Patent Application
20070003226
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-190098, filed Jun. 29, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to an audio/image playback apparatus which plays back audio/image data. Another embodiment of the invention relates to an operation control method which can be applied to the audio/image playback apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a mobile terminal (audio/image playback apparatus) which allows a user to view a moving image remarkably prevails, and a strong demand arises for prolonging the continuous playback time of such mobile terminal as long as possible. To meet this demand, various techniques for decreasing power consumption are proposed.
For example, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-187517, the following technique is disclosed. In this technique, in order to play back data from a hard disc drive in which multimedia data such as audio and moving images are recorded, the data is read out in a normal mode at a high playback rate, or in a power saving mode at a low playback rate to optimize power consumption.
These days, contents such as a music promotion video which can be enjoyed only by playing back a music portion is popular. When such contents are to be enjoyed using a mobile terminal driven by a battery or battery cell in a scene unsuitable for viewing video contents, the mobile terminal preferably stops outputting video contents and outputs only music contents. However, since a conventional mobile terminal assumes that a user always views video contents while outputting them, a screen cannot be turned off while outputting video contents.
As described above, the conventional mobile terminal cannot stop decoding and outputting video data even when the user only wants to listen to the music portion, resulting in inconvenience. Also, in such scene unsuitable for viewing video contents, a demand also arises for outputting only a music portion to decrease power consumption.
A general architecture that implements the various features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.
Various embodiments according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, an audio/image playback apparatus comprises a storage unit configured to store audio/image data which contains encoded image data and encoded audio data, a separation unit configured to separate the image data and the audio data which are contained in the audio/image data, a first data processing unit configured to decode the separated audio data, a second data processing unit configured to decode the separated image data, an audio output unit configured to output the decoded audio data, an image output unit configured to output the decoded image data, and a control unit configured to cause the first data processing unit to decode the audio data, and cause the second data processing unit to stop decoding the image data, based on a predetermined instruction input.
As shown in
Referring to
Upon load control of the CPU 1, digital audio/image data stored in the storage unit 2 is loaded to the memory 3. The memory 3 serves as a buffer. That is, the storage capacity of the memory 3 is smaller than that of the storage unit 2. When the storage unit 2 comprises an HDD, the power consumption efficiency degrades when this HDD always runs during playback of the digital audio/image data. To cope with this problem, part of the digital audio/imaged data stored in the HDD is loaded to the memory 3, and the HDD stops running during playback output of the part of the data which has been loaded to the memory 3 (however, power is kept supplied to the HDD in order to directly load data from the HDD). Alternatively, power supply to the HDD may be stopped. As a result, power consumption can be suppressed. The larger the storage capacity of the memory 3 becomes, the lower power consumption becomes. On the other hand, the cost of the moving image playback apparatus increases. To cope with this problem, this moving image playback apparatus has various power consumption suppressing functions (power saving modes A and B to be described later).
The digital audio/image data loaded to the memory 3 is supplied to the CPU 1. The CPU 1 separates image data and audio data which are contained in the digital audio/image data. That is, the CPU 1 extracts a video portion and an audio portion. The CPU 1 also decodes the separated audio data, and outputs the decoded audio data and the undecoded image data to the DSP 4. The DSP 4 decodes the image data, outputs the decoded image data to the display (display terminal) 6, and outputs the decoded audio data to the DAC 5. That is, the audio data decoded by the CPU 1 is output via the DSP 4. The DAC 5 converts the digital audio data into analog audio data, amplifies the analog audio data as needed, and then outputs the analog audio data to the loudspeaker (loudspeaker terminal) 7.
Accordingly, video contents are displayed on the display 6, and audio contents are output from the loudspeaker 7. The user can enjoy video and audio contents at the same time.
