A SOFTWARE CONFIGURABLE INPUT/OUTPUT MODULE

摘要

The invention relates to a software configurable input/output module for an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The I/O module serves as a programmable interface between a plurality of task engines and a plurality of external devices and includes a pre-defined set of resources and interconnections between those resources which are used to implement I/O protocols. The I/O module is programmed through a set of internal programmable configuration registers which are written to by one or more initialization tasks executing on a connected task engine. Once these programmable configuration registers are written to, the I/O module responds to data and control signals in a defined manner. The programmable configuration registers enable the selection and combination of these pre-defined resources to implement specific I/O protocols used for the communication of data and control between external devices and task engines.