Extending a processor system within an integrated circuit and offloading processes to process-specific circuits

A method of extending a processor system within an integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• executing program code within a processor system, wherein the program code specifies a plurality of processes;
• selecting a process from the plurality of processes specified by the program code;
• selecting configuration data specifying a process-specific circuit that implements, in hardware, the selected process;
• loading the selected configuration data to implement the process-specific circuit within a programmable fabric of the integrated circuit;
• the processor system translating virtual memory addresses usable by the processor into physical memory addresses usable by the process-specific circuit;
• wherein the process-specific circuit is unable to translate the virtual memory address to the physical memory address;
• the processor system storing a plurality of descriptors in a memory accessible by the process-specific circuit, wherein each descriptor specifies a first physical memory address and a second physical memory address, wherein each of the plurality of descriptors specifies a different second physical memory address;
• and
• for each descriptor of the plurality of descriptors, performing the selected process using the process-specific circuit in lieu of the processor system by operating on source data indicated by the first physical memory address and storing a result of the selected process at the second physical memory address of the descriptor.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a processor system configured to execute program code;
• and
• a process-specific circuit implemented within a programmable circuitry of the integrated circuit, wherein the process-specific circuit is coupled to the processor system and is configured to implement a process that is offloaded by the processor system;
• wherein the processor system is programmed to:
• store a plurality of descriptors in a memory accessible by the process-specific circuit, wherein each descriptor specifies a first physical memory address and a second physical memory address, wherein each descriptor specifies a different second physical memory address;
• wherein the processor system translates virtual memory addresses into the first and second physical memory addresses for the plurality of descriptors;
• and
• offload the process to the process-specific circuit in lieu of executing program code to perform the process;
• wherein the process-specific circuit is configured to:
• access a predetermined memory location where a first descriptor of the plurality of descriptors is stored;
• and
• for each descriptor of the plurality of descriptors, perform the process using the process-specific circuit implemented within the programmable fabric in lieu of using the processor system by operating on source data indicated by the first physical memory address and storing a result of the process at the second physical memory address of the descriptor.