Multiprocessor

A multiprocessor is a computer system with two or more processors coupled together. These processors can access uniform memory space. The unit which performs computation is known as processing element. Scientific and business community extensively uses multiprocessor embedded systems. These systems offer real time performance, low power consumption and are highly economical. Most of the battery powered devices are based on multiprocessors which give high performance at very low energy rates. An accelerator is attached to CPU buses in an embedded multiprocessor. This accelerator helps to achieve quick execution of certain key functions. They can also provide superlative performance with computational kernels that spend a great deal of time in a small section of code. Accelerators can also be used for speeding up of low latency input/output functions. The communication between CPU and accelerator is through data and control registers. Control registers allow the CPU to fine monitor the accelerator’s operation and to give the accelerator commands. Communication between CPU and accelerator is also possible via shared memory.