Priority-encoding device selection using variable arbitrary rankings
US6411218B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/362
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In the context of a bus-mastering system, a device selector selects the device to control the bus by assigning “combined” priority values to the devices and selecting the device with the highest combined-priority value. The combined-priority values include relatively high-significance device-specific values and relatively low-significance arbitrary-rank values. At any given time, no two devices share the same arbitrary-rank values, and thus cannot share combined-priority values. Thus, there are no unresolved selections due to equal priorities. In accordance with the present invention, the arbitrary-rank values are varied in a round-robin fashion to minimize the bias inherent in conventional schemes using a priority encoder. This makes the device selection process conform better to the device-specific values, which are presumable selected to optimize system performance. Accordingly, the inventive use of variable arbitrary-rank values in the device selector enhances the performance of the incorporating system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.