Protocol processing apparatus for use in interfacing network connected

Abstract

A communication control equipment connected between a computer and a network so as to perform protocol processing at a high speed, has a buffer memory connected between a computer interface circuit and a network interface circuit through a first path for data transfer, so as to temporarily store communication data, and a protocol processor connected between the computer interface circuit and the network interface circuit through a second path for control information transfer. The protocol processor is also connected to the buffer memory through a third path so as to effect protocol processing on the communication data within the buffer memory. The protocol processor includes a plurality of processor units connected in series in the second path so as to respond to control information received from the second path to make access to the buffer memory through the third path and to execute a first category of protocol processing necessary in normal data transfer on the communication data stored in the buffer memory. If protocol processing other than the first category of protocol processing on the communication data is necessary, the processor units supply the control information to the third path. The protocol processing also includes a second processor which operates as a backend processor for the processor units and which is connected to the third path so as to respond to the control information received from the third path to execute protocol processing other than the first category of protocol processing on the communication data stored in the buffer memory.