Methods and apparatus for buffering and compression of data

Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure provides a device, comprising: an allocation module, for determining one or more metrics of each of a plurality of data streams; a compression module, for compressing each of the plurality of data streams and generating a plurality of compressed data streams, the compression module applying a compression ratio that varies as a function of the metrics determined by the allocation module; and a buffer memory, for storing the plurality of compressed data streams.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A device, comprising:
 a plurality of inputs, for receiving one or more data signals from a plurality of sensors;   an allocation module, for determining a number of received data signals;   a compression module, for compressing data streams corresponding to each of the received data signals and generating one or more compressed data streams, the compression module applying a compression ratio that varies as a function of the number of received data signals; and   a buffer memory, for storing the one or more compressed data streams.   
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the allocation module is further for determining one or more additional metrics of the one or more received data signals, and wherein the compression ratio also varies as a function of the one or more additional metrics. 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the compression ratio for each of the one or more data streams at an instance in time is the same. 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of inputs receive a plurality of data signals, wherein the compression ratio for a first data stream of the plurality of data streams is different to a compression ratio for a second data stream of the plurality of data streams at an instance in time. 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the sensors are microphones, and wherein the data streams are audio data streams. 
     
     
         31 . An electronic device comprising a device as claimed in  claim 26 . 
     
     
         32 . The electronic device as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the device. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of microphones. 
     
     
         34 . A device, comprising:
 an allocation module, for determining one or more metrics of each of one or more data streams; and   a buffer memory, for storing the one or more data streams,   wherein the allocation module is configured to control a power level provided to the buffer memory as a function of the one or more metrics.   
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 34 , wherein the power level is controlled such that a power level provided to the buffer memory is equal to a first power value responsive to a determination that the one or more metrics are equal to a first metric value, and such that the power level provided to the buffer memory is equal to a second power value responsive to a determination that the one or more metrics are equal to a second metric value, wherein the second metric value is lower than the first metric value, and wherein the second power value is lower than the first power value. 
     
     
         36 . The device according to  claim 34 , wherein a first power level is provided to a first portion of the buffer memory for storing a first data stream of the one or more data streams, and a second power level is provided to a second portion of the buffer memory for storing a second data stream of the one or more data streams, and wherein the first power level is determined based on one or more metrics of the first data stream and the second power level is determined based on one or more metrics of the second data stream. 
     
     
         37 . An electronic device comprising a device as claimed in  claim 34 . 
     
     
         38 . The electronic device as claimed in  claim 37 , further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the device. 
     
     
         39 . The electronic device as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of microphones.