Reconfigurable network interface apparatus and method

A reconfigurable computer network interface device (10) includes a reconfigurable controller (12), reconfigurable bus interface (22), and reconfigurable transceiver (14). The device (10) also includes a configuration control arrangement (20) and on-board memory (16) for storing configuration instructions. The preferred form of the invention also includes an arrangement for receiving configuration instructions from an external source. The reconfigurable bus interface (22) may be configured by hardware set-up and operational software instructions to emulate a bus interface for any of a number of different computer bus architectures. A bus adapter (26) connects between a bus port (39) associated with the reconfigurable bus interface (22) and the computer bus to provide the physical connection between the device (10) and the host computer. The reconfigurable transceiver (14) is reconfigurable by hardware set-up and operational software instructions to communicate in any one of a number of different network hardware protocols. A media connector (24a, 24b) cooperates with a transceiver port (23a, 23b) associated with the reconfigurable transceiver (14) to provide the physical connection between the device (10) and network medium (32a, 32b). The reconfigurable controller (12) is configurable by hardware set-up and operational software instructions to communicate in any of a number of different software protocols. Thus, the reconfigurable computer network interface device (10) may operate as a network card, bridge, router, brouter, or gateway between substantially any type of computer and any type of computer network.