US Patent 7421517 Integrated circuit having multiple modes of operation

A method according to one embodiment may include operating an integrated circuit in a selected mode of operation. The integrated circuit may include processor circuitry and interface circuitry. The processor circuitry may include a plurality of processor cores. The interface circuitry may be capable of communicating in accordance a plurality of different protocols. At least one of the processor cores may be capable of issuing a command to the interface circuitry to communicate in accordance with at least one of the plurality of different protocols that corresponds to the selected mode of operation of the integrated circuit.