A method for providing an adaptive data path for computer-vision applications, the method comprising: receiving at a computer vision processing unit (120, 230) a first instruction-based command from an application processing unit, based on a first computer-vision application or service executed by the application processing unit; receiving a first image at the computer vision processing unit from an image sensor module; using said computer vision processing unit (120, 230) separate from the application processing unit to: select a first subset of image processing functions from a plurality of image processing functions at least partially implemented in hardware, based on the first instruction-based command, wherein the computer vision processing unit employs a first filter chain to implement the first subset of image processing functions; process the first image using the first subset of image processing functions; and providing an output that causes either or both the application processing unit or a memory subsystem to exit a low-power mode; receiving a second instruction-based command from the application processing unit at said computer vision processing unit, based on a second computer-vision application or service executed by the application processing unit; receive a second image at the computer vision processing unit from said image sensor module; using the computer vision processing unit separate from the application processing unit to: select a second subset of image processing functions from the plurality of image processing functions, based on the second instruction-based command, wherein the computer vision processing unit employs a second filter chain to implement the selected second subset of image processing functions; and process the second image using the second subset of image processing functions;. receiving at a computer vision processing unit (120, 230) a first instruction-based command from an application processing unit, based on a first computer-vision application or service executed by the application processing unit; receiving a first image at the computer vision processing unit from an image sensor module; using said computer vision processing unit (120, 230) separate from the application processing unit to: select a first subset of image processing functions from a plurality of image processing functions at least partially implemented in hardware, based on the first instruction-based command, wherein the computer vision processing unit employs a first filter chain to implement the first subset of image processing functions; process the first image using the first subset of image processing functions; and providing an output that causes either or both the application processing unit or a memory subsystem to exit a low-power mode; select a first subset of image processing functions from a plurality of image processing functions at least partially implemented in hardware, based on the first instruction-based command, wherein the computer vision processing unit employs a first filter chain to implement the first subset of image processing functions; process the first image using the first subset of image processing functions; and providing an output that causes either or both the application processing unit or a memory subsystem to exit a low-power mode; receiving a second instruction-based command from the application processing unit at said computer vision processing unit, based on a second computer-vision application or service executed by the application processing unit; receive a second image at the computer vision processing unit from said image sensor module; using the computer vision processing unit separate from the application processing unit to: select a second subset of image processing functions from the plurality of image processing functions, based on the second instruction-based command, wherein the computer vision processing unit employs a second filter chain to implement the selected second subset of image processing functions; and select a second subset of image processing functions from the plurality of image processing functions, based on the second instruction-based command, wherein the computer vision processing unit employs a second filter chain to implement the selected second subset of image processing functions; and process the second image using the second subset of image processing functions;.