Patent ID: 8615610

Claim:
An interface, comprising: a physical interface including a first type physical interface and a different second type physical interface which are both selectively enabled to interface a common set of pads; first transport protocol circuitry operative with said first type physical interface in a first operating mode; second transport protocol circuitry operative with said second type physical interface in a second operating mode; a memory which stores a mode value indicative of one of said first and second operating modes; a mode controller which enables said first type physical interface to operate with said first transport protocol circuitry in said first operating mode upon power up or reset, and which dynamically transitions to said second operating mode by disabling said first type physical interface and enabling said second type physical interface to operate with said second transport protocol circuitry when said second operating mode is indicated by said mode value; and wherein said mode controller programs said mode value in response to a command received by an operative one of said first transport protocol circuitry and said second transport protocol circuitry via an enabled one of said first type physical interface and said second type physical interface.