1. A system comprising: a finite state machine having a plurality of states interconnected through a plurality of events, wherein certain states and events in said plurality are implemented in software and other states and events in said plurality are implemented in hardware; and a scheduler communicatively coupled to said finite state machine and having one or more parameters defining scheduled operations to be performed by said scheduler, wherein said finite state machine is configured to select one or more of said parameters to be used by said scheduler upon transition by said finite state machine from a first state to a second state.