/spl mu/LAN: local network between hardware devices

Interfacing different hardware devices, combining software and hardware, has always been one of the most challenging, important and problematic design points in modern hardware based systems. The interface should be defined per link between two hardware devices and must support essential properties like data and clock synchronization. If the system consists of many hardware devices, routing the system messages and data between them is required. /spl mu/LAN suggests a solution to the above by implementing a standard, generic and modular interface between two or more programmable hardware devices. /spl mu/LAN is a network that was designed for the special needs of a network between programmable hardware devices within a system. It can be implemented in any digital hardware system containing one or more programmable hardware devices, such as FPGA, ASIC or DSP.