FIFO memory device and FIFO control method

[0002] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Office Application No. 11-293628, filed Oct. 15, 1999, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] The present invention relates to a FIFO (First-in First-out) memory device and a FIFO control method.

[0004] FIG. 10 shows an example of a FIFO memory device 110. FIG. 9(b) shows an example of a memory 100 used for the FIFO memory device 110. FIG. 9(a) shows a conceptual view of a general memory 100. A control signal shown in FIG. 9(a) indicates write of data into the memory 100 or readout of data from the memory 100. An address signal indicates an address of the memory 100 to write data or to read data. When writing, the control signal indicates a write operation to write data to the address specified by the address signal. When reading, the control signal indicates a readout operation to read data from the address specified by the address signal.

[0005] FIG. 9(b) is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the memory 100 employed for the FIFO memory device 110. The memory 100 comprises a FIFO memory array 102 and a memory control section 104. The FIFO memory array 102 is divided into m subarrays (memory rows) from [1] to [m], which are indicated by FIFO[1] to FIFO[m]. In FIG. 9(b), when input-output data, for example, has an 8-bit data width, 8-bit data (1 byte) is stored in each of the subarrays (FIFO[1], FIFO[2], . . . FIFO[m]). The memory control section 104 controls the write of data to the memory array 102 and the readout of data from the memory array 102.

[0006] Signal WD[i](i=1, 2, . . . , m) corresponds to a combination of the control signal and address signal in FIG. 9(a), which indicates write of data (DATA_W) to FIFO[i]. When the signal WD[i] is inputted to the memory control section 104, input data (DATA_W) is written to FIFO[i] of the memory array 102. FIFO_IN[i] shown in FIG. 9(b) represents the write of data to FIFO[i] of the memory array 102. Signal RD[j](j=1, 2, . . . , m) corresponds to a combination of the control signal and address signal shown in FIG. 9(a), which instructs to read data from FIFO[j]. When the signal RD[j] is inputted to the memory control section 104, the data is read from FIFO[j] in the memory array 102 to be outputted (DATA_R). FIFO_OUT[j] shown in FIG. 9(b) represents the readout of data from FIFO[j] in the memory array 102.

[0007] FIG. 10 is an example of the FIFO memory device 110 using the memory 100 shown in FIG. 9(b). The FIFO memory device 110 comprises the memory 100 and the FIFO control section 112. The FIFO control section 112 comprises an input control section 120, a write pointer register 122, an output control section 124, and a read pointer register 126. An address to write data is stored in the write pointer register 122. An address to read data is stored in the read pointer register 126. The input control section 120 controls data input (FIFO_IN[i]) and the write pointer (PT_W). The output control section 124 controls data output (FIFO_OUT[j]) and the read pointer (PT_R).

[0008] When input data and an input request are inputted to the input control section 120, the input control section 120 sends an instruction for writing (WD[i]) and the input data (DATA_W) to the memory control section 104, referring to the write pointer (PT_W). In the write pointer (PT_W), a subarray number [i] corresponding to FIFO[j] is stored. The FIFO control section 112 controls the input control section 120 and the output control section 124. For example, when an input request and an output request occur at the same time, the FIFO control section 112 allows the output control section 124 to carry out output processing after allowing the input control section 120 to carry out input processing.

[0009] FIG. 11(a) is a conceptual view showing the write pointer (PT_W) and data input (FIFO_IN[i]), read pointer (PT_R) and data output (FIFO_OUT[j]). When inputting data, the data is written to FIFO[i] specified by the write pointer (PT_W). Then, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the input control section 120 controls so that the writer pointer (PT_W) may specify FIFO[i−1] to write data next. The initial value of the write pointer (PT_W), for example, may be set to “m”. In this case, the input data is sequentially stored from FIFO[m] to FIFO[1].

