System and method of sharing memory by arbitrating through an internal data bus

An integrated circuit chip comprising:

• a plurality of functional modules;
• an internal data bus;
• and
• a data interface for communicatively coupling said integrated circuit chip to an off-chip memory, said off-chip memory used to store one or more identifiable data blocks, said off-chip memory shared among said plurality of functional modules, said functional modules accessing said off-chip memory by way of arbitration using said internal data bus, said integrated circuit chip situated on a motherboard for use within a computer to implement a local area network on motherboard (LOM) configuration, wherein said plurality of functional modules comprises a module that performs user authentication and secure communication functions.

An integrated circuit chip comprising:

• an internal data bus;
• a bus arbiter control unit;
• and
• a data interface for:
• transmitting data to an off-chip memory by way of said data interface, said data interface connected to said internal data bus;
• and
• receiving data from said off-chip memory, said integrated circuit chip further comprising a plurality of functional modules, said internal data bus communicatively coupled to said plurality of functional modules, said integrated circuit chip resident within a network interface card, said network interface card for use within a computer, said plurality of functional modules comprising a functional module that performs authentication of a user of said computer, said internal data bus arbitrating said transmitting and said receiving performed between said plurality of functional modules and said off-chip memory by way of said bus arbiter control unit.