Subsequently, referring to
Furthermore, referring to
Based on the instruction of the power saving mode A, the CPU 1 supplies power to each unit (such as the DSP 4, DAC 5, display 6, loudspeaker 7, and the like). For example, the display 6 displays a guide indicating “Power saving mode A: Screen will be OFF soon”. After a predetermined period of time (e.g., after 10 sec), the CPU 1 stops power supply to the display 6, collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2, and then stops the operation of the storage unit 2. When the data amount in the memory 3 becomes short, the CPU 1 reactivates the storage unit 2, and collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2.
The CPU 1 receives the digital audio/image data from the memory 3, separates the image data and the audio data which are contained in the digital audio/image data, decodes the separated audio data, and outputs the decoded audio data and the undecoded image data to the DSP 4. The DSP 4 decodes the image data, outputs the decoded image data to the display 6, and outputs the decoded audio data to the DAC 5. As a result, audio contents are output from the loudspeaker 7, but an image is not displayed on the display 6 because power supply to the display 6 is stopped.
As described above, power consumption can be suppressed by operating the storage unit 2 only when required, and stopping power supply to the display 6 at a predetermined timing. Also, since the DSP 4 always decodes the imaged data, the power saving mode A is released upon input operation of the operation unit 9. Accordingly, a normal viewing mode (output of audio and video data) is executed, and the image is displayed on the display 6 immediately after supplying power to the display 6. That is, audio and video contents can be enjoyed immediately after executing the normal viewing mode.
Based on the instruction of the power saving mode B, the CPU 1 supplies power to each unit (such as the DSP 4, DAC 5, display 6, loudspeaker 7, and the like). For example, the display 6 displays a guide indicating “Power saving mode B: Screen will be OFF soon”. After a predetermined period of time (e.g., after 10 sec), the CPU 1 stops power supply to the display 6, collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2, and then stops the operation of the storage unit 2. When the data amount in the memory 3 becomes short, the CPU 1 reactivates the storage unit 2, and collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2.
The CPU 1 receives the digital audio/image data from the memory 3, separates the image data and the audio data which are contained in the digital audio/image data, decodes the separated audio data, and outputs the decoded audio data and the undecoded image data to the DSP 4. The DSP 4 outputs the decoded audio data to the DAC 5 without decoding the image data (power supply ON/decode OFF). As a result, audio contents are output from the loudspeaker 7, but neither power nor video is supplied to the display 6.
As described above, power consumption can be widely suppressed by operating the storage unit 2 only when required, causing the DSP to stop decoding, and stopping power supply to the display 6 at a predetermined timing. Also, since the DSP 4 always receives power supply, the power saving mode B is released upon input operation of the operation unit 9. Accordingly, the normal viewing mode (output of audio and video data) is executed, and the DSP 4 can start decoding image data immediately after supplying power to the display 6. That is, audio and video contents can be enjoyed immediately after executing the normal viewing mode.
Referring to
The digital audio/image data loaded to the memory 3 is supplied to the CPU 1. The CPU 1 separates image data and audio data which are contained in the digital audio/image data. That is, the CPU 1 extracts a video portion and an audio portion. The CPU 1 also decodes the separated audio data, outputs the decoded audio data to a DAC 5, and outputs the undecoded image data to a DSP 4. The DSP 4 decodes the image data, and outputs the decoded image data to a display (display terminal) 6. The DAC 5 converts the digital audio data into analog audio data, amplifies the analog audio data as needed, and then outputs the analog audio data to a loudspeaker (loudspeaker terminal) 7.
Accordingly, video contents are displayed on the display 6, and audio contents are output from the loudspeaker 7. The user can enjoy video and audio contents at the same time.
Subsequently, referring to
Furthermore, referring to
Based on the instruction of the power saving mode A, the CPU 1 supplies power to each unit (such as the DSP 4, DAC 5, display 6, loudspeaker 7, and the like). For example, the display 6 displays a guide indicating “Power saving mode A: Screen will be OFF soon”. After a predetermined period of time (e.g., after 10 sec), the CPU 1 stops power supply to the display 6, collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2, and then stops the operation of the storage unit 2. When the data amount in the memory 3 becomes short, the CPU 1 reactivates the storage unit 2, and collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2.
