Bidirectional data memory used for bus interface unit

The present invention provides a bus to bus interface unit for computer systems having dual bus architecture, such as a system bus and an I/O bus. The bus interface unit includes an asynchronous bidirectional temporary data storage function for data being transferred between the two buses to and from devices coupled to each of the two buses. Preferably the storage function operates in modes that will accommodate individual transfers of data, data streaming, and data burst transfers, and can accommodate transfers of information from contiguous addresses without initiating a new request for each address.