Embedded symmetric multiprocessor system

Abstract

A single chip, embedded symmetric multiprocessor (ESMP) having parallel multiprocessing architecture composed of identical processors allows application developers to write code for a single processor case. This code can be ported to a multiprocessor platform with minimal changes. The application boot or kernel code must be modified to support the parallel processing platform. However, the hardware architecture allows the program stream, at the application task or process level, to be divided among different central processing units without change to the application code. The embedded symmetric processor system includes central processing units, complex memory architectures and a wide range of peripheral devices on the single integrated circuit. Such a system normally also includes an interface to large amounts of external memory. Special hardware manages central processing unit interactions with program memory, data memory and peripherals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.