Multi-tasking on a DSP32C

The latest generation of DSPs has enabled a new range of algorithms to be implemented in real-time. An inevitable side-product of this is that algorithms developed for much slower processors will now run many times faster than real-time. This, along with a suitable on-chip serial interface, enables a single DSP to process several channels on a PCM stream in real-time. The principle behind DSP multi-tasking is that every task should process a frame of data, after which it releases control of the processor at least until its next frame is ready. The neatest and most flexible way of achieving this is with a nonpreemptive scheduling mechanism, with a device driver to handle the input and output of sampled data. This paper briefly describes the multi-tasking operating system, the approach taken to software development on the DSP32C, and some applications