Data transfer control method and apparatus, and storage medium

A data transfer control apparatus for controlling data transfer between a high-order processing apparatus that includes a data generation processor and data transfer processor, and a low-order data processing apparatus, said data transfer control apparatus comprising:

• measurement means for measuring a current elapsed time from a previous data transfer request to a current data transfer request;
• comparison means for comparing the current elapsed time measured by the measurement means with a previous elapsed time between two previous data transfer requests;
• sleep time adjustment means for dynamically adjusting a sleep time by prolonging the sleep time when the current elapsed time is longer than the previous elapsed time, and by shortening the sleep time when the current elapsed time is shorter than the previous elapsed time;
• and
• request means for requesting an adjusted sleep time of the data transfer processor.

A data transfer control method for controlling data transfer between a high-order processing apparatus that includes a data generation processor and data transfer processor, and a low-order data processing apparatus, said method comprising:

• a time measurement step of measuring a current elapsed time from a previous data transfer request to a current data transfer request;
• a first comparison step of comparing the current elapsed time measured in said time measurement step with a previous elapsed time between two previous data transfer requests;
• a sleep time adjustment step of determining that a processing load on the data generation processor has become heavier and prolonging a sleep time requested of the data transfer processor when the current elapsed time is longer than the previous elapsed time, and of determining that the processing load on the data generation processor has become lighter and shortening the sleep time requested of the data transfer processor when the current elapsed time is shorter than the previous elapsed time;
• a time computation step of computing a required transfer time for transfer per byte, based on a total required time upon transferring a data block having an arbitrary number of bytes;
• a second comparison step of comparing the required transfer time per byte with a number N of threshold values determined arbitrarily;
• and
• an application step of applying a time obtained by dividing a required sleep time by the number N of threshold values prepared in advance when each threshold value condition is satisfied, as a result of a comparison in the second comparison step.

A data transfer control apparatus for controlling data transfer between a high-order processing apparatus that includes a data generation processor and data transfer processor, and a low-order data processing apparatus, said data transfer control apparatus comprising:

• time measurement means for measuring a current elapsed time from a previous data transfer request to a current data transfer request;
• first comparison means for comparing the current elapsed time measured by said time measurement means with a previous elapsed time between two previous data transfer requests;
• sleep time adjustment means for determining that a processing load on the high-order data generation processor has become heavier and prolonging a sleep time requested of the low-order data transfer processor when the current elapsed time is longer than the previous elapsed time, and for determining that the processing load on the high-order data generation processor has become lighter and shortening the sleep time requested of the low-order data transfer processor when the current elapsed time is shorter than the previous elapsed time;
• time computation means for computing a required transfer time for transfer per byte, based on a total required time upon transferring a data block having an arbitrary number of bytes;
• second comparison means for comparing the required transfer time per byte with a number N of threshold values determined arbitrarily;
• and
• application means for applying a time obtained by dividing a required sleep time by the number N of threshold values prepared in advance when each threshold value condition is satisfied as a result of a comparison by said second comparison means.

A storage medium storing a control program for implementing a method of controlling a data transfer control apparatus that controls data transfer between a high-order data processing apparatus, which includes a data generation processor and a transfer processor, and a low-order data processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• measuring a current elapsed time from a previous data transfer request to a current data transfer request;
• comparing the current elapsed time measured in said measuring step with a previous elapsed time between two previous data transfer requests;
• dynamically adjusting a sleep time by prolonging the sleep time when the current elapsed time is longer than the previous elapsed time, and by shortening the sleep time when the current elapsed time is shorter than the previous elapsed time;
• and
• requesting an adjusted sleep time of the data transfer processor.

A storage medium storing a control program for implementing a method of controlling a data transfer control apparatus that controls data transfer between a high-order processing apparatus, which includes a data generation processor and a transfer processor, and a low-order data processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• measuring a current elapsed time from a previous data transfer to a current data transfer;
• comparing the measured current elapsed time with a previous elapsed time between two previous data transfer requests;
• determining that a processing load on the data generation processor has become heavier and prolonging a sleep time requested of the data transfer processor when the current elapsed time is longer than the previous elapsed time, or determining that the processing load on the data generation processor has become lighter and shortening the sleep time requested of the data transfer processor when the current elapsed time is shorter than the previous elapsed time;
• computing a required transfer time for transfer per byte, based on a total required time upon transferring a data block having an arbitrary number of bytes;
• comparing the required transfer time per byte with a number N of threshold values determined arbitrarily;
• and
• applying a time obtained by dividing a required sleep time by the number N of threshold values prepared in advance when each threshold value condition is satisfied as a result of a comparison.