Patent ID: 7420990

Claim:
A system comprising: a first integrated circuit having a first interface coupled to a first signal path, the first interface having a first plurality of contacts; a second integrated circuit having a second interface coupled to the first signal path, the second interface having a second plurality of contacts; wherein the first and second integrated circuits are operable in a first and second mode of operation, wherein: during the first mode of operation, the first integrated circuit configures a first set of contacts in the first plurality of contacts to output and receive signals, the second integrated circuit configures a second set of contacts in the second plurality of contacts to output and receive signals to and from the first set of contacts, the first and second integrated circuits configure the first and second sets of contacts in response to a control signal; and during the second mode of operation, the first integrated circuit configures a third set of contacts in the first plurality of contacts to output signals, the second integrated circuit configures a fourth set of contacts in the second plurality of contacts to receive the signals from the third set of contacts; and a control circuit to output the control signal; wherein the control signal is output in response to an indication as to a number of transmit commands.