Integrated circuit having a programmable input/output processor that is used for increasing the flexibility of communications

摘要

A system and method for increasing the flexibility of communications being performed by an integrated circuit Specifically, an integrated circuit including a programmable input/output processor and an attendant method of use thereof are disclosed. The integrated circuit comprises a main functional unit operable to perform a computing function and to fulfill an input/output (I/O) request, a memory coupled to the main functional unit, a programmable logic coupled to the main functional unit; and a plurality of I/O pads coupled to the programmable logic. The memory is operable to store one or more of a plurality of configurations for the programmable logic. The main functional unit is further operable to read the one or more of the plurality of configurations stored in the memory. The main functional unit is also operable to configure the programmable logic with a desired configuration from the plurality of configurations. The desired configuration operates to configure the programmable logic to fulfill the I/O request. Each of the plurality of configurations is operable to control a transmission of data to or from one or more of the plurality of I/O pads. The main functional unit may also store a new configuration in the memory. The integrated circuit may also comprise a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the main functional unit and to the memory. The main functional unit is then further operable to program the DMA controller to fulfill the I/O request independently of the main functional unit.