Programming model for a coprocessor on a computer system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A method and apparatus for controlling a coprocessor, namely a digital signal processor in a computer system, is described.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth such as operating system functionality, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that such detail is known to those skilled in the art and that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
In other instances, well-known functions e.
g.
digital system processing algorithms and functions, have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
OVERVIEW OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment of the present invention may be practiced on computer systems having alternative configurations.
FIG.
1 illustrates some of the basic components of such a computer system, but is not meant to be limiting to exclude other components or combinations of components.
In any event, the computer system illustrated in FIG.
1 comprises a bus or other communication means 101 for communicating information, a processing means 102 (commonly referred to as a host processor) coupled with the bus 101 for processing information, a random access memory (RAM) or other storage device 103 (commonly referred to as a main memory) coupled with the bus 101 for storing information and instructions for the processor 102, a read only memory (ROM) or other static storage device 104 coupled with the bus 101 for storing static information and instructions for the processor 102.
Other devices coupled to said bus 101 include a data storage device 105, such as a magnetic disk and disk drive for storing information and instructions, an alphanumeric input device 106 including alphanumeric and other keys for communicating information and command selections to the processor 102, a cursor control device 107, such as a mouse, track-ball, cursor control keys, etc, for controlling a cursor and communicating information and command selections to the processor 102, a display device 108 for displaying data input and output, a digital signal processor (DSP) 109 for processing DSP resource requests, an audio port 110 for input and output of audio signals and a telecommunications port 111 for input and output of telecommunication signals