[0010] When outputting data, the data is read from FIFO[j] specified by the read pointer (PT_R). After that, as shown in FIG. 11(c), the output control section 124 controls so that FIFO[j−1] may be specified by the read pointer (PT_R) to be read next. When the initial value of the write pointer (PT_W) is set to “m”, since data is written from FIFO[m], the initial value of the read pointer (PT_R) is set to “m”. Data written from FIFO[m] is sequentially read from FIFO[m] to FIFO[1].

[0011] As described above, the inputted data is stored in the memory 100 and the data is outputted in order of the data inputting. When reading or writing has been carried out in FIFO[1], the pointer (PT_W, PT_R) is changed to specify FIFO[m]. In this FIFO memory device 110, data input and data output are specified by the write pointer (PT_W) and the read pointer (PT_R), and the pointers (PT_W, PT_R) alone are changed without moving the data (FIFO[k]), even if access to the memory 100 is performed.

[0012] When these FIFO memory devices 110 are employed for full duplex communication where transmission and receipt of data is implemented simultaneously, two FIFO memory devices such as a transmitting FIFO and a receiving FIFO are generally prepared. If one of the FIFO devices overruns or overflows, the whole FIFO devices come to overrun state even if the other FIFO device is empty because these two FIFO memory devices independently operate each other. In this case, the empty FIFO device is not utilized at all.

[0013] A FIFO memory device which is capable of switching the storage capacity ratio between a transmitting FIFO and a receiving FIFO to a predetermined ratio is disclosed as means for solving such a problem in Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-285223. With the use of this FIFO memory device, for example, when receipt of input is carried out more frequently, it is possible to switch the storage capacity ratio between the transmitting FIFO and the receiving FIFO from 1:1 to 3:7. However, since the ratio is fixed, if the receiving FIFO (70% of the total storage capacity) overflows, it will come to overrun, even if the transmitting FIFO (30% of the total storage capacity) is empty. In this case, the transmitting FIFO (30% of the total storage capacity) is not utilized at all.

[0014] It is an object of the present invention to integrate two FIFOs such as a transmitting FIFO and a receiving FIFO into one FIFO, thereby effectively utilizing a memory area.

[0015] A FIFO memory device according to the present invention comprises a first input section for inputting first data, a second input section for inputting second data, a memory for storing the first data inputted from the first input section and the second data inputted from the second input section, a first output section for outputting the first data read from the memory, a second output section for outputting the second data read from the memory, a first FIFO control section for writing the first data inputted from the first input section into the memory, reading the first data written in the memory in order of the data inputting, and outputting the first data to the first output section, and a second FIFO control section for writing the second data inputted from the second input section into the memory, reading the second data written to the memory in order of the data inputting, and outputting the second data to the second output section.

[0016] A FIFO control method according to the present invention comprises the steps of writing the first data inputted from the first input section to the memory, reading the first data written from the first input section to the memory in order of the data inputting and outputting the first data to the first output section, writing the second data inputted from the second input section to the memory, and reading the second data written from the second input section to the memory in order of the data inputting and outputting the second data to the second output section.

[0017] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a FIFO memory device according to the present invention.

[0019] FIGS. 2(a) through 2(c) are conceptual views showing memory arrays in the FIFO memory devices.

[0020] FIG. 2(a) is a conceptual view of a transmission input-output, a receipt input-output, a transmission write pointer, and a receipt write pointer. FIG. 2(b) is a conceptual view of the operation of the transmission write pointer at the time of inputting the transmitted data. FIG. 2(c) is a conceptual view of the operation of the receipt write pointer at the time of inputting the received data.

[0021] FIGS. 3(a) through (d) are drawings showing the shift operation and the pointer operation of the FIFO memory device shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIGS. 4(a) through (d) are conceptual views showing memory arrays in the FIFO memory devices shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are conceptual views respectively showing the shift operation of the transmission write pointer and memory data at the time of outputting the transmitted data. FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d) are conceptual views respectively showing the shift operation of the receipt write pointer at the time of outputting the received data.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a chart showing conditions for deciding that overrun is caused on the FIFO memory device shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the other structure of the FIFO memory device according to the present invention.

