Abstract: A data processing system for executing multimedia applications which interface with multimedia devices that consume or produce at least one of real-time and asynchronous streamed data includes a CPU for execution of one or more multimedia applications and a DSP for processing data including streamed data. A plurality of modular multimedia software tasks may be called by the multimedia application for execution in the DSP. A plurality of data communication modules are provided for linking selected ones of the software tasks with selected others of the software tasks, and linking selected multimedia devices with selected ones of the software tasks. Each of the communications modules allows continuous, real-time and unidirectional communication of streamed data.

Abstract: A data processing system is provided for executing multimedia applications which interface with multimedia end devices that consume or produce at least one of (a) real-time and (b) asynchronous streamed data. The data processing system includes a central processing unit for data processing operations including execution of the multimedia application, a digital signal processor for processing data including the streamed data, and a plurality of modular components which cooperate to provide a substantially open architecture.

Abstract: A centralized digital signal processor resource manager acquires through software techniques, configuration and related data for multimedia hardware devices from BIOS device drivers interposed to functionally insulate the resource manager from hardware device specific information. The resource manager manages hardware devices in a multiple DSP environment using a unique software based hardware device identification scheme to identify and manage the location and availability of each hardware device.

Abstract: A speech activity detection circuit and method are described in which a digitized sample of the analog speech signal in a communications system is taken n times in a period of time t. The magnitude M of each sample is calculated and the largest value of M which is encountered over a given period t is stored as a peak magnitude M(t). This value is compared to a value M(t-1) which is the smallest value of M(t) from prior periods. The lesser of the two values is stored as the new value for M(t-1). The process is continued for i periods and at the end of the i.sup.th period, the value M(t-1) is multipled by a constant k and the product is stored as the threshold value for the next i periods of time t.