Apparatus and method for integrating bus master ownership of local bus

Abstract

A system upgrade method provides for the integrating of bus master ownership of a single local bus load (e.g., a PCI load) by plural data transceivers. A family of integrated circuits is manufactured to a include an upgrade member having: (a) a first plurality of local bus interface terminals for connecting to a local bus (e.g., PCI); (b) a second plurality of interface terminals for connecting to a first external communications channel (e.g,, SCSI); (c) a third plurality of interface terminals for connecting to a second external communications channel (e.g., Ethernet); (d) a local bus interface means, connected to the first plurality of local bus interface terminals, for interfacing with the corresponding local bus and thereby applying a predefined load to the local bus; (e) a signal multiplexing means, operatively coupled to the local bus interface means, to the first communications channel (SCSI), and to the second communications channel (Ethernet), for selectively routing signals between the local bus interface means and a selected one of the first and second external communications channels (e.g., SCSI or Ethernet); and (f) an interface ownership designating means, operatively coupled to the multiplexing means, for designating one of the first and second communications channels (e.g., SCSI or Ethernet) as a current-owner of the local bus interface means and for controlling the multiplexing means to route signals between the local bus interface means and the designated current-owner of the local bus interface means.