Method and apparatus for computational load sharing in a multiprocessor architecture

摘要

In a multiprocessor system, a general-purpose processor, or main processor (MP), shares the computational load with one or more specific-purpose processors, such as a DSP(s). As soon as the MP is available for computational load sharing, i.e., finishes other tasks, the MP checks the computation status of a DSP and shares some of the computation load with the DSP, preferably only when practicable. The MP operates on the same signal processing data as the DSP. The data is retrieved for computation by the MP from a memory using a bottom-up approach while the DSP retrieves data using a top-down approach. An address comparator compares the address of the MP accessed memory location with that of the DSP. When the addresses are the same, the “meeting point” is detected and the current computation is deemed complete. The overall computation time of relevant digital signal processing is reduced.