Patent ID: 6161158
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for arbitration, in a system having a plurality of modules that are connected to a common bus of a distributed arbitration system, wherein each of the modules perform an issue request to the bus by arbitrating one bus access command out of a plurality of effective bus access commands received from all of the modules, the method comprising the steps of:a) arbitrating, using both a first arbiter circuit for selecting a first bus access command out of any stored bus access commands for a current bus request cycle in each respective module, and a second arbiter circuit for selecting a second bus access command out of said any stored bus access commands excepting a particular bus access command that the respective module made an issue request for in a most recent bus request cycle;b) selecting, as a current bus request, the second bus access command selected by said second arbiter circuit if the respective module acquired the bus in the most recent bus request cycle; andc) selecting, as the current bus request, the first bus access command selected by said first arbiter circuit if the respective module did not acquire the bus in the most recent bus request cycle.