[0025] FIGS. 7(a) through 7(c) are conceptual views showing memory arrays in the FIFO memory devices shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7(a) is a conceptual view of the transmission input-output, receipt input-output, transmission read pointer, and receipt read pointer. FIG. 7(b) is a conceptual view of the operation of the transmission read pointer at the time of outputting the transmitted data. FIG. 7(c) is a conceptual view of the operation of the receipt read pointer at the time of outputting the received data.

[0026] FIGS. 8(a) through 8(d) are conceptual views showing memory arrays in the FIFO memory devices shown in FIG. 6. FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are conceptual views of the shift operation of the transmission read pointer and memory data at the time of inputting the transmitted data. FIGS. 8(c) and (d) are conceptual views of the shift operation of the receipt read pointer and memory data at the time of inputting the received data.

[0027] FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are conceptual views respectively showing a memory of the FIFO memory device. FIG. 9(a) is a fundamental conceptual view of the memory. FIG. 9(b) is a conceptual view of the memory array and the control section.

[0028] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the FIFO memory device in the prior art.

[0029] FIGS. 11(a) through 11(c) are conceptual views showing the memory arrays shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 11(a) is a conceptual view of the operation of input-output, read and write pointers. FIG. 11(b) is a conceptual view of the operation of the write pointer at the time of input. FIG. 11(c) is a conceptual view of the operation of the read pointer at the time of output.

[0030] 10, 40: FIFO memory device

[0031] 12, 42: FIFO control section

[0032] 20, 50: Transmission control section

[0033] 22, 54: Transmission output control section

[0034] 24, 52: Transmission input control section

[0035] 26: Transmission write pointer register

[0036] 30, 60: Receiving control section

[0037] 32, 64: Receipt output control section

[0038] 34, 62: Receipt input control section

[0039] 36: Receipt write point register

[0040] 56: Transmission read pointer register

[0041] 66: Receipt read pointer register

[0042] 100: Memory

[0043] 102: FIFO memory array

[0044] 104: Memory control section

[0045] 110: FIFO memory device (prior art)

[0046] 112: FIFO control section (prior art)

[0047] 120: Input control section

[0048] 122: Write pointer register

[0049] 124: Output control section

[0050] 126: Read pointer register

[0051] Next, a preferred embodiment of a FIFO memory device and a FIFO control method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings by taking, as an example, the case in which they are used for a FIFO for full duplex communication capable of carrying out transmission and receipt at the same time.

[0052] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a FIFO memory device 10 according to the present invention. The FIFO memory device 10 comprises a FIFO control section 12 and a memory 100. The FIFO control section 12 includes a transmission control section 20 for carrying out FIFO control on the transmission side and a receipt control section 30 for carrying out FIFO control on the receiving side. The transmission control section 20 has a transmission input control section 24 for controlling the write of transmitted data, a transmission write pointer register 26 for storing the write address for the transmitted data, and a transmission output control section 22 for controlling the readout of the transmitted data. The receipt control section 30 has a receipt input control section 34 for controlling the write of received data, a receipt write pointer register 36 for storing the write address for the received data, and a receipt output control section 32 for controlling the readout of the received data.

[0053] Any type of memory may be used as the memory for storing the transmitted data and the received data. In the present embodiment, a memory like the memory 100 shown in FIG. 9(b) is used. In the same manner as in the prior art, the memory 100 writes data to a subarray FIFO[k] on receipt of a signal WD[k] (WDt[k], WDr[k]), and reads data from the subarray FIFO[k] on receipt of a signal RD[k] (RDt[k], RDr[k])(k=1, 2, . . . , n).

