Patent ID: 7664863

Claim:
A data transfer method for transferring data between an initiator and one target, and between a plurality of targets, wherein the plurality of targets includes adjacent and nonadjacent targets, the method comprising: directly interconnecting between the initiator and the target, and between the plurality of targets over an interface; acquiring buffer information for each of the plurality of targets at time of login by the initiator, wherein the buffer information comprises a quantity value of a number of buffer memories and addresses of the buffer memories, further wherein the number of buffer memories is acquired from a number of buffers display area appended to a trailing end of the buffer information, and the number of buffer memories is equal to a number of equipment with which data transfer is able to occur; formulating a data transfer table of a flow of data transfer at the initiator, wherein the data transfer table comprises node ID information for each of the plurality of targets; supplying the entire data transfer table, to each of the plurality of targets, allowing the data to be transferred from a first target to a second target without interposition of the initiator; performing handshaking, wherein the handshaking is based on predetermined information appended to a transfer protocol for the interface; and transferring data based on the data transfer table.