Patent ID: 7979766

Claim:
A method of operating a message bus serving to transfer data between a plurality of modules, said plurality of modules being connected to said message bus, said method comprising: using all of a first set of signal lines to send control signals in a first duration representing an arbitration phase in which one or more of said plurality of modules, including a first module, request ownership of said message bus using said first set of signal lines, said first set of signal lines being comprised in said message bus, wherein said first set of signal lines comprise a request line on which said first module requests said message bus for transmission of data, said first set of signal lines also comprising a grant line on which said first module is indicated that said message bus has been granted for transmission of data; sending an address of a second module from said first module using said first set of signal lines, wherein said first module sends said address of said second module after being allocated said message bus; and using all of said first set of signal lines to send data bits from said first module to said second module in a second duration, wherein said second duration represents a data transfer phase in which said first module allocated said message bus transfers said data bits on said message bus using all of said first set of signal lines.