Patent ID: 7277976

Claim:
A multilayer system comprising: a plurality of masters; a multilayer switch comprising switch master portions and switch slave portions, the switch master portions being connected to the plurality of masters, the multilayer switch being constructed and arranged so as to process commands from the plurality of masters; a plurality of slaves connected to the switch slave portions; and a clock generator producing a plurality of clock signals separately supplied to the masters, the slaves, and the multilayer switch, the plurality of clock signals comprising a constant clock supplied to a first of said masters, and a start/stop clock supplied to a second of said masters as needed; wherein the first master is constructed and arranged to generate an activation signal for activating the second master, the activation signal being sent to the second master through a selected one of the slaves, the second master being constructed and arranged such that the second master is activated in response to receiving the activation signal from the selected slave and the second master outputs to the clock generator a clock request signal requesting supply of the start/stop clock signal to the second master, and the clock generator being constructed and arranged so as to supply the start/stop clock signal to the second master in response to the clock request signal.