Personal electronic device with appliance drive features

Abstract

A novel personal electronic device includes a first (embedded) and second (non-embedded) processors including associated operating systems and functions. In one aspect, the first processor performs relatively limited functions, while the second processor performs relatively broader functions under control of the first processor. Often the second processor requires more power than the first processor and is selectively operated by the first processor to minimize overall power consumption. Protocols for functions to be performed by the second processor may be provided directly to the second processor and processed by the second processor. In another aspect, a display controller is designed to interface with both processors. In another aspect, the operating systems work with one another. In another aspect, the first processor employs a thermal control program. Advantages of the invention include a broad array of functions performed by a relatively small personal electronics device.

1 . A personal portable electronic device to perform a plurality of functions, the device comprising: 
 a hand-held source of energy,    a first system processor energized by the source of energy for performing a first subset of the plurality of functions;    a second system processor energized by the source of energy for performing a second subset of the plurality of functions,    the first system processor including means for controlling the allocation and termination of energy to the second system processor, and    a mass storage medium providing a resource shared by the first and second system processors.