Patent ID: 6940616

Claim:
A data transfer apparatus interposed between a plurality of host apparatuses which perform a data transfer, and peripheral apparatuses which receive transfer data from the host apparatuses and process the data, for controlling a data transfer from the host apparatuses to the peripheral apparatuses, the data transfer apparatus comprising: a plurality of host I/Fs disposed so as to be in a one-to one correspondence with the host apparatuses, for transmitting and receiving data to and from the corresponding host apparatuses, each of the plurality of host I/Fs having a register for holding a data transfer request from the corresponding host apparatus; a rewritable priority table; I/F selecting means for selecting one from among the host I/Fs holding a data transfer request, to be enabled to perform the data transfer, referring contents of the priority table; and connecting means for connecting the host I/F which is selected by the I/F selecting means, to the peripheral apparatus.