Patent ID: 7603487

Claim:
In a data transfer controller having a central hub connected to a plurality of ports, each port connected to a hub interface unit adapted for connection to an external application unit, a method of design configuration of each hub interface unit comprising the steps of: designing a hub interface unit circuit having a superset of a range of operating features via functional description, said range of operating features including at least one common unit used in each hub interface unit; said at least one common unit being configurable in size or function via at least one corresponding configuration switch; one or more optional units to each hub interface unit; and selecting a particular optional unit from among the plurality of optional units via at least one corresponding configuration switch; for each hub interface unit in the data transfer controller determining desired operating features from among said range of operating features; selecting configuration switches corresponding to said desired operating features; and compiling a circuit in said functional description corresponding to a circuit obtained as a result of said selected configuration switches in the hub interface unit circuit; and for each hub interface unit in the data transfer controller synthesizing a circuit corresponding to said compiled circuit.