System and method for low-power digital signal processing

1. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on at least one adaptable determination criterion, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein the at least one adaptable determination criterion is adaptable based at least in part on a desired level of quality.

2. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on at least one adaptable determination criterion, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein the at least one adaptable determination criterion is adaptable based at least in part on a power-save setting.

3. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on at least one adaptable determination criterion, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein the at least one adaptable determination criterion is adaptable based at least in part on a power supply characteristic.

4. The low-power digital processing system of claim 3 , wherein the power supply characteristic comprises a battery charge condition.

5. The low-power digital processing system of claim 3 , wherein the power supply characteristic comprises whether a power supply for the system is plugged in.

6. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on at least one adaptable determination criterion, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein the at least one adaptable determination criterion is adaptable based at least in part on time.

7. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on at least one adaptable determination criterion, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein the at least one adaptable determination criterion is adaptable based at least in part on user input.

8. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

determine whether a second digital representation of the input signal, different from the first digital representation, will be more energy efficient than the first digital representation of the input signal;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and the determination of whether the second digital representation of the input signal will be more energy efficient than the first digital representation of the input signal, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal.

9. The low-power digital processing system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one module operates to identify which of a plurality of digital representations for the input signal will be the most energy efficient.

10. The lower-power digital processing system of claim 8 , wherein the second digital representation comprises a lower number of bits representing the input signal relative to the first digital representation.

11. The lower-power digital processing system of claim 8 , wherein the second digital representation is associated with a different dynamic range than the first digital representation.

12. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on a determination of whether adjusting digital representation is enabled, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein at least one module operates to determine whether adjusting digital representation is enabled based, at least in part, on a user input.

13. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on a determination of whether adjusting digital representation is enabled, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein at least one module operates to determine whether adjusting digital representation is enabled based, at least in part, on whether a power-save mode is enabled.

14. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on a determination of whether adjusting digital representation is enabled, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein at least one module operates to determine whether adjusting digital representation is enabled based, at least in part, on present power-supply conditions.

15. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on a type of information being communicated by the input signal, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein at least one module operates to determine whether to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal based, at least in part, on whether the type of information comprises general data.

16. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on a type of information being communicated by the input signal, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein at least one module operates to determine whether to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal based, at least in part, on whether the type of information is susceptible to random behavior.

17. A low-power digital processing system comprising:

at least one module that operates to, at least:

analyze an input signal represented by a first digital representation;

based at least in part on the analysis of the input signal and on a type of information being communicated by the input signal, determine whether to adjust a digital representation of a level of the input signal to a second digital representation different from the first digital representation prior to performing a next digital signal processing function on the input signal; and

if it is determined to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal, then at least:

adjust the digital representation of a level of the input signal to the second digital representation; and

perform the next digital signal processing function on the second digital representation of the input signal to form an output signal,

wherein at least one module operates to determine whether to adjust the digital representation of the level of the input signal based, at least in part, on whether the type of information exhibits predictable behavior.