Virtual Devices Using a Plurality of Processors

An information handling system comprising:

• a plurality of heterogeneous processors;
• a common memory shared by the plurality of heterogeneous processors;
• a first processor selected from the plurality of processors that sends a request to a second processor, the second processor also being selected from the plurality of processors;
• a local memory corresponding to the second processor;
• a DMA controller associated with the second processor, the DMA controller adapted to transfer data between the common memory and the second processor's local memory;
• and
• a virtual device tool for operating the second processor as a virtual device, the virtual device tool including software effective to:
• signal, from the first processor, the second processor;
• store data corresponding to the request in the second processor's local;
• and
• process the data by the second processor using software code stored in the second processor's local memory.

A computer program product stored on a computer operable media for using a processor as a virtual device, said computer program product comprising:

• means for signaling, from a first processor, a second processor from a plurality processors in a computer system, wherein the plurality of processors share a common memory and wherein at least two of the processors are dislike;
• means for storing data corresponding to the request in a local memory corresponding to the second processor;
• and
• means for processing the data by the second processor using software code stored in the second processor's local memory.