Patent ID: 9497710
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: H04L,H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method performed at a first node of a plurality of nodes in an apparatus, comprising: contending for control of a communications link by asserting a first logic state on a data signal transmitted on a first wire of the communications link, wherein the first logic state is asserted by driving the first wire to a first voltage level; monitoring the data signal and a clock signal for a first period of time, wherein the first wire remains at the first voltage level until one of the plurality of nodes asserts a second logic state on the data signal; yielding control of the communications link if the data signal has transitioned to the second logic state before expiration of the first period of time, wherein the first wire is at a second voltage level different from the first voltage level when the data signal is in the second logic state, and wherein the data signal transitions to the second logic state when the first wire is driven to the second voltage level by a second node of the plurality of nodes; asserting control over the communications link by asserting the second logic state on the data signal if the data signal has not transitioned to the second logic state before expiration of the first period of time; and transmitting a message using the data signal and the clock signal after asserting control over the communications link, wherein the first period of time has a duration corresponding to a priority of the message.