Patent attributes
A data processing apparatus and method of operation of such a data processing apparatus are disclosed. The data processing apparatus has a main processing unit operable to perform a plurality of data processing tasks, and a data engine for performing a number of those tasks on behalf of the main processing unit. At least one shared resource is allocatable to the data engine by the main processing unit for use by the data engine when performing data processing tasks on behalf of the main processing unit. The data engine comprises a data engine core for performing the tasks, and a data engine subsystem configurable by the main processing unit and arranged to manage communication between the data engine core and an allocated shared resource. The data engine core comprises a resource manager unit for acting as a master device with respect to the data engine subsystem in order to manage use of the allocated shared resource. It has been found that such an approach provides a particularly efficient implementation of a data engine within a data processing apparatus, which reduces the need for re-writing of existing code to enable it to be executed on such a data processing apparatus.
