Patent ID: 6987773
Filing Date: 2006-01-17
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data transfer apparatus which selects among a plurality of channels connected thereto and transfers data from a data processing apparatus to selected ones of the plurality of channels, the data transfer apparatus comprising: an output buffer to which data from the data processing apparatus is inputted; a data selection circuit for transferring, (i) selected portions of the data which are inputted from the data processing apparatus through a first path to a first channel, the first path extending through the output buffer, and (ii) selected other portions of the data which are inputted from the data processing apparatus through a second path without intervention by the output buffer, to a second channel, which second channel is different from the first channel; and a data transfer control circuit for carrying out data transfer control, in response to data transfer requests from the data processing apparatus, such that selected portions and selected other portions of the data from the data processing apparatus may be simultaneously transferred to the first and second channels; wherein while a selected portion of the data from the data processing apparatus is being transferred to the output buffer in the first path, the transfer control circuit carries out data transfer control so as to prevent data transfer by the data selection circuit to the second channel through the second path, and wherein in response to a request for the transfer of selected other portions of the data from the data processing apparatus without output buffer intervention made when the data selection circuit is not transferring data to the output buffer, selected other portions of the data from the data processing apparatus are transferred to the second channel using the second path without output buffer intervention and any data stored in the output buffer is simultaneously transferred to the first channel using the first path.