Patent ID: 6590907
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
An integrated circuit comprising:plurality of functional modules each connected to a packet router via a respective port, wherein each port is associated with a range of addresses within a common memory space for the integrated circuit; each functional module having packet handling circuitry for generating and receiving packets conveyed by the packet router, each packet including a destination indicator identifying a destination of the packet by identifying an address within the common memory space; wherein each port is operable to transfer packets between its associated functional module and the packet router according to a predetermined protocol, the integrated circuit further comprising; an expansion socket connected to the packet router via a socket port operable to transfer packets between the packet router and the expansion socket using said predetermined protocol, the expansion socket having a plurality of expansion ports for connection to respective expansion modules and including routing control logic for routing packets between the packet router and any functional modules connected to the expansion ports.