3) They have something called "System IP" that seems to refer to inter support device (memory, etc) communications. Does IP refer to Internet Protocol or Intellectual Property? or to something else? Nobody seems to make this clear.
Intellectual property and in the content it is clear. ARM has nothing to do with IP as in TCP/IP
4) Do individual processor types interface to common support chips - memory, IO, DSP, communications, graphic display, sensors, etc? Or are these devices built into the semiconductor chip?
Lou.
Both possible. The MCUs based on Cortex-M usually have memories build in and some have external bus interfaces. The Cortex-A usually has just cache memory internal no program memory, that is external. As for DSP, graphic... both versions exist, some internal and most external.
Lou.