PC circuits, systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computing system, comprising:
- a main CPU microprocessor;
a DSP microprocessor having a different instruction set from said main CPU microprocessor;
storage coupled to said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor;
a file-based operating system in said storage, arranged so that the DSP executes main CPU operations during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied, thereby increasing the performance of the system, said computing system capable of executing at least a software portion of a software application, said file-based operating system including software defining handles that tell where in virtual memory such software portion starts and ends;
a DSP kernel software defining operations to enable said DSP microprocessor to do a main CPU microprocessor function;
said main CPU microprocessor defining where the source handle and destination handle are;
said file-based operating system defining operations that send information to a location defined by a destination handle; and
said DSP kernel software defining operations based on where the source handle and destination handle are to enable said DSP microprocessor to execute a function in lieu of said main CPU microprocessor.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved PC system that includes a main CPU microprocessor, a file-based operating system, and a DSP microprocessor arranged so that the DSP can execute main CPU operations during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied, thereby increasing the bandwidth of the system is provided. This PC system may include multiple CPUs and/or multiple DSPs.
141 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A computing system, comprising:
-
a main CPU microprocessor; a DSP microprocessor having a different instruction set from said main CPU microprocessor; storage coupled to said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor; a file-based operating system in said storage, arranged so that the DSP executes main CPU operations during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied, thereby increasing the performance of the system, said computing system capable of executing at least a software portion of a software application, said file-based operating system including software defining handles that tell where in virtual memory such software portion starts and ends; a DSP kernel software defining operations to enable said DSP microprocessor to do a main CPU microprocessor function; said main CPU microprocessor defining where the source handle and destination handle are; said file-based operating system defining operations that send information to a location defined by a destination handle; and said DSP kernel software defining operations based on where the source handle and destination handle are to enable said DSP microprocessor to execute a function in lieu of said main CPU microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A process for operating a computer system that has a main CPU microprocessor, a DSP microprocessor having a different instruction set from said main CPU microprocessor, and storage coupled to said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor, an I/O port coupled to the DSP microprocessor, the process comprising:
-
running a file-based operating system on the main CPU microprocessor; executing main CPU operations in the DSP using a shared-file memory model during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied; running DSP microprocessor operations cooperating with operations of the file-based operating system wherein if the main CPU microprocessor is too occupied to execute a given function representing virtual hardware, the DSP microprocessor executes the function; and if both the main CPU microprocessor and DSP microprocessor are free, using the file-based operating system to determine which of either of the main CPU microprocessor and the DSP microprocessor shall do the function, whereby virtual hardware has a mobility to sit on the main CPU microprocessor and on the I/O port. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A computing system comprising:
-
a main CPU microprocessor; storage coupled to said main CPU microprocessor; a DSP microprocessor having a different instruction set from said main CPU microprocessor coupled to said storage; a file-based operating system and at least one application program in said storage, arranged so that the DSP executes main CPU operations in the DSP using a shared-file memory model during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied; a video integrated circuit coupled to said DSP microprocessor and said main CPU microprocessor; said computing system capable of executing at least a software portion of a software application; said file-based operating system including software defining handles that tell where in virtual memory such software portion starts and ends; a DSP kernel software defining operations to enable said DSP microprocessor to do a main CPU microprocessor function; said main CPU microprocessor defining where the source handle and destination handle are; said file-based operating system defining operations that send information to a location defined by a destination handle; and said DSP kernel software defining operations based on where the source handle and destination handle are to enable said DSP microprocessor to execute a function in lieu of said main CPU microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
-
23. A computing system, comprising:
-
a main CPU microprocessor; a DSP microprocessor having a different instruction set from said main CPU microprocessor; an I/O port coupled to said DSP microprocessor; storage coupled to said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor, said storage storing kernel software for execution by said DSP microprocessor; a file-based operating system in said storage, arranged so that the DSP executes main CPU operations during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied, thereby increasing the performance of the system; a kernel software for executing by said DSP microprocessor defining DSP microprocessor operations cooperative with said file-based operating system wherein if said main CPU microprocessor is too occupied to execute a given function representing virtual hardware, said DSP microprocessor executes the function; and
if both said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor are free, either of said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor is selected to execute the function as determined by the file-based operating system, whereby virtual hardware has a mobility to sit on the CPU and on said I/O port.
-
-
24. A process for operating a computer system that has a main CPU microprocessor, a DSP microprocessor having a different instruction set from said main CPU microprocessor, and storage coupled to said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor, the process comprising:
-
running a file-based operating system on the main CPU microprocessor; executing main CPU operations in the DSP using a shared-file memory model during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied; executing at least a software portion of a software application; defining handles that tell where in virtual memory such software portion starts and ends via said file-based operating system; defining operations to enable said DSP microprocessor to do a main CPU microprocessor function via a DSP kernel software; defining where the source handle and destination handle are via said main CPU microprocessor; defining operations that send information to a location defined by a destination handle via said file-based operating system via said file-based operating system; and defining operations based on where the source handle and destination handle are to enable said DSP microprocessor to execute a function in lieu of said main CPU microprocessor via said DSP kernel software.
-
-
25. A computing system comprising:
-
a main CPU microprocessor; storage coupled to said main CPU microprocessor, said storage storing kernel software for execution by said DSP microprocessor; a DSP microprocessor having a different instruction set from said main CPU microprocessor coupled to said storage; an I/O port coupled to said DSP microprocessor; a file-based operating system and at least one application program in said storage, arranged so that the DSP executes main CPU operations in the DSP using a shared-file memory model during time intervals in which the main CPU is otherwise occupied; a kernel software for execution by said DSP microprocessor defining DSP microprocessor operations cooperative with said file-based operating system wherein if said main CPU microprocessor is too occupied to execute a given function representing virtual hardware, said DSP microprocessor executes the function; and
if both said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor are free, either of said main CPU microprocessor and said DSP microprocessor is selected to execute the function as determined by the file-based operating system, whereby virtual hardware has a mobility to sit on said main CPU microprocessor and on said I/O port; anda video integrated circuit coupled to said DSP microprocessor and said main CPU microprocessor.
-
Specification