Processor with dedicated virtual functions and dynamic assignment of functional resources

A method in a processor having a plurality of hardware resources comprising:

• on at least one clock cycle:
• setting a mode of the processor, the mode being one of a virtual function mode or a physical function mode;
• assigning a plurality of work stores into one of a plurality of virtual functions if the mode of the processor is set to the virtual function mode;
• assigning the plurality of work stores into one physical function if the mode of the processor is set to the physical function mode;
• and
• on each clock cycle:
• releasing any idle hardware resource to be available for any virtual function or physical function;
• dispatching work from any work store corresponding to any virtual function or physical function to any released hardware resources.