A data processing system includes a main processor that runs an operating system; a microcontrol processor coupled to the main processor that controls a first plurality of hardware processes as directed by the main processor, and a switching matrix controlled by the microcontrol processor and coupled between input ports and output ports of individual ones of the first plurality of hardware processes for routing data between individual ones of the first plurality of hardware processes. In one aspect there is a unit having an interface for coupling to at least one peripheral unit, where each of the unit and the peripheral unit include a system on a chip. Operations of a local microcontrol processor of the unit are directed through macro commands issued by the main processor, and for the execution of some macro commands the local microcontrol processor of the unit communicates with the local microcontrol processor of the peripheral unit via an interconnecting bus that implements a plurality of virtual channels.