A so-called protocol multiplexing extension would let chips dynamically switch between as many as seven different protocols in addition to PCIe using a shared set of chip pins, buffers and board traces. Resulting chips could use fewer pins, and OEMs would need fewer devices and could make more flexible systems.
Using the technique, for example, chip makers could design a single part that connects processors and accelerators via PCIe, Intel's Quick Path Interconnect or the coherent HyperTransport bus.