Bidirectional bus for use as an interconnect routing resource

A bus structure comprising:

• a bi-directional multiplexer chain, wherein a link of the chain includes a first path propagating signals in a first direction and a second path propagating signals in a second direction, wherein the signals propagating in the first direction are different than the signals propagating in the second direction;
• a circuit to combine the signals on the first and second paths;
• and
• a multiplexer circuit for receiving at least one control signal and the signals on the first and second paths, and selectively propagating the signal on one of the first and second paths based on the at least one control signal.

A bus structure comprising:

• a bi-directional multiplexer chain, wherein a link of the chain includes a first path propagating signals in a first direction and a second path propagating signals in a second direction;
• a logic gate for combining the signals on the first and second paths;
• and
• a multiplexer circuit for receiving at least one control signal, the signals on the first and second paths, and an output signal of the logic gate, and selectively propagating the signal on one of the first path, the second path, and the output signal of the logic gate based on the at least one control signal.

A method of accessing at least one of multiple signals on a bi-directional bus, the bus including a first path propagating signals in a first direction and a second path propagating signals in a second direction, the method comprising:

• receiving at least one control signal;
• receiving signals propagating in the first direction;
• receiving signals propagating in the second direction;
• wherein the signals propagating in the first direction are different than the signals propagating in the second direction;
• combining the signals on the first and second paths to provide a combined signal;
• and
• selectively propagating one of the signal on the first path, the signal on the second path, and the combined signal based on the at least one control signal.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for accessing at least one of multiple signals on a bi-directional bus, the bus including a first path propagating signals in a first direction and a second path propagating signals in a second direction;
• means for receiving at least one control signal;
• means for receiving signals propagating in the first direction;
• means for receiving signals propagating in the second direction;
• wherein the signals propagating in the first direction are different than the signals propagating in the second direction;
• means for combining the signals on the first and second paths to provide a combined signal;
• and
• means for selectively propagating one of the signal on the first path, the signal on the second path, and the combined signal based on the at least one control signal.