US 2006/0136635 A1 · Very little multi master bus

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for communication among multiple devices on a data bus with relatively few connections to the bus and reduced logic for enumeration, arbitration, and data flow control is described. A Very Little Multi Master Bus (VLMMB) couples various devices in a bit-rotated manner. When one or more devices seek ownership (control) of the bus, that device raises its assigned bus request line to a predetermined logic (e.g., “1” or “0”). Because there are as many bus request lines as devices, each device can “see” the devices requesting the ownership of the bus. If multiple devices request ownership, the requesting devices determine which one gains ownership by a hierarchical, round-robin, or similar logical decision.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of arbitrating use of a data communication medium comprising a plurality of data transmission lines, for a plurality of devices configured to share the data communication medium, the method comprising:

coupling the plurality of devices to the data communication medium in a bit rotated manner, wherein each input/output pin of each one of the plurality of devices is coupled to a different data transmission line of the data communication medium than a corresponding input/output pin of other devices within the plurality of devices;
indicating a desire to use the data communication medium for one or more devices by asserting a signal on a predetermined input/output pin of the one or more devices;
identifying a device having a priority for the use of the data communication medium;
and
communicating data on the data communication medium for the identified device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Very little multi master bus

Life of this patent

Very little multi master bus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10