Patent ID: 6321309
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
Apparatus for arbitrating between requests for access to a shared resource, the apparatus comprising:a plurality of request inputs, wherein each request input comprises a source designation and indicates whether that source is requesting access to the shared resource;a circular sequence register having a plurality of successive stages with respective, successively decreasing priorities, wherein each source designation is stored in a selected number of the stages that is based on a relative access bandwidth requirement for that source;logic means for comparing the source designations stored in the successive stages with the plurality of request inputs to identify a set of the stages that store designations of sources that are requesting access and for granting access to the source designation that is stored in the highest priority stage within the set; andshifting means for shifting all of the source designations in a common direction within the sequence register after the logic means grants access.