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The present invention allows a user to customize the configuration sequence of a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), thereby adding considerable flexibility to the configuration process. The present invention also provides certain features, transparent to the user, which optimize system resources

The present invention allows a user to customize the configuration sequence of a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), thereby adding considerable flexibility to the configuration process. The present invention also provides certain features, transparent to the user, which optimize system resources and ensure the correct initialization of the CSoC. The CSoC leverages an on-chip central processing unit (CPU) to control the configuration process of the configurable system logic (CSL). Advantageously, the CSL configuration memory cells as well as other programmable locations in the CSoC are addressable as part of a system bus address space. The system bus is a multi-use structure that can be used for both configuring and reading of memory cells. In this manner, the CSoC optimizes system resources.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A method of initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), the CSoC including configurable system logic (CSL), the method comprising: checking for one of a serial and a parallel output device external to the CSoC and coupled to a memory interface unit (MIU) in the

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), the CSoC including configurable system logic (CSL), the method comprising: checking for one of a serial and a parallel output device external to the CSoC and coupled to a memory interface unit (MIU) in the CSoC; setting the MIU to a first mode of communicating with the output device, wherein the first mode comprises one of a serial mode and a parallel mode; searching for a header of a configuration file in the output device; switching the MIU to a second mode of communicating with the output device if a header of a configuration file is not found, wherein the second mode comprises the other of the serial mode and the parallel mode; determining if the output device is accessible if a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode; powering down the CSoC if the output device is determined to be accessible and a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode; and configuring the CSL if a header of a configuration file is found. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein if a header of a configuration file is not found in the second mode, then further including waiting for a reset signal to be asserted. 3. A system for initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), comprising; configurable system logic (CSL); a memory interface unit; and an output device external to the CSoC and coupled to the memory interface unit, wherein the memory interface unit is set to a first mode based on the output device, wherein the first mode comprises one of a serial mode and a parallel mode, and the CSL is configured if a header of a configuration file is found in the output device, and wherein the memory interface unit is set to a second mode if a header of a configuration file is not found in the output device, wherein the second mode comprises the other of the serial mode and the parallel mode, and the CSoC is powered down if a header of a configuration file is not found in the output device after the memory interface unit is set to a second mode and the output device is determined to be accessible. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that a valid ID header is not present if the output device is determined to be accessible. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that data stored in the output device is corrupted if the output device is determined to be accessible. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising enabling the CSoC to search for a header of a configuration file if the output device is determined to be accessible. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein enabling the CSoC to search for a header of a configuration file if the output device is determined to be accessible comprises entering a non-secure mode. 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising a step of beginning a read cycle if the output device is determined to be accessible. 9. The system of claim 3 further comprising a system bus used for transferring configuration data and providing general interconnections. 10. The system of claim 3 further comprising buffers in the CSL enabling configuration, the buffers comprising first tier multiplexers coupled to general interconnect lines. 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the buffers further comprise second tier multiplexers having a first terminal coupled to an output terminal of a first tier multiplexer and a second terminal coupled to a constant voltage source. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the second tier multiplexers provide the constant voltage source during a configuration mode and provide signals from the general interconnect lines during a user mode. 13. The system of claim 12 further comprising input multiplexers coupled to the buffers in the CSL, the input multiplexers enabling configuration and having a first multiplexer coupled to receive a first plurality of input signals and a constant signal, a second multiplexer coupled to receive a second plurality of input signals and a mode signal, and a third multiplexer coupled to receive output signals of the first and second multiplexers. 14. A method of initializing a configurable system on a chip (CSoC), the CSoC including configurable system logic (CSL), the method comprising: checking for one of a serial and a parallel memory device external to the CSoC and coupled to a memory interface unit (MIU) in the CSoC; setting the MIU to a first mode of communicating with the memory device, wherein the first mode comprises one of a serial mode and a parallel mode; searching for a header of a configuration file in the memory device; switching to a second mode of communicating with the memory device if a header of a configuration file is not found, wherein the second mode comprises the other of the serial mode and the parallel mode; determining if the memory device is accessible if a header of a configuration file is not found when the CSoC is in the second mode; continuing to search for a header of a configuration file when the memory device is determined to be accessible, and powering down the CSoC if the memory device is determined to be accessible and a header of a configuration file is not found after the MIU is switched to the second mode. 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising returning to a non-secure mode to begin a read cycle if the memory device is determined to be not accessible. 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining that a header for a configuration file is not present or data stored in the memory device is corrupted if the memory device is determined to be accessible. 17. The method of claim 14 further comprising initially setting timing parameters to enable accessing a slowest memory device of a plurality of available memory devices. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising adjusting timing parameters based upon a selected memory device of the plurality of available memory devices. 19. The method of claim 17 further comprising selecting a first clock signal for operating in a configuration mode and selecting a second clock signal for operating in a user mode.