Patent ID: 7769936
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A data processing apparatus for arbitrating between messages routed over a communication channel, comprising: a plurality of processing elements, each processing element for executing a process requiring messages to be issued to recipient elements; a communication channel shared amongst the plurality of processing elements over which the messages are routed; arbitration circuitry for performing an arbitration process to arbitrate between multiple messages routed over the communication channel; each processing element being arranged to issue progress data for the process executing on that processing element, the progress data indicating latency implications for the process, wherein the process executed by at least one of said plurality of processing elements is a non-real time process, and the progress data for that process additionally identifies at least a latency value indicating average latency associated with that process over a predetermined time; and arbitration control circuitry, responsive to the progress data from each processing element, to perform a priority ordering process taking into account the latency implications of each process as indicated by the progress data in order to generate priority ordering data, and to output the priority ordering data to the arbitration circuitry in order to control the arbitration process.