Patent ID: 7373432

Claim:
A programmable logic integrated circuit operable to function as an end point on an industry standard bus, the programmable logic integrated circuit including an interface to the industry standard bus and being operable through the interface to, receive multiple versions of firmware from an external source, each version of firmware representing a corresponding operating configuration; store the multiple versions of firmware in a memory; download a selected one of the versions of firmware from the memory; and configure itself using the downloaded firmware to operate in the corresponding operating configuration; wherein the programmable logic integrated circuit further comprises: at least one hardwired pipeline, each hardwired pipeline operable to process respective data without executing program instructions; a communication shell coupled to the hardwired pipelines and operable to transfer data to and from the hardwired pipelines; and a communication interface coupled to the interface to the industry standard bus, the communication interface operable to communicate with the interface to the industry standard bus to transfer data to and from the programmable logic integrated circuit over the industry standard bus, and the communication interface further operable to transfer data to and from each hardwired pipeline via the communication shell.