Method, apparatus, and system for multi-line communication

A method comprising:

• determining whether a first component and a second component both request to transfer data to each other at the same time via a bus having a plurality of data lines;
• if only the first component requests to transfer data to the second component, allocating all of the plurality of data lines for data transfer from the first component to the second component;
• if only the second component requests to transfer data to the first component, allocating all of the plurality of data lines for data transfer from the second component to the first component;
• and
• if both the first component and the second component request to transfer data to each other at the same time, allocating a first portion of the plurality of data lines for data transfer from the first component to the second component and a second portion of the plurality of data lies for data transfer from the second component to the first component, the first portion and the second portion being determined based upon one or more criteria.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first device;
• a second device;
• and
• a bus coupled to the first device and the second device, the bus having a plurality of data lines being used for data transfer between the first device and the second device, the direction of data flow for each data line being changeable based upon one or more factors corresponding to the demand to transfer data of each respective device.

A system comprising:

• a first communication device including:
• a first driver;
• and
• a first control unit coupled to the first driver;
• a second communication device including:
• a second driver;
• and
• a second control unit coupled to the second driver;
• and
• a bus coupled to the first driver and the second driver for data transfer between the first driver and the second driver, the bus including a plurality of data lines wherein a number of data lines being assigned for data transfer in each direction varies based upon one or more criteria corresponding to a data transfer demand associated with each respective communication device.

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations including:

• receiving one or more requests to transmit data between a first device and a second device via a bus having a plurality of data lines;
• assigning a first number of data lines for data transmission from the first device to the second device and a second number of data lines for data transmission from the second device to the first device, based upon a set of rules;
• and
• transmitting data from the first device to the second device using the first number of data lines and from the second device to the first device using the second number of data lines.