In some embodiments, a user may select an elemental function such as read,
write, or configuration from a graphical programming environment. A file
may be created that instantiates functionality into a programmable
hardware element to allow it to send a command across a serial protocol
to peripheral interface circuitry and ultimately to peripheral chips
(e.g., network chips on a CAN). The elemental node concept may be generic
to any network chip because the node may contain only the general data of
a packet (e.g., command type, value of data bytes, etc). The actual
interface to a network chip may be handled inside the peripheral
interface circuitry. The peripheral interface circuitry may have the
details of the network chip in which it interfaces and may abstract
details of the network chip from the target programmable hardware element
through the serial protocol.