Patent ID: 8726319

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a first plurality of input/output ports; a second plurality of input/output ports; a communication protocol transceiver associated with each one of the first plurality of input/output ports; a communication protocol transmitter associated with each one of the second plurality of input/output ports; and a controller in communication with each communication protocol transmitter and each communication protocol transceiver, the controller providing communication between the first plurality of input/output ports and the second plurality of input/output ports, and intercommunication between the first plurality of input/output ports, wherein the controller defines a mailbox for each one of the first plurality of input/output ports, and wherein each of said mailboxes is associated with an associated input/output port and is configured to store communication protocol commands and communication protocol data for forwarding to said associated input/output port in response to a request received at said associated input/output port.