[0054] On receipt of transmission input data (TX_DATAin) and a transmission input request (TX_W) from a transmission input section which is not shown, the transmission input control section 24 transmits input data (DATA_Wt=TX_DATAin) to a memory control section 104 and sends a signal WDt[i1](i1=1, 2, . . . , n) by referring to the transmission write pointer (PT_Wt). The signal WDt[i1] indicates write to a subarray FIFO[i1]. A subarray number [i1] corresponding to the subarray FIFO[i1] is stored in the transmission write pointer (PT_Wt). The memory control section 104 writes the data (DATA_Wt) to FIFO[i1] of a memory array 102 on receipt of the signal WDt[i1] and the input data (DATA_Wt).

[0055] The transmission output control section 22 sends a signal RDt[1] to the memory control section 104 on receipt of the transmission output request (TX_R). The signal RDt[1] indicates read from FIFO[1]. On receipt of the signal RDt[1], the memory control section 104 reads data stored in FIFO[1] from the memory array 102 and transmits the same data to the transmission output control section 22 (DATA_Rt). Then, the data of FIFO[1] is outputted from the transmission output control section 22 to a transmission output section (not shown). After the data of FIFO[1] is read, the transmitted data in the memory 100 is shifted as will be described below so that the data of FIFO[2] is stored in FIFO[1].

[0056] On receipt of receipt input data (RX_DATAin) and a receipt input request (RX_W) from a receipt input section which is not shown, the receipt input control section 34 transmits input data (DATA_Wr=RX_DATAin) to the memory control section 104 and sends a signal WDr[i2](i2=1, 2, . . . , n) by referring to the receipt write pointer (PT_Wr). The signal WDr[i2] indicates write to FIFO[i2]. A subarray number [i2] corresponding to the subarray FIFO[i2] is stored in the transmission write pointer (PT_Wr) (i1≦i2). The memory control section 104 writes the data (DATA_Wr) to FIFO[i2] of the memory array 102 on receipt of the signal WDr[i2] and the input data (DATA_Wr).

[0057] The receipt output control section 32 sends a signal RDr[n] to the memory control section 104 on receipt of the receipt output request (RX_R). The signal RDr[n] indicates read from FIFO[n]. On receipt of the signal RDr[n], the memory control section 104 reads data stored in FIFO[n] from the memory array 102 and transmits the same data to the receipt output control section 32 (DATA_Rr). Then, the data of FIFO[n] is outputted from the receipt output control section 32 to a receipt output section (not shown). After the data of FIFO[n] is read, the received data in the memory 100 is shifted as will be described below so that the data of FIFO[n−1] is stored in FIFO[n].

[0058] The transmission input control section 24, the transmission output control section 22, the receipt input control section 34 and the receipt output control section 32 are controlled by the FIFO control section 12. For example, when the transmission input request or/and the transmission output request and the receipt input request or/and the receipt output request are generated at the same time, the FIFO control section 12 controls so that the transmission input control section 24 or/and the transmission output control section 22 is/are first caused to process the transmitted data and then the receipt input control section 34 or/and then the receipt control section 32 is/are caused to process the received data.

[0059] As described above, in the present embodiment, the transmitted input (DATA_Wt=TX_DATAin) is written to FIFO[i1] specified by the transmission write pointer (PT_Wt), and the received input (DATA_Wr=RX_DATAin) is written to FIFO[i2] specified by the receipt write pointer (PT_Wr). In addition, the transmitted output is fixed to FIFO[1] and the received output is fixed to FIFO[n]. FIG. 2(a) is a conceptual view showing the input (FIFO_IN[i1]) and output (FIFO_OUT[1]) of the transmitted data to and from the memory array 102 and the transmission write pointer (PT_Wt), and the input (FIFO_IN[i2]) and output (FIFO_OUT[n]) of the received data and the receipt write pointer (PT_Wr).

[0060] Next, description will be given to the operation of the transmission pointer (PT_Wt) which is carried out when the transmitted data is inputted and the shift operation of the transmitted data which is carried out in the memory array 102 when the transmitted data is outputted. FIG. 3(a) shows the data input and data shift operation corresponding to the input-output request for the transmitted data. FIG. 3(b) shows the operation of the transmission pointer (PT_Wt) corresponding to the input-output request for the transmitted data.

