Abstract: Integrating voice communication into a game console to minimize or eliminate voice data processing by a primary processor. Input voice data from a microphone or a network is processed by a secondary processor and stored in a circular buffer. Drift between storing and reading the processed voice data may result from differing data rates, interrupts, and other latencies. If the circular buffer, accumulates an amount of data that exceeds a predefined threshold corresponding to a human perceptible latency, a pointer in the circular buffer is reset, so that only a portion of the processed voice data is output. A stream of packet contexts each indicate a location and length of voice data in the circular buffer to be output. Preferably, the output voice data is encoded in a standard digital format, such as universal serial bus. The output voice data may be communicated to a network or a sound transducer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directly creating a buffer of contiguous payload data from an incoming variable-length data stream utilizes a host controller for providing direct memory access (DMA) to a host computer memory. Payload data and header data from the data stream are stored contiguously in separate buffers in host memory. DMA descriptors, through appropriate software drivers, instruct the DMA engine of host controller to separate payload data and header data of each incoming packet on the data stream and place it in respective buffers in host memory. Thus, two separate logical buffers may be directly created from a single incoming logical variable-length data stream. Payload data is written directly and contiguously to host memory without the need for memory copies and the associated use of main processor resources.

Abstract: Preparing one or more secure media effect programs, generating a binary image of the programs and associated data, loading the binary image into memory of a secondary processor, and executing the programs of the binary image with the secondary processor, substantially independent from a primary processor. A binary image builder automatically maps one or more programs and data to secondary processor memory by changing encoded binary instructions of each program before execution by the secondary processor. The changes identify locations at which the programs and data will be stored in secondary processor memory, identify locations of parameters that can be updated in real time, and enable execution control to return to a secondary processor execution kernel. The secondary processor execution kernel polls flags in a main memory to determine whether to download new or updated state data and/or program code from main memory to the secondary processor memory.

Abstract: Preparing one or more secure media effect programs, generating a binary image of the programs and associated data, loading the binary image into memory of a secondary processor, and executing the programs of the binary image with the secondary processor, substantially independent from a primary processor. A binary image builder automatically maps one or more programs and data to secondary processor memory by changing encoded binary instructions of each program before execution by the secondary processor. The changes identify locations at which the programs and data will be stored in secondary processor memory, identify locations of parameters that can be updated in real time, and enable execution control to return to a secondary processor execution kernel. The secondary processor execution kernel polls flags in a main memory to determine whether to download new or updated state data and/or program code from main memory to the secondary processor memory.

Abstract: In a system in which control-capable nodes are coupled to each other and one or more devices via a communications bus, the control-capable nodes determine the identity of an owner node of a given device and register with the owner node for notification of changes to the device's ownership. The control-capable nodes may request ownership from the owner node, which request may be granted or denied, or the control-capable nodes may detect that ownership by the owner node has terminated. It such a request is granted, or if such termination is detected, the control-capable nodes attempt to establish ownership of the device according to previously assigned priorities. Data structures supporting these operations provide communications between device drivers and bus drivers in a control-capable node, and provide communications between bus drivers in different control-capable nodes.

Abstract: Information stored in configuration memory of a first device coupled to a communication bus is exposed to other devices allowing the other devices to ascertain the functionality of the first device. A device driver corresponding to the device can, through an interface, cause a bus driver to alter the contents of the configuration memory thereby changing what information is exposed to other devices. When another device “enumerates” the now-altered configuration memory, the other device will learn of the new functionality and proceed in a normal fashion by loading those drivers necessary to use the newly-added functionality. Conversely, when a device and its corresponding device driver is removed, configuration memory is updated accordingly. The present invention may be beneficially applied to systems adhering to the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus standard.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for abstracting device driver development by layering certain functionality. A driver layer encapsulates device commands and data within a format that is independent of the type of connection between the device and a host computer. Once encapsulated, the device commands and data pass through an intermediate layer responsible for transferring the encapsulated device commands and data to a connection-specific layer. The connection-specific layer then places the encapsulated device commands and data on the particular connection that couples the device and host computer. A single driver layer, potentially provided by an operating system, can thus operate a plurality of devices. Accordingly, hardware developers can be freed from the burden of writing the numerous host-based device drivers that are otherwise required to support an increasing number of connections between devices and host computers, specifically exemplified by improved bus and networking technologies.

Abstract: A two-computer crash dump scenario in which a snapshot of the physical memory of a target computer is extracted and stored by a host computer over an IEEE 1394 compliant serial bus. A host computer debugger remotely stops execution of the core operating system of the target computer. Handshake information is then provided from the target computer core operating system to the host computer debugger. The handshake information specifies, among other information, one or more address ranges at which physical memory is present on the target computer. The host computer debugger then directly accesses the physical memory of the target computer system over the IEEE 1394 bus in accordance with the handshake information. The host computer then stores the contents of the physical memory of the target computer system.