Patents by Inventor Vivian Chou

Vivian Chou has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8169990
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles T. Aragones, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20110228754
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20110216750
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other wireless device and includes a WLAN interface, a transcoder, and a switch box. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with at least one wireless device to receive inbound packetized audio data from the at least one wireless device and to transmit outbound packetized audio data to the at least one wireless device. The transcoder receives the inbound packetized audio data and converts the inbound packetized audio data to inbound Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) WLAN audio data. The WLAN interface also receives outbound PCM WLAN audio data and converts the outbound PCM WLAN audio data to the outbound packetized audio data. The switch box operably couples between the transcoder and a PCM bus, to which an audio COder/DECoder (CODEC) couples. A speaker and a microphone coupled to the audio CODEC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou
  • Publication number: 20110219171
    Abstract: A controller uses N dedicated ports to receive N signals from N non-volatile memories independent of each other, and uses a bus in a time shared manner to transfer data to and from the N non-volatile memories. The controller receives from a processor, multiple operations to perform data transfers, and stores the operations along with a valid bit set active by the processor. When a signal from a non-volatile memory is active indicating its readiness and when a corresponding operation has a valid bit active, the controller starts performance of the operation. When the readiness signal becomes inactive, the controller internally suspends the operation and starts performing another operation on another non-volatile memory whose readiness signal is active and for which an operation is valid. A suspended operation may be resumed any time after the corresponding readiness signal becomes active and on operation completion the valid bit is set inactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Reinhard Kuehne, Vivian Chou
  • Patent number: 7953057
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, John Lin
  • Patent number: 7944380
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other wireless device and includes a WLAN interface, a transcoder, and a switch box. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with at least one wireless device to receive inbound packetized audio data from the at least one wireless device and to transmit outbound packetized audio data to the at least one wireless device. The transcoder receives the inbound packetized audio data and converts the inbound packetized audio data to inbound Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) WLAN audio data. The WLAN interface also receives outbound PCM WLAN audio data and converts the outbound PCM WLAN audio data to the outbound packetized audio data. The switch box operably couples between the transcoder and a PCM bus, to which an audio COder/DECoder (CODEC) couples. A speaker and a microphone coupled to the audio CODEC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Charles T. Aragones, Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou
  • Publication number: 20100135271
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, John Lin
  • Patent number: 7684377
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20080273508
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20080267155
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other wireless device and includes a WLAN interface, a transcoder, and a switch box. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with at least one wireless device to receive inbound packetized audio data from the at least one wireless device and to transmit outbound packetized audio data to the at least one wireless device. The transcoder receives the inbound packetized audio data and converts the inbound packetized audio data to inbound Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) WLAN audio data. The WLAN interface also receives outbound PCM WLAN audio data and converts the outbound PCM WLAN audio data to the outbound packetized audio data. The switch box operably couples between the transcoder and a PCM bus, to which an audio COder/DECoder (CODEC) couples. A speaker and a microphone coupled to the audio CODEC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou
  • Patent number: 7411934
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, John Lin
  • Patent number: 7403141
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other WLAN device and includes a WLAN interface, a transcoder, and a switch box. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with at least one WLAN device to receive inbound packetized audio data from the at least one WLAN device and to transmit outbound packetized audio data to the at least one WLAN device. The transcoder receives the inbound packetized audio data and converts the inbound packetized audio data to inbound Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) WLAN audio data. The WLAN interface also receives outbound PCM WLAN audio data and converts the outbound PCM WLAN audio data to the outbound packetized audio data. The switch box operably couples between the transcoder and a PCM bus, to which an audio COder/DECoder (CODEC) couples. A speaker and a microphone coupled to the audio CODEC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou
  • Publication number: 20070291723
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other WLAN device. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, a transcoder, and a processor. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with the at least one WLAN device to receive packetized audio data from the at least one WLAN device. The input buffer operably couples to the WLAN interface and receives the packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. The transcoder converts the packetized audio data to Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) audio data and outputs the PCM audio data to a coupled audio COder/DECoder (CODEC) such that the PCM audio data is substantially temporally aligned with Radio Frequency (RF) slots of the WLAN interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee
