PERSONAL COMPUTER DATA FLOW CONTROL

This invention relates to personal computers, and more particularly to a personal computer using a small computer systems interface (SCSI) controller coupled directly to the local processor bus for controlling data transfer with storage memory devices such as fixed or removable media electromagnetic storage devices. The personal computer system has a high speed local processor data bus, at least one logical processor device coupled directly to the local processor bus and capable of signalling through the local processor bus an occurrence of the transfer of blocks of data, and a storage controller coupled directly to the local processor bus for regulating communications between the processor device and storage memory devices. The storage controller has a FIFO memory for transitory storage of blocks of data being exchanged with the local processor bus and is capable of signalling through the local processor bus the state of the FIFO memory. The processor device and storage controller cooperate for exchange of blocks of data between the local processor bus and FIFO memory when the FIFO memory has available one of data to be transferred and space for reception of data and for emptying of the FIFO memory through the local processor bus as necessary.