Personal computer with interface controller

A personal computer system comprising:

• a microprocessor functioning as a system central processing unit,
• a direct access storage device for receiving, storing and delivering digital data, and
• an interface controller operatively connected with said microprocessor and said storage device, said interface controller for directing the exchange of data with said storage device and comprising:
• internal interface registers for exchanging with said central processing unit high level commands directing the handling of data by said storage device, and
• internal operation registers for receiving, storing and delivering low level commands directing interaction with said storage device,
• said controller being controllably settable to one of
• a first state in which said central processing unit is selectively switched between operative connection with said interface registers and said operation registers for sequentially exchanging high level commands with said interface registers and low level commands with said operation registers, and
• a second state in which said interface registers are operatively connected with said central processing unit and said operation registers are operatively connected with a dedicated interface processor for exchanging low level commands therewith.

An interface controller for use in a personal computer system which has a microprocessor functioning as a system central processing unit and a direct access storage device for receiving, storing and delivering digital data, the controller comprising:

• internal interface registers for exchanging with a microprocessor functioning as a system central processing unit high level commands directing the handling of data by the storage device, and
• internal operation registers for receiving, storing and delivering low level commands directing interaction with the storage device,
• said controller being controllably settable to one of
• a first state in which the central processing unit is selectively switched between operative connection with said interface registers and said operation registers for sequentially exchanging high level commands with said interface registers and low level commands with said operation registers, and
• a second state in which said interface registers are operatively connected with the central processing unit and said operation registers are operatively connected with a dedicated interface processor for exchanging low level commands therewith.