Patent ID: 6907480

Claim:
A data processing apparatus comprising: a first data processing unit having a first CPU; a second data processing unit having a second CPU; and a communication interface enabling data exchange between said first and second data processing units, said communication interface having: a first storage unit for holding data during its transfer from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and a second storage unit for holding data during its transfer from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit; wherein: said first storage unit includes a first buffer for transferring bulk data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit, and a second buffer for transferring command data from said first data processing unit to said second data processing unit; and said second storage unit includes a third buffer for transferring bulk data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit, and a fourth buffer for transferring command data from said second data processing unit to said first data processing unit.