Patent ID: 7254695

Claim:
An apparatus for providing a single coprocessor to act as a server (SCOP) to support a number of client control processors (CCP) wherein each client has its own coprocessor instruction port which is serviced in turn by the single coprocessor acting as the server, the apparatus comprising: a coprocessor acting as a server coprocessor SCOP for a plurality of client control processors (CCPs); and a plurality of instruction ports on the SCOP, each instruction port coupled to a CCP, at least one of the plurality of instruction ports includes an instruction queue to which a coupled CCP posts instructions and instruction control logic to control the SCOP so that the SCOP operates in either a tightly coupled mode, wherein the SCOP receives and executes the posted instructions, or a firmly coupled mode, wherein the SCOP fetches an instruction stream as directed by the posted instructions.