System and method for controlling signal processing in a voice over packet (VoP) environment

A Voice Over Packet (VoP) subsystem comprising:

• a host processor;
• and
• a signal processor in communication with the host processor, the signal processor including
• an internal memory,
• a control processor,
• a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the internal memory and the control processor,
• a plurality of serial ports in communication with the control processor, each of the plurality of serial ports being adapted to receive non-packetized voice samples, and
• a host port in communication with the control processor, the host port to receive packetized control messages from the host processor, the control messages being used by the host processor to control, configure, monitor and communicate with the signal processor without knowledge of a specific architecture of the signal processor.