Data transfer control apparatus wherein an externally set value is compared to a transfer count with a comparison of the count values causing a transfer of bus use right

A data transfer control system for a data processing system comprising:

• a central processing unit for performing arithmetic and control operations for data processing,
• a memory for storing data required for data processing,
• peripheral functional circuits having special functions for data processing,
• a data bus for connecting said central processing unit, said memory and said peripheral functional circuits, and
• a direct transfer circuit for directly transferring data, comprising a plurality of pieces of data, without the use of said central processing unit from said peripheral functional circuits or said memory to said memory or said peripheral functional circuits through said data bus, respectively, by acquiring the right to use said data bus, where said direct transfer circuit returns the right to use said data bus to the central processing unit when a first signal is asserted, with said direct transfer circuit further including:
• a first counter, holding a first count value initialized to a total transfer value indicating a total number of data pieces to be transferred, with said first counter counting down the first count value each time a piece of data is transferred by the direct transfer circuit;
• a first register for holding a comparison value set by an external terminal or software;
• a comparison circuit, coupled to said first register and said first counter, for asserting a direct transfer priority signal when the count value held by said first counter is greater than the comparison value;
• and
• a bus use right decision circuit, coupled to receive said first signal and said direct transfer priority signal, for granting the bus use right to the direct transfer circuit when the direct transfer priority signal is asserted despite the assertion of said first signal so that a direct transfer will be completed so long as the number of data pieces left to be transferred is greater than the comparison value.