[0061] When only the transmission input is to be carried out (TX_W=“1”, TX_R=“0”), TX_DATAin is inputted to FIFO[i1](i1=PT_Wt) as shown in FIG. 3(a) and the address PT_Wt is then increased by one as shown in FIG. 3(b). The change in the pointer (PT_Wt) is stored in the transmission write pointer register 26. Thus, the transmission input control section 24 controls in such a manner that the transmitted input data (TX_DATAin) is inputted to FIFO[i1] specified by the pointer (PT_Wt) and the pointer (PT_Wt) is then shifted by one to specify FIFO[i1+1] as shown in FIG. 2(b). The initial value of the transmission write pointer (PT_Wt) is set to “1”. Therefore, the transmitted input data is sequentially stored from FIFO[1] to FIFO[n].

[0062] When only the transmission output is to be carried out (TX_W=“0”, TX_R=“1”), FIFO[1] is read and the data of FIFO[i+1] is then moved to FIFO[i](i=1 to i1−2) respectively as shown in FIG. 3(a) and the address PT_Wt is thereafter decreased by one as shown in FIG. 3(b). Thus, the control is carried out in such a manner that the data of FIFO[1] is outputted and the data of FIFO[2] to FIFO[i1−1] is shifted to FIFO[1] to FIFO[i1−2] respectively and the pointer (PT_Wt) is shifted by one to specify FIFO[i1−1] as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b). The transmission output section 22 carries out the outputting from FIFO[1] and the shifting of the pointer (PT_Wt). The transmitted data is shifted by controlling the transmission input control section 24 and the transmission output control section 22 by means of the FIFO control section 12. Thus, the transmitted output data is always read from FIFO[1]. After the data of FIFO[1] is read, the data of FIFO[2] is stored in FIFO[1] by the shift operation. Since all the transmitted data (FIFO[2] to FIFO[i1−1]) stored in the memory 100 is shifted, the order of the inputting of the transmitted data is maintained.

[0063] When the transmission input and the transmission output are carried out at the same time (TX_W=“1”, TX_R=“1”), the transmission input control section 24 and the transmission output control section 22 are controlled by the FIFO control section 12 and a combined processing of the transmission output processing and the transmission input processing described above is carried out. The data of FIFO[1] is outputted by the transmission output control section 22, the data of FIFO[2] to FIFO[i1−1] is shifted to FIFO[1] to FIFO[i1−2] by the transmission input control section 24 and the transmission output control section 22 respectively, and the transmitted input data (TX_DATAin) is inputted to FIFO[i1−1] by the transmission input control section 24. The pointer (PT_Wt) is decremented by one when the shift of FIFO[2] to FIFO[i1−1] is carried out, and is incremented by one when the transmitted input data (TX_DATAin) is inputted. For this reason, the pointer PT_Wt finally indicates FIFO[i1]. Thus, it is possible to implement the FIFO operation of the transmitted data having its input specified by the pointer (PT_Wt) and its output fixed to the FIFO[1].

[0064] The FIFO operation of the received data can also be implemented in the same manner as the transmitted data. FIG. 3(c) shows the data input and data shift operation corresponding to the input-output request for the received data. FIG. 3(d) shows the operation of the receipt pointer (PT_Wr) corresponding to the input-output request for the received data.

[0065] When only the receipt input is to be carried out (RX_W=“1”, RX_R=“0”), RX_DATAin is inputted to FIFO [i2](i2=PT_Wr) as shown in FIG. 3(c) and the address of the PT_Wr is then decreased by one as shown in FIG. 3(d). The change in the pointer (PT_Wr) is stored in the receipt write pointer register 36. Thus, the receipt input control section 34 controls in such a manner that the received input data (RX_DATAin) is inputted to FIFO[i2] specified by the pointer (PT_Wr) and the pointer (PT_Wr) is then shifted by one to specify FIFO[i2−1] as shown in FIG. 2(c). The initial value of the receipt write pointer (PT_Wr) is set to “n”. Consequently, the received input data is sequentially stored from FIFO[n] to FIFO[1].

