Arbiter and arbitration process for a dynamic and flexible prioritization
US5546548A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/364
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A programmable arbiter providing for dynamic configuration of prioritization schemes is implemented using a simple, but effective structure. One or more arbiter banks are structured in a cascading manner. Each arbiter bank receives a predetermined number of the set of bus requests to be arbitrated. Each bank is separately programmed to provide a rotating or fixed priority scheme to evaluate the priority of the bus requests. Thus by separately programming the arbiter banks to operate in a fixed priority or rotating priority manner, a flexible, programmable arbiter is created which can operate according to a fixed, rotating or hybrid priority scheme and is adaptable to a variety of applications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.