Patent ID: 7426708

Claim:
A hybrid-ASIC having a given amount of circuit space and comprising: a substantially non-programmable ASIC logic portion (np-Logic portion); and a substantially programmable logic portion (pro-Logic portion), wherein: the pro-Logic portion includes programmable intervention realizing means operatively coupled for intervening with operations of the np-Logic portion; the pro-Logic portion includes programmable intervention determining means for determining when, if at all, to intervene with operations of the np-Logic portion; said intervention determining means recognizes intervention-deserving events; said intervention determining means is coupled to the intervention realizing means; the np-Logic portion comprises a plurality of standard cell blocks operatively intercoupled by way of interconnect means; said programmable intervention realizing means is operatively coupled to said interconnect means for intervening with operations of the np-Logic portion in response to intervention-deserving events recognized by said intervention determining means; and the programmable intervention determining means is operatively coupled to said interconnect means for detecting states of the np-Logic portion and thereby determining when to signal the intervention realizing means to intervene with operations of the np-Logic portion.