Graphics processing microprocessor system having a master device communicate with a slave device

A slave device for use in a microprocessor system, comprising:

• one or more internal resources;
• an interface configured to couple the slave device to a communications bus via which the internal resources of the slave device may be accessed by a master device by addressing those resources via the bus;
• and
• a programmable processor that is programmed to configure the communications protocol to be used by the slave device.

A microprocessor system comprising:

• a slave device comprising:
• one or more internal resources;
• an interface configured to couple the slave device to a communications bus via which the internal resources of the slave device may be accessed by a master device by addressing those resources via the bus;
• and
• a programmable processor;
• and
• a master device comprising:
• a programmable processor;
• and
• an interface configured to communicate access requests for slave resources to the slave device via a communications bus;
• wherein:
• the slave device and the master device each execute respective parts of a matched set of software that controls the communications protocol to be used between the master device and the slave device.

A method of configuring a slave device for a microprocessor system, which slave device comprises:

• one or more internal resources;
• an interface configured to couple the slave device to a communications bus via which the internal resources of the slave device may be accessed by a master device by addressing those resources via the bus;
• and
• a programmable processor that can be programmed to configure the communications protocol to be used by the slave device;
• the method comprising:
• programming the programmable processor of the slave device to configure the format of communications that can be accepted by the slave device from a master device to access the slave device's resources.

A method of configuring a microprocessor system comprising a slave device and a master device;

• the slave device comprising:
• one or more internal resources;
• an interface configured to couple the slave device to a communications bus via which the internal resources of the slave device may be accessed by a master device by addressing those resources via the bus;
• and
• a programmable processor;
• and
• the master device comprising:
• a programmable processor;
• and
• an interface configured to communicate access requests for slave resources to the slave device via a communications bus;
• the method comprising:
• programming the programmable processors of the slave device and the master device respectively to each execute respective parts of a matched set of software that controls the communications protocol to be used between the master device and the slave device.

A method of operating a slave device in a microprocessor system, the slave device comprising:

• one or more internal resources;
• an interface configured to couple the slave device to a communications bus via which the internal resources of the slave device may be accessed by a master device by addressing those resources via the bus;
• and a controller processor;
• the method comprising:
• the controller processor of the slave device controlling processing on the slave device in response to an access request from a master device.

A computer program product comprising computer software code stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing, when the software code is run on a data processor, a method of operating a slave device in a microprocessor system, the slave device comprising:

• one or more internal resources;
• an interface configured to couple the slave device to a communications bus via which the internal resources of the slave device may be accessed by a master device by addressing those resources via the bus;
• and
• a controller processor;
• the method comprising:
• the controller processor of the slave device controlling processing on the slave device in response to an access request from a master device.