Patent ID: 6092137
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for arbitrating access to a data bus shared among a plurality of competing sources, said method comprising the steps of:(a) assigning each competing source an initial priority weighting value (PWV), the initial PWV for a competing source CS.sub.i being assigned based on the bandwidth requirements of CS.sub.i, wherein the initial PWV for a competing source CS.sub.i is set in accordance with the formula;PWV.sub.i =INTEGER (T.sub.i /T.sub.o),where T.sub.i represents the time interval required for competing source CS.sub.i to prepare a data unit for transfer and T.sub.o represents the time interval required for the data bus to transfer a data unit;(b) receiving requests for access to the shared data bus from the competing sources;(c) comparing the PWVs of the competing sources for which access requests have been received;(d) granting access to the shared data bus to one of the competing sources based on the result of said comparing step (c); and(e) adjusting the PWV of each competing source CS.sub.i for which a request was received in step (b) based on whether or not CS.sub.i was granted access to the shared data bus.