Data processing system capable of storing firmware data in control memories of an input-output processor with reduced hardware

A data processing system for transferring input-output data between a memory device and input-output devices through a data path between said memory device and said input-output devices, comprising:

• holding means for holding first through N-th firmware data, said holding means being included in one of said input-output devices with said holding means connected to said data path;
• an input-output processor comprising first through N-th control memory layers corresponding to said first through said N-th firmware data, where N represents an integer greater than one, each of said first through said N-th control memory layers having at least one control memory connected to said data path, said input-output processor controlling transfer of input-output data between said memory device and said input-output devices through said data path when said first through said N-th firmware data are stored in the control memories of said first through said N-th control memory layers, respectively, and
• said input-output processor further comprising data controlling means connected to said holding means and responsive to a firmware load instruction for issuing a read-out command for said first through said N-th firmware data to be read from said holding means as first through N-th read-out firmware data, respectively, said data controlling means being connected to the control memories of said first through said N-th control memory layers to store said first through said N-th read-out firmware data in the control memories of said first through said N-th control memory layers, respectively, through said data path,
• a control memory of one layer controlling transferring of said read-out firmware data to a control memory of another layer, through said data path.

A data processing system for transferring input-output data between a memory device and input-output devices through a data path between said memory device and said input-output devices, comprising:

• holding means for holding first through N-th firmware data, said holding means being included in one of said input-output devices with said holding means connected to said data path;
• an input-output processor comprising first through N-th control memory layers corresponding to said first through N-th firmware data, where N represents an integer greater than one, each of said first through said N-th control memory layers comprising at least one control memory connected to said data path, said input-output processor controlling transfer of input-output data between said memory device and said input-output devices through said data path when said first through said N-th firmware data are stored in the control memories of said first through said N-th control memory layers, respectively, and
• said input-output processor further comprises data controlling means operatively connected to said data path through said at least one control memory connected to said data path and responsive to a firmware load instruction for issuing a read-out command for said first through said N-th firmware data to be read from said holding means as first through N-th read-out firmware data, respectively, said data controlling means being connected to the control memories of said first through said N-th control memory layers to store said first through said N-th read-out firmware data in the control memories of said first through said N-th control memory layers, respectively, through said data path,
• a control memory of one layer controlling transferring of said read-out firmware data to a control memory, of another layer, through said data path.