The CPU 1 receives the digital audio/image data from the memory 3, separates the image data and the audio data which are contained in the digital audio/image data, decodes the separated audio data, outputs the decoded audio data to the DAC 5, and outputs the undecoded image data to the DSP 4. The DSP 4 decodes the image data, and outputs the decoded image data to the display 6. As a result, audio contents are output from the loudspeaker 7, but an image is not displayed on the display 6 because power supply to the display 6 is stopped.
As described above, power consumption can be suppressed by operating the storage unit 2 only when required, and stopping power supply to the display 6 at a predetermined timing. Also, since the DSP 4 always decodes the imaged data, the power saving mode A is released upon input operation of the operation unit 9. Accordingly, a normal viewing mode (output of audio and video data) is executed, and the image is displayed on the display 6 immediately after supplying power to the display 6. That is, audio and video contents can be enjoyed immediately after executing the normal viewing mode.
Based on the instruction of the power saving mode B, the CPU 1 supplies power to each unit (such as the DSP 4, DAC 5, display 6, loudspeaker 7, and the like). For example, the display 6 displays a guide indicating “Power saving mode B: Screen will be OFF soon”. After a predetermined period of time (e.g., after 10 sec), the CPU 1 stops power supply to the display 6, collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2, and then stops the operation of the storage unit 2. When the data amount in the memory 3 becomes short, the CPU 1 reactivates the storage unit 2, and collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2.
The CPU 1 receives the digital audio/image data from the memory 3, separates the image data and the audio data which are contained in the digital audio/image data, decodes the separated audio data, outputs the decoded audio data to the DAC 5, and outputs the undecoded image data to the DSP 4. The DSP 4 does not decode the image data (power supply ON/decode OFF). As a result, audio is output from the loudspeaker 7, but neither power nor video is supplied to the display 6.
As described above, power consumption can be widely suppressed by operating the storage unit 2 only when required, causing the DSP to stop decoding, and stopping power supply to the display 6 at a predetermined timing. Also, since the DSP 4 always receives power supply, the power saving mode B is released upon input operation of the operation unit 9. Accordingly, the normal viewing mode (output of audio and video data) is executed, and the DSP 4 can start decoding image data immediately after supplying power to the display 6. That is, audio and video contents can be enjoyed immediately after executing the normal viewing mode.
Based on the instruction of the power saving mode C, the CPU 1 supplies power to each unit (such as the DSP 4, DAC 5, display 6, loudspeaker 7, and the like). For example, the display 6 displays a guide indicating “Power saving mode C: Screen will be OFF soon”. After a predetermined period of time (e.g., after 10 sec), the CPU 1 stops power supply to the display 6, stops power supply to the DSP 4 (the DSP 4 is powered OFF), collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2, and then stops the operation of the storage unit 2. When the data amount in the memory 3 becomes short, the CPU 1 reactivates the storage unit 2, and collectively loads, to the memory 3, part of digital audio/image data corresponding to a predetermined playback time in the storage unit 2.
The CPU 1 receives the digital audio/image data from the memory 3, separates the image data and the audio data which are contained in the digital audio/image data, decodes the separated audio data, outputs the decoded audio data to the DAC 5, and outputs the undecoded image data to the DSP 4. Since the DSP 4 does not receive power supply, the DSP 4 cannot decode the image data (power supply OFF/decode OFF). As a result, audio contents are output from the loudspeaker 7, but neither power nor video is supplied to the display 6.
As described above, power consumption can be widely suppressed by operating the storage unit 2 only when required, stopping power supply to the DSP (power supply OFF/decode OFF), and stopping power supply to the display 6 at a predetermined timing.
As described above, in order to stop video output and play back only audio during playback of a moving image, a portable terminal (moving image playback apparatus) which is driven by a battery or battery cell and plays back a moving image can reduce power consumption to prolong its operation time.
While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-190098 | Jun 2005 | JP | national |
