Process and apparatus for managing use of a peripheral bus among a plurality of controllers
US6934782B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 27, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/37
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Ownership of a peripheral bus between a peripheral device and a plurality of master devices is assigned to one of the master devices. Each master device has an associated controller for controlling the peripheral device via the peripheral bus. Communication occurs without impediment between the master device and its controller that have ownership of the bus, thereby conducting transactions via the peripheral bus and peripheral device. Communication with the master device and controller not having ownership is blocked, making the controller look busy to the master device and making the master device look idle to the controller. The ownership is assigned to the master/controller pairs using an arbiter arrangement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.