Video audio processing device and standby and return method thereof

Abstract

In a video audio processing device, a signal processing block ( 11, 12 ) includes an instruction memory ( 111, 121 ) and performs signal processing in accordance with a program loaded into the instruction memory. A main storage section ( 20 ) has a self-refresh function and is accessible from the signal processing block. An auxiliary storage section ( 30 ) stores the program for making the signal processing block perform the signal processing. Upon receipt of a standby instruction, a control section ( 15 ) performs control in such a manner as to transfer the program from the auxiliary storage section to the main storage section, and set self-refresh in the main storage section, and upon receipt of a return instruction, performs control in such a manner as to cancel the self-refresh in the main storage section, load the program from the main storage section to the instruction memory in the signal processing block, and activate the signal processing block.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A video audio processing device for processing video and audio signals of digital television broadcasts, the device comprising:
 a signal processing block including an instruction memory, said signal processing block performing signal processing in accordance with a program loaded into the instruction memory;   an auxiliary storage section for storing the program for making the signal processing block perform the signal processing;   a main storage section being accessible from the signal processing block, said main storage section being faster than the auxiliary storage section; and   a control section for, upon receipt of a standby instruction, transferring the program from the auxiliary storage section to the main storage section, the program being held within the main storage section during standby, and upon receipt of a return instruction from a user, loading the program from the main storage section to the instruction memory in the signal processing block, and activating the signal processing block.   
     
     
         11 . The video audio processing device of  claim 10 , wherein the main storage section includes a plurality of storage devices;
 the video audio processing device includes a plurality of power supply circuits for controlling power supply to the respective storage devices; and   upon receipt of the standby instruction, the control section controls one of the power supply circuits that is associated with a storage device to which the program is transferred in such a manner that the one of the power supply circuits supplies power to that storage device, and controls the other power supply circuits in such a manner that power supply therefrom is stopped.   
     
     
         12 . The video audio processing device of  claim 10 , wherein upon receipt of the standby instruction, a power signal supplied to the signal processing block is stopped. 
     
     
         13 . The video audio processing device of  claim 12 , comprising a storage device specification section for specifying the one of the storage devices to which the program is transferred,
 wherein the control section transfers the program to the one of the storage devices specified by the storage device specification section.   
     
     
         14 . The video audio processing device of  claim 10 , comprising an operational mode switching section for switching an operational mode relating to standby and return of the video audio processing device between a high speed mode, in which the various controls performed by the control section are validated, and a normal mode, in which the various controls performed by the control section are invalidated. 
     
     
         15 . The video audio processing device of  claim 14 , wherein when a predetermined amount of time or more has elapsed after the video audio processing device has gone to a standby state in the high speed mode, the operational mode switching section switches the operational mode relating to the standby and return of the video audio processing device to the normal mode. 
     
     
         16 . The video audio processing device of  claim 10 , wherein the main storage section includes an SDRAM, and
 the auxiliary storage section includes a flash memory.   
     
     
         17 . A digital television broadcast receiver comprising:
 the video audio processing device of  claim 10 , and   a standby microcomputer, which operates when the video audio processing device is in a standby state, and, upon receipt of a return instruction, makes the video audio processing device return from the standby state to an operational state.   
     
     
         18 . A standby and return method of a video audio processing device, which processes video and audio signals of digital television broadcasts and which includes a signal processing block including an instruction memory and performing signal processing in accordance with a program loaded into the instruction memory, an auxiliary storage section for storing the program for making the signal processing block perform the signal processing, and a main storage section being accessible from the signal processing block, said main storage second being faster than the auxiliary storage section, the method comprising:
 a step of, upon receipt of a standby instruction, transferring the program from the auxiliary storage section to the main storage section;   a step of holding the program within the main storage section during standby;   a step of, upon receipt of a return instruction from a user, loading the program from the main storage section to the instruction memory in the signal processing block; and   a step of activating the signal processing block after the loading of the program.   
     
     
         19 . The standby and return method of  claim 18 , wherein the main storage section includes a plurality of storage devices, and
 the method includes a step of, upon receipt of the standby instruction, supplying power to one of the storage devices to which the program is transferred, while stopping power supply to the other storage devices.   
     
     
         20 . The standby and return method of  claim 19 , comprising a step of, upon receipt of the standby instruction, stopping a power signal supplied to the signal processing block.