Apparatus and method for the exchange of signal groups between a plurality of components in a digital signal processor having a direct memory access controller

Abstract

As the digital signal processor has become more flexible, the direct memory access controller has assumed greater computational power to permit the core processing unit to perform its specialized processing without responding to signal transfer requests. Not only does the direct memory access controller control the exchange of signal groups between the memory unit and the core processing unit, but the direct memory access controller is also responsible for the transfer of signal groups within the digital signal processor that originate from the serial port, and the interface unit (the unit that implements the direct transfer of signal groups from the memory unit of one digital signal processor to a second signal processor). The direct memory access controller has programmable channels that permit the signal group source component to be coupled to the signal group destination component. The address unit of the direct memory access unit must be able to accommodate a plurality of addressing modes. An arbitration unit prevents conflict between the components. With respect to the host port interface unit, the exchange of the signal groups with the memory unit as performed by a direct transfer, the direct memory access controller preventing conflicting signal groups transfers.