DSP code swapping with continuous DSP execution

In a system including a DSP (digital signal processor) associated with local memory and an additional processor associated with auxiliary memory, a method for providing executable code to said DSP, wherein said DSP executes a program provided as a plurality of code modules containing executable code, wherein said local memory has a size that is smaller than required to store said plurality of code modules, said method comprising the steps of:

• maintaining said plurality of code modules in said auxiliary memory;
• loading a first code module from said plurality of code modules into said local memory;
• executing, by said DSP, the executable code contained in said first code module;
• and
• loading a second code module from said plurality of code modules into said local memory while said DSP is executing the executable code contained in said first code module.

A computer readable medium for use in a system having a DSP (digital signal processor) associated with local memory and an additional processor associated with auxiliary memory, wherein said DSP executes in accordance with function code including a plurality of executable code modules, said computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by at least one of said processors, causes code to be provided to the DSP by performing the steps of:

• maintaining said plurality of executable code modules in said auxiliary memory;
• loading a first executable code module from said plurality of executable code modules into said local memory, said local memory having a size smaller than required to store said plurality of code modules;
• executing, by said DSP, said first executable code module;
• and
• while said DSP is executing said first executable code module, loading a second executable code module from said plurality of executable code modules into said local memory.

A signal processing system including:

• a) a first processor capable of executing instructions and coupled to a first memory pool accessible by said first processor to obtain executable instructions, said first memory pool further providing for the storage of a code module;
• and
• b) a second processor capable of executing instructions and coupled to a second memory pool storing a plurality of code modules including first and second code modules, wherein said first code module contains executable instructions implementing a first predetermined function and is storable in said first memory pool, wherein a second code module contains executable instructions implementing a second predetermined function and is copyable into said first memory pool;
• c) a memory access controller coupled between said first and second memory pools and supporting the copying of a predetermined portion of said second code module into said first memory pool while said first processor is executing instructions obtained from said first code module to implement said first predetermined function, said memory access controller providing for the copying of said predetermined portion of said second code module through a memory mapped window from said second memory pool into said first memory pool.