Function interface system and method of processing issued functions between co-processors

A fast pattern processor, comprising:

• an internal function bus;
• an external function bus;
• a context memory having a block buffer and a argument signature register, said block buffer includes processing blocks associated with a protocol data unit (PDU);
• a pattern processing engine, associated with said context memory, that performs pattern matching;
• a function interface system, associated with said pattern processing engine, including:
• a controller arbitration subsystem that processes an issued function request received from at least one of said internal function bus and said external function bus;
• and
• a dispatch subsystem that retrieves said issued function request and dispatches said issued function request to at least one associated co-processor via said controller arbitration subsystem.