  • Patent number: 7277420
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other WLAN device. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, a transcoder, and a processor. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with the at least one WLAN device to receive packetized audio data from the at least one WLAN device. The input buffer operably couples to the WLAN interface and receives the packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. The transcoder operably couples to the input buffer and receives the packetized audio data from the input buffer. The transcoder converts the packetized audio data to Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) audio data and outputs the PCM audio data to a coupled audio COder/DECoder (CODEC). The processor operably couples to the WLAN interface, the input buffer, and the transcoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee
  • Publication number: 20070202827
    Abstract: A microprocessor system architecture is disclosed which allows for the selective execution of programmed ROM microcode or, alternatively, RAM microcode if there has been a correction or update made to the ROM microcode originally programmed into the system. Patched or updated RAM microcode is utilized or executed only to the extent of changes to the ROM microcode, otherwise the ROM microcode is executed in its normal fashion. When a patch is received, it is loaded into system RAM along with instructions or other appropriate signals to direct the execution of the patched or updated microcode from RAM instead of the existing ROM microcode. Various methods are presented for selecting the execution of the appropriate microcode depending upon whether there have been changes made to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20060101164
    Abstract: A method and system for performing switch operations utilize non-architectural registers to store context information. Data in a first context register on a peripheral system is accessed (e.g., read or write) until a host computer provides a new index value to an index register on the peripheral system. A context switch occurs, and the context register associated with the new index value is accessed. In some embodiments a system that performs context switching includes a host computer, at least one peripheral system coupled to the host computer, an interface between the host computer and the peripheral system, and a register access circuit coupled to the host computer. The register access circuit is configured to access data in a first or a second register on the peripheral system if the first or a second index value, respectively, is provided by the host computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20050010745
    Abstract: A microprocessor memory architecture including a read-only memory (ROM) with programmed microcode and a random access memory (RAM) capable of storing microcode and one or more data bits used for the selection of corresponding ROM or RAM microcode for execution. A multiplexer receives input signals from both the ROM microcode and RAM microcode, and a control signal which is one or more RAM data bits is used to select from the RAM or ROM microcode inputs for further execution by the microprocessor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20030152056
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, an input buffer controller, and a processor. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit may also include an output buffer, an output buffer controller, a transcoder, and/or an audio Coder-Decoder (CODEC). The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit is installed in a WLAN device that services voice communications. The input buffer receives packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. When the input buffer satisfies a buffer vacancy threshold, the processor and the input buffer controller cooperatively operate to fill at least a portion of the input buffer with packetized audio data. The processor copies packetized audio data from the input buffer and fills the input buffer with the copied packetized audio data to maintain an audio pattern in the input buffer. The input buffer controller fills the input buffer when the processor is available and after copying/filling is no longer effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, John Lin
  • Publication number: 20030152057
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other WLAN device. The WLAN transceiving integrated circuit includes a WLAN interface, an input buffer, a transcoder, and a processor. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with the at least one WLAN device to receive packetized audio data from the at least one WLAN device. The input buffer operably couples to the WLAN interface and receives the packetized audio data from the WLAN interface. The transcoder operably couples to the input buffer and receives the packetized audio data from the input buffer. The transcoder converts the packetized audio data to Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) audio data and outputs the PCM audio data to a coupled audio COder/DECoder (CODEC). The processor operably couples to the WLAN interface, the input buffer, and the transcoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Vivian Chou, Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee
  • Publication number: 20030152055
    Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiving integrated circuit services voice communications in a WLAN with at least one other WLAN device and includes a WLAN interface, a transcoder, and a switch box. The WLAN interface wirelessly communicates with at least one WLAN device to receive inbound packetized audio data from the at least one WLAN device and to transmit outbound packetized audio data to the at least one WLAN device. The transcoder receives the inbound packetized audio data and converts the inbound packetized audio data to inbound Pulse Code Modulated (PCM) WLAN audio data. The WLAN interface also receives outbound PCM WLAN audio data and converts the outbound PCM WLAN audio data to the outbound packetized audio data. The switch box operably couples between the transcoder and a PCM bus, to which an audio COder/DECoder (CODEC) couples. A speaker and a microphone coupled to the audio CODEC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Charles Aragones, Sherman Lee, Vivian Chou