Audio processing system

1. An audio processing system comprising:

at least one audio processing component with a group of real-time functions configured to process audio data and a group of control functions configured to process control signals; and

at least one processor configured to provide a first process for executing real-time functions of said at least one audio processing component using a basically constant processing power and at least one further process for executing control functions of said at least one audio processing component whenever needed without affecting the processing power employed for said first process.

2. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one audio processing component includes a plurality of audio processing components, said audio processing system further comprising an audio processing engine configured to select successively one of said audio processing components and to cause said at least one processor to execute real-time functions of the respectively selected audio processing component in a dedicated part of said first process and control functions of the respectively selected audio processing component in a dedicated part of said at least one further process.

3. The audio processing system according to claim 2 , wherein said control functions are designed for generating events based on received control signals and for time-stamping said events, when said control functions are executed in said at least one further process, wherein said at least one further process is designed for providing said events to said first process, and wherein said real-time functions are designed for using said events at a time defined by said time stamps, when said real-time functions are executed in said first process.

4. The audio processing system according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one processor is a single processor which is configured to provide said first process and said at least one further process.

5. The audio processing system according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one processor comprises a first processor and at least a second processor, said first processor being configured to provide said first process and said second processor being configured to provide at least one of said at least one further process.

6. The audio processing system according to claim 5 , wherein said first process and said at least one further process are execution threads.

7. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein said control functions are designed for generating events based on received control signals and for time-stamping said events, when said control functions are executed in said at least one further process, wherein said at least one further process is designed for providing said events to said first process, and wherein said real-time functions are designed for using said events at a time defined by said time stamps, when said real-time functions are executed in said first process.

8. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor is a single processor providing said first process and said at least one further process.

9. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor comprises a first processor and at least a second processor, said first processor providing said first process and said second processor providing at least one of said at least one further process.

10. The audio processing system according to claim 1 , wherein said first process and said at least one further process are execution threads.

11. A method composing the steps of:

executing real-time functions of at least one audio processing component with a basically constant processing power using a first process for processing audio data; and

executing control functions of said at least one audio processing component whenever needed using at least one further process without affecting the processing power employed for said first process for processing control signals.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one audio processing component includes a plurality of audio processing components, said method further comprising selecting successively one of said audio processing components the real-time functions of the respectively selected audio processing component being executed in a dedicated part of said first process and the control functions of the respectively selected audio processing component being executed in a dedicated part of said at least one further process.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein executing said control functions in said at least one further process comprises generating events based on received control signals, time-stamping said events and providing said events to said first process, and wherein executing said real-time functions in said first process comprises making use of said events at a time selected based on said time stamps.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein executing said control functions in said at least one further process comprises generating events based on received control signals, time-stamping said events and providing said events to said first process, and wherein executing said real-time functions in said first process comprises making use of said events at a time selected based on said time stamps.

15. A software program product comprising a software code, stored on a computer-readable medium, said software code defining real-time functions and control functions for at least one audio processing component, and said software code when executed by at least one processor causing said at least one processor:

to execute said real-time functions by a first process of said at least one processor with a basically constant processing power for processing audio data; and

to execute said control functions by at least one further process of said at least one processor whenever needed for processing control signals without affecting the processing power employed for said first process.

16. Software program product according to claim 15 , wherein said at least one audio processing component includes a plurality of audio processing components, said software code when executed by said at least one processor causing said at least one processor to select said audio processing components successively, and to execute the real-time functions of the respectively selected audio processing component in a dedicated part of said first process and to execute the control functions of the respectively selected audio processing component in a dedicated part of said at least one further process.

17. Software program product according to claim 15 , wherein executing said control functions in said at least one further process comprises generating events based on received control signals, time-stamping said events and providing said events to said first process, and wherein executing said real-time functions in said first process comprises making use of said events at a time selected based on said time stamps.

18. An apparatus comprising:

means for defining at least one audio processing component with a group of real-time functions for processing audio data and a group of control functions for processing control signals; and

means for providing a first process for executing real-time functions of said at least one audio processing component using a basically constant processing power and at least one further process for executing control functions of said at least one audio processing component whenever needed without affecting the processing power employed for said first process.