Method of configuring a functionally redefinable signal processing system

• US 6,088,785 A
• Filed: 04/15/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Altera Corporation (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Diamond Multimedia Systems Incorporated (SONICblue Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hudson, Michael, Moore, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, Eric
• Application Number:
  US09/060,747
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 712/35, 712/36
• US Class Current: 712/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/7867 with reconfigurable architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3879 for non-native instruction execution, e.g. executing a command; for Java instruction set
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3897 with adaptable data path

Abstract

A system in accordance with the invention allows a signal processing system to be configured to perform almost any signal processing function. Such a system includes a redefinable signal processing subsystem and a function-specific module. The system can be defined to perform a particular function by attaching a function-specific module to the redefinable subsystem and downloading function-defining code into the subsystem. The redefinable subsystem includes at least a DSP, a local memory interface, a host interface, and a function module interface. The function-specific module includes at least a subsystem interface, an identifier storage unit, a signal format converter, and a communication adapter. In operation, after a function-specific module is coupled to the subsystem, the subsystem receives a function identifier from the identifier storage unit on the module. The subsystem then requests and receives function-defining code from a host. The function-defining code is maintained in an auxiliary memory and portions thereof are periodically distributed to a local memory, coupled to the subsystem via the local memory interface, at which time the code modules are available for execution by the DSP. When engaged in communications, the module receives data from the DSP through a high speed digital serial channel. The module converts the data format with its signal format converter and then passes the converted data to the communication adapter. The communication adapter conditions the data for conveyance to an external communication signal delivery media.

Claims

1. A method of defining the function of a functionally redefinable signal processing system, wherein said redefinable signal processing system includes a first processor, auxiliary memory associated with said first processor, a DSP, local memory associated with said DSP, and a function-specific module storing a function identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining said function identifier from said module;

b) obtaining, by said first processor, at least a first portion of function-defining code, said function-defining code corresponding to said function identifier;

c) maintaining said function-defining code in said auxiliary memory;

d) executing, by said first processor, a second portion of said function-defining code from said auxiliary memory;

e) distributing said first portion of said function-defining code to said local memory; and

f) executing, by said DSP, said first portion of said function-defining code.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

g) distributing a third portion of said function-defining code to said local memory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of distributing a third portion of said function-defining code occurs while said DSP is performing said step of executing said first portion of said function-defining code.

4. A method of defining the function of a functionally redefinable signal processing system, wherein said redefinable signal processing system includes a host, a signal processing subsystem coupled to said host and said signal processing subsystem including a first processor and a DSP, local memory associated with said DSP, auxiliary memory associated with said first processor, and a function-specific module coupleable to said signal processing subsystem, said function-specific module storing a function identifier in a non-volatile memory, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, by said signal processing subsystem, said function identifier from said module;

b) obtaining by said signal processing subsystem from said host, function-defining code, said function-defining code including a plurality of code modules and corresponding to said function identifier, and storing, by said signal processing subsystem, said function-defining code in said auxiliary memory;

c) executing, by said first processor a portion of said function-defining code;

d) copying, by said first processor, a first code module into said local memory; and

e) executing, by said DSP, said first code module.

5. The method of claim 4, further including the steps of:

f) copying a second code module to said local memory.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of copying a second code module occurs while said DSP is performing said step of executing.

7. A method of defining the function of a functionally redefinable signal processing system, wherein said redefinable signal processing system includes a host including a host processor and an auxiliary memory, a signal processing subsystem coupled to said host and said signal processing subsystem including a DSP, local memory associated with said DSP, and a function-specific module coupleable to said signal processing subsystem, said function-specific module storing a predetermined function identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, by said signal processing subsystem, said predetermined function identifier from said module;

b) storing, by said host processor, function-defining code in said auxiliary memory located on said host, said function-defining code including a plurality of code modules and corresponding to said predetermined function identifier;

c) executing, by said host processor, a portion of said function-defining code;

d) copying, by said host processor, a first code module into said local memory; and

e) executing, by said DSP, said first code module.

8. The method of claim 7, further including the steps of:

f) copying a second code module to said local memory.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of copying a second code module occurs while said DSP is performing said step of executing said first code module.

10. A method for remotely diagnosing the health of a host system, wherein said host system is in communication with a redefinable signal processing system, including a processor, a memory, and a function-specific module storing a function identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining said function identifier from said module, said function identifier including a sub-identifier identifying a remote diagnostic function;

b) obtaining and executing, by said processor, remote diagnostics code corresponding to said sub-identifier;

c) receiving a status message from said host system;

d) storing said status message in said memory;

e) receiving a query from a remote device; and

f) sending said status message to said remote device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step (b) includes obtaining remote diagnostics code from said function-specific module.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step (b) includes obtaining remote diagnostics code from a remote diagnostics code storage unit on said redefinable signal processing system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said remote diagnostics code storage unit is included in said memory.

