Patent ID: 8688881
Filing Date: 2014-04-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit device comprising: a plurality of components organized into a fixed plurality of distinct groups; a plurality of buses configured to transmit transaction requests from said components to a resource shared by said components, wherein each transaction request has an associated priority value; wherein the priority values comprise a field with an identity of a source of the transaction request and a field with an importance level value associated with the transaction request; and a plurality of arbiters configured to arbitrate between the transaction requests, based on the associated priority values, for access by the components to the resource; wherein the arbiters are arranged in at least two levels of arbitration; wherein each arbiter of a first level is connected to exactly one component group by at least one of the buses; wherein the arbiters of the first level are connected in groups to at least one arbiter of a second level; wherein an arbiter of any given level other than a last level is configured to forward, after arbitration, a winning transaction request to an arbiter of a next level; and wherein an arbiter of the last level is configured to forward a winning transaction request to the resource.