Redefinable signal processing subsystem
First Claim
1. A functionally redefineable signal processing subsystem, comprising:
- a) a module interface supporting a function-specific module;
b) a DSP in communication with said module interface for communicating data between said subsystem and said function-specific module;
c) a host interface supporting a host, said host interface for receiving function-defining code corresponding to said function-specific module from said host, said function-defining code stored in an auxiliary memory;
d) a DSP local memory interface, in communication with said DSP and coupleable to a local memory, said local memory for storing a replaceable portion of said function code, said replaceable portion of said function-specific code available for execution by said DSP.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A functionally redefineable signal processing subsystem, comprising:
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a) a module interface supporting a function-specific module; b) a DSP in communication with said module interface for communicating data between said subsystem and said function-specific module; c) a host interface supporting a host, said host interface for receiving function-defining code corresponding to said function-specific module from said host, said function-defining code stored in an auxiliary memory; d) a DSP local memory interface, in communication with said DSP and coupleable to a local memory, said local memory for storing a replaceable portion of said function code, said replaceable portion of said function-specific code available for execution by said DSP. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A functionally redefineable signal processing system, comprising:
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a) a module interface supporting a function-specific module; b) a DSP in communication with said module interface for communicating data between said subsystem and said function-specific module; c) an auxiliary memory for maintaining function-defining code including a plurality of code modules; d) a DSP memory operatively coupled to said DSP for replaceably storing a code module, thereby availing said code module for execution by said DSP; e) a processor for directing the loading of said code modules into said DSP memory. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A functionally redefineable signal processing subsystem, comprising:
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a bus; a microprocessor having access to said bus; a plurality of DSPs having access to said bus; a memory interface accessible by said plurality of DSPs and said microprocessor, said memory interface couplable to a memory for storing function code; a functional module interface accessible by said plurality of DSPs and couplable to a function module; a host interface in communication with said bus and couplable to a host; and a plurality of DSP local memory interfaces each respectively accessible by a respective one of said DSPs and each coupleable to a respective local memory, each said respective local memory for storing a replaceable portion of said function code. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A functionally redefineable signal processing subsystem, comprising:
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a bus; a single RISC processor having access to said bus; a plurality of DSPs having access to said bus; a memory interface accessible by said plurality of DSPs and said RISC processor, said memory interface coupleable to a memory for storing function code; a serial functional module interface at least partially accessible by said plurality of DSPs and coupleable to a function module; a host interface operatively coupled to said bus and coupleable to a host; a plurality of DSP local memory interfaces each respectively accessible by a respective one of said DSPs and each coupleable to a respective local memory, each said respective local memory for storing a replaceable portion of said function code; a non-volatile memory coupled to said bus and storing subsystem boot code. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A functionally redefineable signal processing subsystem, comprising:
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a bus; a DSP having access to said bus; a host interface in communication with said bus and coupleable to a host system having a host processor and a host memory for storing functionally selectable code, said host processor having access to said bus and said DSP having access to said host memory; a local memory interface coupleable to a local memory, said local memory for storing a selected portion of said functionally selectable code, said local memory interface accessible by said DSP and by said host processor; a serial function module interface coupleable to a function-specific module, said function module interface accessible by said DSP, said function module interface including a module identification line for carrying a signal that identifies said functionally selectable code. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification