Computing system and method of enabling a digital signal processor to access parameter tables through a central processing unit

Abstract

A computing system includes a digital signal processor, a storage medium for storing parameter tables, a central processing unit coupled to the digital signal processor and the storage medium, and a shared memory coupled to the digital signal processor and the central processing unit. The digital signal processor stores a data request in the shared memory and issues a request command to the central processing unit when access to the parameter tables is desired. Upon receipt of the request command, the central processing unit reads the data request in the shared memory, accesses the storage medium for retrieving requested data that corresponds to the data request, stores the requested data in the shared memory, and issues a response command to the digital signal processor. The digital signal processor retrieves the requested data from the shared memory upon receipt of the response command from the central processing unit.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method for enabling a digital signal processor to access at least one parameter table stored in a storage medium, wherein the digital signal processor and the storage medium are connected to a processing unit capable of accessing the storage medium; the method comprising the step of: 
 when access to a parameter table is desired, enabling the digital signal processor to inform the processing unit such that requested data of the parameter table is retrieved by said processing unit from the storage medium and is outputted by the processing unit for retrieval by the digital signal processor; wherein the requested data comprises at least one parameter.    
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , including the sub-steps of: 
 enabling the digital signal processor to store a data request in a shared memory and to issue a request command to the processing unit; and    upon receipt of the request command, enabling the processing unit to read the data request in the shared memory, to access the storage medium for retrieving the requested data of the parameter table in response to the data request, to store the requested data in the shared memory, and to issue a response command to the digital signal processor.    
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further including the sub-step of: upon receipt of the response command, enabling the digital signal processor to retrieve the requested data from the shared memory.  
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the data request includes an index for locating the requested data in the storage medium.  
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further including the sub-step of: enabling the digital signal processor to perform calculations not relevant to the data request after storing the data request in the shared memory and issuing the request command to the processing unit.  
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , further including the sub-step of: prior to receipt of the response command, enabling the digital signal processor to store another data request in the shared memory and to issue another request command to the processing unit.  
   
   
       23 . A method for enabling a digital signal processor to access at least one parameter table, comprising the steps of: 
 a) storing the parameter table in a storage medium;    b) providing a processing unit that is connected to the digital signal processor and the storage medium;    c) providing a shared memory that is connected to the digital signal processor and the processing unit;    d) when access to the parameter table is desired, enabling the digital signal processor to store a data request in the shared memory and to issue a request command to the processing unit;    e) upon receipt of the request command, enabling the processing unit to read the data request in the shared memory, to access the storage medium for retrieving requested data of the parameter table that corresponds to the data request, to store the requested data in the shared memory, and to issue a response command to the digital signal processor; and    f) upon receipt of the response command, enabling the digital signal processor to retrieve the requested data from the shared memory; wherein the requested data comprises at least one parameter.    
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the data request includes at least an index for locating the requested data in the storage medium.  
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein, between steps d) and f), the digital signal processor is enabled to perform calculations not relevant to the data request after storing the data request in the shared memory and issuing the request command to the processing unit.  
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein, between steps d) and f), the digital signal processor is further enabled to store another data request in the shared memory and to issue another request command to the processing unit.  
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein, in step f), the digital signal processor retrieves the requested data from the shared memory when the calculations not relevant to the data request are completed.  
   
   
       28 . A computing system comprising: 
 a digital signal processor;    a storage medium for storing at least one parameter table;    a processing unit coupled to said digital signal processor and said storage medium; and    a shared memory coupled to said digital signal processor and said processing unit;    said digital signal processor being configured to store a data request in said shared memory and to issue a request command to said processing unit when access to the parameter table is desired;    said processing unit being configured to read the data request in said shared memory, to access said storage medium for retrieving requested data of the parameter table that corresponds to the data request, to store the requested data in said shared memory, and to issue a response command to said digital signal processor upon receipt of the request command from said digital signal processor;    said digital signal processor being further configured to retrieve the requested data from said shared memory upon receipt of the response command from said processing unit; wherein the requested data comprises at least one parameter.    
   
   
       29 . The computing system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the data request includes at least an index for locating the requested data in said storage medium.  
   
   
       30 . The computing system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said digital signal processor is further configured to perform calculations not relevant to the data request after issuing the request command to said processing unit, and before receiving the response command from said processing unit.  
   
   
       31 . The computing system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said digital signal processor is further configured to store another data request in said shared memory and to issue another request command to said processing unit when said digital signal processor has yet to receive the response command from said processing unit.  
   
   
       32 . The computing system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said storage medium is a computer memory external to said processing unit.  
   
   
       33 . A method for a DSP to retrieve data in a parameter table stored in a first memory, the parameter table having a size larger than an addressing capability of the DSP the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) requesting a CPU to access the parameter table in the first memory and store the data in a second memory, and    (b) retrieving the data stored in the second memory L wherein the data comprises at least one parameter.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step (a) comprises storing a data request in the second memory and sending a request command to the CPU.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step (b) comprises receiving a response command from the CPU and reading the requested data in the second memory.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising a step of: 
 (a-1) performing an operation which is not related to the request to the CPU, wherein the step (a-1) is performed between the step (a) and the step (b).    
   
   
       37 . A method for a CPU to receive a request from a DSP to retrieve data in a parameter table stored in a first memory, the parameter table having a size larger than an addressing capability of the DSP, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. receiving the request indicating the data to be retrieved;    b. accessing the parameter table in the first memory;    c. storing the data in a second memory, the second memory having a size within the addressing capability of the DSP, and    d. informing the DSP that the requested data has been stored in the second memory; 
 wherein the data comprises at least one parameter.  
   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step (a) comprises receiving a request command from the DSP and reading a data request in the second memory.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step (d) comprises storing the requested data in the second memory and sending a response command to the DSP.  
   
   
       40 . A system comprising: 
 a first processor with a first addressing capability;    a second processor with a second addressing capability larger than the first addressing capability;    a first memory storing a parameter table; and    a second memory coupled to the first processor and the second processor,    wherein when the first processor desires to retrieve data in the parameter table, the first processor requests the second processor to access the first memory and store the requested data into the second memory, and the second processor reads the requested data in the second memory; and    the requested data comprises at least one parameter.    
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the first processor comprises a DSP, the second processor comprises a CPU, the second memory comprises a volatile memory, and the first memory is not disposed in the same chip as the second processor.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the first processor requests the second processor by storing a data request in the second memory and sending a request command to the second processor.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein when storing the requested data into the second memory, the second processor also sends a response command to the first processor.