Portable handheld device with multi-core microcoded image processor

A portable device comprising:

• a CPU for processing a script;
• a multi-core processor for processing data;
• a first in, first out (FIFO) input buffer separate from the multi-core processor and configured to receive and contemporaneously accumulate data for subsequent processing by the multi-core processor, the input buffer being provided under the control of the multi-core processor to send some or all of such data for processing;
• and
• a first in, first out (FIFO) output buffer separate from the multi-core processor and configured to receive and contemporaneously accumulate data processed by the multi-core processor, the output buffer being provided under the control of the multi-core processor to receive data therefrom, wherein
• the multi-core processor comprises a plurality of coded processing units,
• the CPU is configured with authority to clear and query the input and output buffers;
• the CPU and the multi-core processor are part of a single chip, wherein the single chip includes an authentication interface;
• and
• the authentication interface of the single chip includes more than one port to connect to an on-device authentication chip and to another authentication chip used with another device.