14. In a system implementing including a microprocessor and digital signal processor, wherein said microprocessor is coupled to a first memory, a non-volatile memory storing a predetermined function identifier, and a second memory also coupled to said digital signal processor and wherein said microprocessor is coupleable through a host interface to a host computer system for the exchange of data including predetermined program code, a method of operating said system as a functionally redefinable signal processing system comprising the steps of:

a) determining, from said predetermined function identifier as obtained from said non-volatile memory, a predetermined function module identifier;

b) obtaining, through a data transfer through said host interface, a first module of function-defining code corresponding to said predetermined function module identifier;

c) storing said first module of function-defining code in said first memory;

d) executing a predetermined first portion of said first module to provide for the transfer of a second portion of said first module to said second memory; and

e) enabling the execution of said second portion of said first module by said digital signal processor.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said first module may include a plurality of sub-modules, wherein said second portion includes one or more of said sub-modules, and wherein said plurality of sub-modules are obtained through one or more data transfers from said host computer, said method further comprising the step of configuring, through the execution of said second portion, the processing function of said digital signal processor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said digital signal processor is coupleable to a predetermined peripheral device through a peripheral device interface and wherein the co-execution of said first and second portions of said first module provide for the establishment of a data transfer path between said peripheral device interface and said host interface, said method further comprising the step of complementally processing data transferred via said data transfer path by said microprocessor and said digital signal processor in accordance with the respective complementary functions defined by said first and second portions of said first module.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein execution of said first portion of said first module includes the steps of:

a) obtaining a second module having a third portion of function-defining code; and

b) storing said third portion in said second memory; and

c) enabling said digital signal processor to execute said third portion;

whereby said digital signal processor is enabled to perform a dynamically varying function consistent with said predetermined function identifier.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a plurality of sub-modules are provided in said second memory for execution by said digital signal processor and wherein a first set sub-modules comprise library code executable by said digital signal processor and a second set of sub-modules comprise function defining code executable by said digital signal processor, said method further comprising the step of replacing said second set of sub-modules with said third portion in said second memory while said digital signal processor is executing said library code.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said digital signal processor provides a signal to said microprocessor and wherein said microprocessor, in response to said signal, provides for the transfer of said third portion to said second memory.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said microprocessor determines an identifier for said second module and thereby determines the dynamically varying function of said digital signal processor.

21. A method of operating a signal processing system coupleable as a peripheral to a host computer system through a host system interface, wherein said signal processing system includes a system controller, a first memory coupled to said system controller, a digital signal processor, a second memory coupled to said digital signal processor and selectively coupleable to said system controller, said method comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining, by said system controller, first and second executable code modules through a data transfer through said host system interface;

b) first storing said first executable code module in said first memory;

c) first executing, by said system controller, said first executable code module to implement a first function including a control and a data processing sub-function;

d) second storing said second executable code module in said second memory; and

e) second executing, by said digital signal processor, said second code module to implement a second function including a digital signal processing sub-function;

wherein said control sub-function of said step of first executing provides for the transfer of predetermined signal data between said host system interface and said second memory and wherein said predetermined signal data is processed by said system controller and digital signal processor in accordance with the execution of said data processing sub-function and said digital signal processing sub-function.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of determining, by said system controller, a functionally executing configuration for said system controller and said digital signal processor, said step of determining including selecting to obtain said first executable code module.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of determining includes a step of reading a stored function identifier coded to identify said functionally executing configuration.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said second code module includes first and second parts and wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

a) obtaining, by said system controller, a third code module to provide for the implementation of a third function upon execution by said digital signal processor; and

b) third storing said third code module in said second memory in replacement of said second part of said second code module.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of signaling, by said digital signal processor to said system controller, to perform said step of third storing while said digital signal processor is executing said first part of said second code module.

26. The method of claims 21, 23, or 25 wherein said signal processing system includes a plurality of digital signal processors, each having an associated instance of said second memory and wherein said second step of storing provides for storing respective second executable code modules in the respective instances of said second memory.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said step of first executing implements said control sub-function to support the transfer of data between said plurality of digital signal processors.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said respective second executable code modules provide for the implementation of respective second functions by said plurality of digital signal processors.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said data processing sub-function provides for the processing of data transferred between a predetermined pair of said plurality of digital signal processors and for the processing of data transferred between said host system interface and any of said plurality of digital signal processors.