Method and apparatus for quickly transferring data from a first bus to a second bus

A bridge to couple a first bus to a second bus, the bridge comprising:

• a buffer to store first and second data elements of a first packet transferred to the buffer from the first bus;
• and
• a controller to permit the first data element to be transferred from the buffer to the second bus, and, if an initial portion of a second packet has not been transferred to the bridge from the first bus, then to cause at least one wait state to be inserted on the second bus before transferring the second data element from the buffer to the second bus, wherein the controller causes the second data element to be transferred from the buffer to the second bus, without inserting any wait states, once at least the initial portion of the second packet has been transferred to the bridge.