Abstract: Technology related to CD (compact disc) players are described. In one instance, a handheld CD player includes a CD drive to receive a CD and to determine a CD identification from the CD and a media slot to receive a portable memory card having a database. The handheld CD player also includes an attributes access module configured to retrieve music attributes from the database associated with the CD identification and to store the CD identification in the database if the CD identification is not already in the database.

Abstract: Handheld CD (compact disc) players are described. In one instance, a handheld CD player includes a CD drive to receive a CD and to determine a CD identification from the CD and a media slot to receive a portable memory card having a database. The handheld CD player also includes an attributes access module configured to retrieve music attributes from the database associated with the CD identification and to store the CD identification in the database if the CD identification is not already in the database.

Abstract: A method and means for allocating memory for a multiple program structure is described. The present invention includes a method and means for specifying a connection between the programming structures. The present invention also includes a method and means for connecting the programming structures by pointing the input data location of one of the programming structures to the output data location of the preceding programming structure, such that the buffer location used for storing data output from one programming structure becomes the buffer location used to input data into the next programming structure. The present invention also includes a method and means for creating an inter-task buffer. The inter-task buffer is created by first adding a first task which opens the inter-task buffer. The inter-task buffer is completed by adding another task directly after the first task. This second task closes the inter-task buffer.

Abstract: In a computer system having a digital signal processor for processing tasks in real-time within a series of frames, a method is described for determining whether there is enough processing time available within each frame to process the task such that the frame's total processing time is not exceeded. First, the task's processing time requirement is determined. The time for executing the current task list is then calculated. Next, the remaining amount of processing time available in the frame is determined. This is accomplished by subtracting the current task list execution time from the frame's total processing time. The new task is installed in the task list if the frame's available processing time is at least as great as the task's required processing time. Otherwise, the task is not installed in the task list and an error indication is generated.

Abstract: A computer system having a processor and a coprocessor, a method and apparatus for developing and executing tasks on a coprocessor. A teamwork operating system for utilizing the coprocessor, e.g. a digital signal processor, resides in part on the processor and in part on the coprocessor. Such a teamwork operating system provides for optimum throughput of work through the coprocessor. An Application Programming Interface (API) is provided to facilitate the development of host application programs that will utilize the coprocessor. A Task Programming Interface (TPI) and a Task Unit Definition Language (TUDL) are provided to facilitate the development of coprocessor code for execution on the coprocessor.