Importance

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Abstract

An FPGA-based communications access point and system for reconfiguration of the FPGA via a communications channel are described in various embodiments. One embodiment includes a physical interface circuit, a storage element (e.g., a RAM), an FPGA, and a configuration control circuit. The physical interface circuit is arranged for connection to a communications channel and is coupled to the FPGA. The configuration control circuit includes a controlling circuit (e.g., a PLD) and a memory circuit (e.g., a PROM). The PROM is configured with an initial configuration bitstream for the FPGA. The initial configuration bitstream implements both a communications protocol and a control function that writes configuration bits received by the FPGA via the communications channel to the RAM. The control function also generates a reconfiguration signal responsive to a first predetermined condition. The PLD is configured to load the initial configuration bitstream from the PROM into the FPGA, and, responsive to the reconfiguration signal from the FPGA, to load a second configuration bitstream from the RAM into the FPGA. The control function may be configured to interact with standard network programs such as FTP (file transfer protocol) or custom programs.

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First Claim