A message-based memory system for Digital Signal Processor (DSP) storage expansion has a shared memory device connected to a number of DSPs through a packet communication bus. Each of the DSPs has a packet bus interface interconnected to the packet bus; and a messaging unit connected to the packet bus interface. The memory device interconnected to the packet bus can provide shared memory space for the DSPs to increase the amount of memory available to each DSP. The memory device can also be utilized to provide access to common information such as shared data or shared programing that may need to be run by multiple DSPs. The DSPs and the memory device communicate through the packet bus interface by generating packetized read and write requests.
