Patent · US Expired

Fast arbiter having easy scaling for large numbers of requesters, large numbers of resource types with multiple instances of each type, and selectable queuing disciplines

US5265257A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
6References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 22, 1990
Grant dateNov 23, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 22, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/362
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fast arbiter for handling a large number of types of resources with multiple instances of each type of resource is provided. During a first cycle a request logic circuit broadcasts a request for a preselected type of resource onto a broadcast medium. During a second cycle a grant logic circuit broadcasts a queue position onto the broadcast medium for the preselected type of resource. Also, during the second cycle the request logic circuit stores the queue position. After an asynchronous wait for an instance of the requested type of resource to become free, a third cycle begins wherein the first grant logic circuit broadcasts an indication that a free instance of the preselected type of resource is available. During a fourth cycle the requester is granted access to the free instance of the preselected type of resource.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.