Audio source system and method

Abstract

A method includes receiving hardware update information during a first time period. The method further includes using the hardware update information to synchronize a first audio data stream with a device driver. The method further includes receiving hardware emulation information during a second time period and using the hardware emulation information to simulate synchronization between the device driver and the first audio data stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving hardware update information during a first time period;   using the hardware update information to synchronize a first audio data stream with a device driver;   receiving hardware emulation information during a second time period; and   using the hardware emulation information to simulate synchronization between the device driver and the first audio data stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving additional hardware update information during a third time period, the third time period after the second time period.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first audio data stream includes music. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hardware update information includes direct memory access (DMA) pointer information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the DMA pointer information indicates a latest portion of the first audio data stream output by the device driver. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a rate at which the DMA pointer information changes is based on a sample rate of the first audio data stream, a bit depth of the first audio data stream, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the hardware emulation information includes DMA pointer information. 
     
     
         8 . A computer readable storage device storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations including:
 receiving hardware update information during a first time period;   using the hardware update information to synchronize a first audio data stream with a device driver;   receiving hardware emulation information during a second time period; and   using the hardware emulation information to simulate synchronization between the device driver and the first audio data stream.   
     
     
         9 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further include sending the first audio data stream to the device driver during the first time period and during the second time period. 
     
     
         10 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the first audio data stream includes audio data from a game application. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 8 , wherein the hardware update information includes direct memory access (DMA) pointer information. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 11 , wherein the DMA pointer information indicates a latest portion of the first audio data stream output by the device driver. 
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 12 , wherein the hardware emulation information includes emulated DMA pointer information indicating a simulated latest portion of the first audio data stream output by the device driver. 
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 13 , wherein the emulated DMA pointer information changes over time. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including:
 receiving hardware update information during a first time period; 
 using the hardware update information to synchronize a first audio data stream with a device driver; 
 receiving hardware emulation information during a second time period; and 
 using the hardware emulation information to simulate synchronization between the device driver and the first audio data stream. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further include receiving additional hardware update information during a third time period, the third time period after the second time period. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first audio data stream corresponds to audio from a game application. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the hardware update information includes direct memory access (DMA) pointer information. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the DMA pointer information indicates a latest portion of the first audio data stream output by the device driver. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the hardware emulation information includes DMA pointer information.