Data transfer apparatus, data transfer method, and inter-chip communication system

A data transfer apparatus that performs data transfer using a packet having a header field and a data field including data, the header field including a plurality of pieces of attribute information that indicate types of the data transfer, the apparatus comprising:

• storing means for storing pairs of a combination of attribute information and an identifier that are associated with each other, the combinations of attribute information indicating types of the data transfer;
• receiving means for receiving a packet including an identifier;
• and
• transmitting means for, in the case where the identifier of the packet received by the receiving means indicates that the storing means is to be referred to, transmitting the attribute information of a certain combination and the data received by the receiving means as a packet, the certain combination corresponding to the identifier included in the packet and being among the combinations of attribute information stored in the storing means.

A data transfer apparatus comprising:

• first storing means for storing pairs of attribute information indicating a type of data transfer, and a first identifier having bits, the number of which is smaller than the size of the attribute information, the attribute information and the first identifier being associated with each other;
• first receiving means for receiving data to be transferred and attribute information about the data;
• and
• first transmitting means for transmitting a first identifier instead of the attribute information, the first identifier corresponding to the attribute information received by the first receiving means, being among the first identifiers stored in the first storing means, and being associated with the data to be transferred.

A data transfer apparatus comprising:

• second storing means for storing pairs of attribute information indicating a type of data transfer, and a first identifier having bits, the number of which is smaller than the size of the attribute information, the attribute information and the first identifier being associated with each other;
• second receiving means for receiving data that is associated with the first identifier;
• and
• second transmitting means for transmitting attribute information that corresponds to the first identifier and that is obtained from the second storing means, and the data, the attribute information and the data being associated with each other.

An inter-chip communication system comprising:

• a first integrated circuit connected to a first bus;
• a second integrated circuit connected to a second bus;
• and
• a third bus connecting the first integrated circuit to the second integrated circuit,
• wherein the first integrated circuit includes first receiving means for receiving, via the first bus, a data transfer request including attribute information, data, and an address, and first transmitting means for, in the case where the received attribute information matches attribute information stored in the first integrated circuit, transmitting an identifier that corresponds to the attribute information and that is added to the address instead of the attribute information, together with the data as a packet via the third bus to the second integrated circuit, and
• wherein the second integrated circuit includes second receiving means for receiving a packet transferred from the first integrated circuit via the third bus, and second transmitting means for, in the case where the identifier in the received packet indicates that attribute information stored in the second integrated circuit is to be referred to, transmitting attribute information corresponding to the identifier to the second bus by combining the identifier with the data included in the packet.