Buffer control apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a buffer control apparatus and method. In a buffer control apparatus for controlling storage process for a common buffer which is commonly used for a plurality of routes and temporarily stores data received from the routes, the buffer control apparatus comprises a route discriminating section for identifying the routes of the received data; a storage section for storing at least information concerning a storing position for the received data within the common buffer for each of the routes; and a control section for performing a control operation for virtually storing, route by route, the received data into the common buffer according to a result of route identification in the route discriminating section and the information concerning the storing position in the storage section, whereby the storage control in the common buffer is performed such that the common buffer can be virtually used as discrete buffers, in order to secure minimum band for each of the routes without increasing the capacity of the buffer and complicating the readout control for the buffer.