Integrated wireless transceiver and audio processor

Abstract

Circuits, methods, and apparatus incorporate both a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit on a single integrated circuit. The wireless physical interface may include a receiver, transmitter, or a complete transceiver. The audio processing unit is typically in communication with both the wireless interface and one or more wired physical interfaces. The integrated circuit may be as simple as a wireless physical interface and audio processing unit, or it may include other circuits such as graphics processors, networking interfaces, memories, or other circuits.

1 . An integrated circuit comprising: 
 a wireless receiver configured to receive audio information in the form of a first RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol;    an audio processor coupled to the wireless transceiver configured to process the audio information; and    an output cell configured to provide the processed audio information.    
   
   
       2 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein the wireless receiver is further configured to demodulate the first RF signal.  
   
   
       3 . The integrated circuit of  claim 2  wherein the wireless standard or protocol is a short range RF standard or protocol.  
   
   
       4 . The integrated circuit of  claim 3  wherein the short range RF standard or protocol is one of the group consisting of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.1 μg, and Bluetooth.  
   
   
       5 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein the audio processor is configured to manipulate the audio information as part of its processing.  
   
   
       6 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein the output cell is configured to provide the processed audio information to a speaker.  
   
   
       7 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein the output cell is configured to provide the processed audio information to a storage unit.  
   
   
       8 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  wherein the wireless receiver is further configured to receive audio information in the form of a second RF signal and the audio processor is further configured to process the audio information from the first RF signal together with the audio information from the second RF signal.  
   
   
       9 . The integrated circuit of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an input cell configured to receive audio information; and    a wireless transmitter configured to receive processed audio information and transmit it in the form of a second RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol,    wherein the audio processor is further coupled between the input cell and the wireless transmitter.    
   
   
       10 . An integrated circuit comprising: 
 an input cell configured to receive audio information;    an audio processor coupled to the input cell and configured to process the audio information; and    a wireless transmitter configured to receive the processed audio information and transmit it in the form of an RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol.    
   
   
       11 . The integrated circuit of  claim 10  wherein the wireless transmitter is further configured to modulate the processed audio information with an RF carrier.  
   
   
       12 . The integrated circuit of  claim 11  wherein the wireless standard or protocol is a short range RF standard or protocol.  
   
   
       13 . The integrated circuit of  claim 11  wherein the short range RF standard or protocol is one of the group consisting of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and Bluetooth.  
   
   
       14 . The integrated circuit of  claim 10  wherein the audio processor is configured to manipulate the audio information as part of its processing.  
   
   
       15 . The integrated circuit of  claim 10  wherein the input cell is configured to receive the audio information from a media player.  
   
   
       16 . The integrated circuit of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a wireless receiver configured to receive audio information in the form of a second RF signal consistent with a wireless standard or protocol; and    an output cell configured to provide the processed audio information,    wherein the audio processor is further coupled between wireless receiver and the output cell.    
   
   
       17 . A method of receiving and processing audio information comprising: 
 establishing a wireless communication link;    receiving audio information over the communication link using a receiver on the integrated circuit;    processing the audio information using a processor on the integrated circuit; and    outputting the processed audio information.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the wireless communication link is with a transmitter coupled to a computer.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the processed audio information is output to a speaker.  
   
   
       20 . A method of transmitting processed audio information comprising: 
 receiving audio information with a processing circuit on an integrated circuit;    processing the audio information with the processing circuit;    establishing a wireless communication link; and    transmitting the processed audio information over the wireless communication link using a wireless transmitter on the integrated circuit.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the wireless communication link is with a transmitter coupled to a speaker.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the audio information is received from a media player.  
   
   
       23 . A method of transferring and processing audio data comprising: 
 transferring audio data between an audio processor on an integrated circuit and a first wireless circuit on the integrated circuit;    transferring modulated audio data between the first wireless circuit on the integrated circuit and a second wireless circuit over a wireless communications link; and    transferring audio data between the second wireless circuit and the Internet.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 processing the audio data with the audio processor.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first wireless circuit comprises a transmitter, and the modulated audio data is transmitted by the first wireless circuit to the second wireless circuit.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first wireless circuit comprises a receiver, and the modulated audio data is received by the first wireless circuit from the second wireless circuit.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the wireless communications link is consistent with a wireless standard or protocol.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the wireless standard or protocol is a short range RF standard or protocol.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the short range RF standard or protocol is one of the group consisting of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and Bluetooth.