1. An electronic device for decoding signals in a MIMO communication system comprising: a plurality of signal inputs configured to receive coded signals; a general purpose calculation engine configured to perform primitive operations derived from algorithms for decoding the coded signals received by the plurality of signal inputs; a first protocol module configured to issue instructions to the general purpose calculation engine for implementing a first algorithm for decoding the coded signals; a second protocol module configured to issue instructions to the general purpose calculation engine for implementing a second algorithm for decoding the coded signals; a data memory connected to the general purpose calculation engine for storing data generated by the general purpose calculation engine while performing the primitive operations on the signals; and one or more outputs configured to output decoded information generated by the general purpose calculation engine; wherein the electronic device is configured to decode signals in accordance with two or more communication protocols by performing primitive operations using the general purpose calculation engine.