[0066] When only the receipt output is to be carried out (RX_W=“0”, RX_R=“1”), FIFO[n] is read and the data of FIFO[i−1] is then moved to FIFO[i](i=i2+2 to n) respectively as shown in FIG. 3(c) and the address of the PT_Wr is thereafter increased by one as shown in FIG. 3(d). Thus, the control is carried out in such a manner that the data of FIFO[n] is outputted and the data of FIFO[i2+1] to FIFO[n−1] is shifted to FIFO[i2+2] to FIFO[n] respectively and the pointer (PT_Wr) is shifted by one to specify FIFO[i2+1] as shown in FIGS. 4(c) and 4(d). The receipt output control section 32 carries out the outputting from FIFO[n] and the shifting of the pointer (PT_Wr). The received data is shifted by controlling the receipt input control section 34 and the receipt output control section 32 by means of the FIFO control section 12. Thus, the received output data is always read from FIFO[n]. After the data of FIFO[n] is read, the data of FIFO[n−1] is stored in FIFO[n] by the shift operation. Since all the received data (FIFO[i2+1] to FIFO[n−1]) stored in the memory 100 is shifted, the order of the inputting of the received data is maintained.

[0067] When the receipt input and the receipt output are to be carried out (RX_W=“1”, RX_R=“1”), the receipt input control section 34 and the receipt output control section 32 are controlled by the FIFO control section 12 and a combined processing of the receipt output processing and the receipt input processing described above is carried out. The data of FIFO[n] is outputted by the receipt output control section 32, the data of FIFO[i2+1] to FIFO[n−1] is shifted to FIFO[i2+2] to FIFO[n] by the receipt input control section 34 and the receipt output control section 32 respectively, and the received input data (RX_DATAin) is inputted to FIFO[i2+1] by the receipt input control section 34. The pointer (PT_Wr) is decremented by one when the shift of FIFO[i2+1] to FIFO[n−1] is carried out, and is incremented by one when the received input data (RX_DATAin) is inputted. For this reason, the pointer PT_Wr finally indicates FIFO[i2]. Thus, it is possible to implement the FIFO of the received data with its input specified by the pointer (PT_Wr) and its output fixed to FIFO[n].

[0068] The memory array 102 includes n subarrays of FIFO[1] to FIFO[n]. If the total of the transmitted data and the received data which are stored in the memory 100 is greater than n, overrun (overflow) is caused. That is, when the write is to be newly carried out with data written to all of FIFO[1] to FIFO[n], the overrun is caused. FIG. 5 shows the conditions for deciding that the overrun is caused. It is determined that the overrun state occurs (1) when the memory array 102 has no space

[0069] (PT_Wt−1)+(n-PT_Wr)=n, and

[0070] (2a) when only the inputting of the received data or/and the transmitted data is carried out:

[0071] (TX_W=“1”, RX_W=“0”, TX_R=“0”, RX_R=“0”), or

[0072] (TX_W=“0”, RX_W=“1”, TX_R=“0”, RX_R=“0”), or

[0073] (TX_W=“1”, RX_W=“1”, TX_R=“0”, RX_R=“0”)

[0074] Or (2b) when the inputting and the outputting are carried out at the same time and the inputting data is more than the output data:

[0075] (TX_W=“1”, RX_W=“1”, TX_R=“1”, RX_R=“0”), or

[0076] (TX_W=“1”, RX_W=“1”, TX_R=“0”, RX_R=“1”)

[0077] Furthermore, the overrun state will also occur (1) when the memory array 102 has only one space:

[0078] (PT_Wt−1)+(n−PT_Wr)=n−1, and

[0079] (2) when only the inputting of the received data and the transmitted data is carried out:

[0080] (TX_W=“1”, RX_W=“1”, TX_R=“0”, RX_R=“0”)

[0081] The decision of the overrun is carried out by the FIFO control section 12.

