HANDSHAKE CIRCUITS

A handshake circuit portion 6 for performing a handshake procedure to facilitate data reception by an associated circuit portion 4 is provided. The handshake circuit portion 6 comprises a request signal input 22 for detecting a request signal from a further handshake circuit portion 10 associated with a further circuit portion 8, an acknowledge signal output 24 for asserting an acknowledge signal for the further handshake circuit portion 10, and a blocking signal input 46 for detecting a blocking signal from the associated circuit portion 4. The handshake circuit portion 6 is arranged to detect a request signal via the request signal input 22, determine if a blocking signal is present on the blocking signal input 46, and if a blocking signal is not present on the blocking signal input 46, respond to the request signal by asserting an acknowledge signal via the acknowledge signal output 24.