Abstract: A controller is provided which comprises one or more processors, a control store, a first interface control unit for interfacing a local core and a second interface control unit for interfacing one or more remote cores via an interconnect, wherein the processor/s discloses programmable mini-processor/s is adapted to execute, add, remove or modify a function by executing micro-code maintained typically in the local memory but also possibly in remote, or even off-chip memory, and obtained via the control store, in response to receiving a command from the first or the second interface control unit.