[0082] Moreover, when a request for output is given without data stored, under run (underflow) is caused. The underrun will occur (1) when the transmission write pointer (PT_Wt) specifies FIFO[1] and when the transmission input request (TX_W) is not given and only the transmission output request (TX_R) is received or (2) when the receipt write pointer (PT_Wr) specifies FIFO[n] and when the receipt input request (RX_W) is not given and only the receipt output request (RX_R) is received. The decision of the underrun is carried out by the FIFO control section 12.

[0083] Thus, the FIFO memory device according to the present invention can use one FIFO as a transmitting FIFO and a receiving FIFO. The ratio of the transmitted data to the received data in the memory can be varied flexibly. The overrun is not caused before the memory is filled. For this reason, the storage capacity of the memory can be utilized effectively and the overrun is not caused before the storage capacity of the memory is completely used up.

[0084] While the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the FIFO memory device and the FIFO control method according to the present invention can be carried out in other manners. For example, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the address at which data is inputted can be fixed and the address at which data is outputted can be specified by the pointer (PT_Rt, PT_Rr). FIG. 6 shows an example of the structure of the FIFO memory device for performing FIFO shown in FIG. 7(a). In the FIFO memory device 40 shown in FIG. 6, the transmission input and the transmission output shown in FIG. 1 are reversed and the receipt input and the receipt output shown in FIG. 1 are reversed. The write of the transmitted input data (TX_DATAin) is fixed to FIFO[1]. The transmitted output data is read from FIFO[i1] specified by the transmission read pointer (PT_Rt). The write of the received input data (RX_DATAin) is fixed to FIFO[n]. The received output data is read from FIFO[i2] specified by the receipt read pointer (PT_Rr).

[0085] When the transmitted data is to be read, the data of FIFO[i1] specified by the transmission read pointer (PT_Rt) is read and the pointer (PT_Rt) is then shifted by one to specify FIFO[i1−1] as shown in FIG. 7(b). When the transmitted data is to be written, the data of FIFO[1] to FIFO[i1−1] is shifted to FIFO[2] to FIFO[i1] respectively and the pointer (PT_Rt) is then shifted by one to specify FIFO[i1+l] and the transmitted input data (TX_DATAin) is thereafter inputted to FIFO[1] as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b).

[0086] When the received data is to be read, the data of FIFO[i2] specified by the receipt read pointer (PT_Rr) is read and the pointer (PT_Rr) is then shifted by one to specify FIFO[i2+1] as shown in FIG. 7(c). When the received data is to be written, the data of FIFO[i2+1] to FIFO[n] is shifted to FIFO[i2] to FIFO[n−1] respectively and the pointer (PT_Rr) is then shifted by one to specify FIFO[i2−1] and the received input data (RX_DATAin) is thereafter inputted to FIFO[n] as shown in FIGS. 8(c) and 8(d).

[0087] According to the FIFO memory device and the FIFO memory method of the present invention, a single memory can be substituted for two input and output memories. The memory capacities for transmission and reception can be varied flexibly depending on the input-output state. The overrun is not caused on the FIFO memory before the storage capacity of the FIFO memory is completely used up. For this reason, the storage capacity can be utilized effectively, which makes it difficult for the overrun to be caused.

[0088] The embodiment of the FIFO memory device and the FIFO control method according to the present invention has variously been described so far on the basis of the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the FIFO memory device shown in the drawings. Also, any modification, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art should be considered to be within the scope of the invention.

[0089] There have thus been shown and described FIFO Memory Device and FIFO Control Method which fulfill all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof.

[0090] All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the sprit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow.

[0091] The present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately.

[0092] Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided.

[0093] Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.