graphical user interface (GUI) that typically employs menus, drop down menus, icons and/or a point-and-click interface via display507and/or user input508. Media player500further includes an audio output509such as a speaker and/or audio output jack. Signal processing and/or control circuits504and/or other circuits (not shown) of media player500may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform any other media player function.

Media player500may communicate with mass data storage510that stores data such as compressed audio and/or video content in a nonvolatile manner. In some implementations, the compressed audio files include files that are compliant with MP3 format or other suitable compressed audio and/or video formats. The mass data storage510may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices, for example HDDs and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have a configuration shown inFIG. 6(a) and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown inFIG. 6(b). The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″.

Media player500may be connected to memory514such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Media player500also may support connections with a WLAN via a WLAN network interface516. Still other implementations in addition to those described above are contemplated.

Referring toFIG. 6(h), the present invention may be embodied in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone550that may include an antenna518. The present invention may be implemented in either or both signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified inFIG. 6(h) at520, a wireless interface and/or mass data storage of the VoIP phone550. In some implementations, VoIP phone550includes, in part, a microphone524, an audio output526such as a speaker and/or audio output jack, a display monitor528, an input device530such as a keypad, pointing device, voice actuation and/or other input devices, and a Wi-Fi communication module532. Signal processing and/or control circuits520and/or other circuits (not shown) in VoIP phone550may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform other VoIP phone functions.

VoIP phone550may communicate with mass data storage522that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices, for example HDDs and/or DVDs. At least one HDD may have a configuration shown inFIG. 6(a) and/or at least one DVD may have the configuration shown inFIG. 6(b). The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. VoIP phone550may be connected to memory534, which may be a RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. VoIP phone550is conFIG.d to establish communications link with a VoIP network (not shown) via Wi-Fi communication module532.

All of the discussion above, regardless of the particular implementation being described, is exemplary in nature, rather than limiting. Although specific components of the transmission device are described, methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the transmission device may include additional or different components. For example, components of the transmission device may be implemented by one or more of: control logic, hardware, a microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, or a combination of circuits and/or logic. Further, although selected aspects, features, or components of the implementations are depicted as hardware or software, all or part of the systems and methods consistent with the transmission device may be stored on, distributed across, or read from machine-readable media, for example, secondary storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, and CD-ROMs; a signal received from a network; or other forms of ROM or RAM either currently known or later developed. Any act or combination of acts may be stored as instructions in computer readable storage medium. Memories may be DRAM, SRAM, Flash or any other type of memory. Programs may be parts of a single program, separate programs, or distributed across several memories and processors.

The processing capability of the transmission device may be distributed among multiple system components, such as among multiple processors and memories, optionally including multiple distributed processing systems. Parameters, databases, and other data structures may be separately stored and managed, may be incorporated into a single memory or database, may be logically and physically organized in many different ways, and may implemented in many ways, including data structures such as linked lists, hash tables, or implicit storage mechanisms. Programs and rule sets may be parts of a single program or rule set, separate programs or rule sets, or distributed across several memories and processors.

It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be understood as an illustration of selected forms that the invention can take and not as a definition of the invention. It is only the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the scope of this invention.