1. A method for allocating DMA channel identifiers in a data processing system, comprising: receiving a request for a first DMA transfer during operation of said data processing system; receiving a request for a second DMA transfer within a predetermined time period of receiving the request for the first DMA transfer; and allocating a first DMA channel identifier for use in performing the first DMA transfer and the second DMA transfer, thereby grouping the first DMA transfer and second DMA transfer by time; mapping the request for the first DMA transfer and the request for the second DMA transfer to the first DMA channel identifier; using the first DMA channel identifier to perform the first DMA transfer and second DMA transfer; and deallocating the first DMA channel identifier upon completion of the first DMA transfer and second DMA transfer.