Patent ID: 6202116
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of communicating on a bus, the bus including a plurality of data lines divided into a first group and a second group, the data lines coupling a first and second bus interface circuit, the method comprising:transferring first data over the first group data lines from the first to the second bus interface circuit in half bus mode during a first time period on the bus;transferring second data from the second to the first bus interface circuit over the second group of data lines in half bus mode during the first time period; andtransferring third data from the first to the second bus interface circuit over the first and second group of data lines in whole bus mode during a second time period, the second time period being different from the first time period, andwherein the first bus interface circuit requests use of the second group of data lines to transfer data from the first to the second bus interface circuit and the second bus interface circuit grants use of the second group of data lines prior to the first bus interface circuit transferring data on said second group of data lines, andwherein said first bus interface circuit implicitly requests use of the second group of data lines to transfer data in whole bus mode, according to an amount of data to transfer, the second bus interface circuit granting the implicit request according to data transfer requirements of the second bus interface circuit.