Arbitration in Multiprocessor Device

An integrated circuit device comprising:

• a plurality of components;
• a plurality of buses configured to transmit transaction requests from said components to a resource shared by said components, wherein each transaction request has an associated priority value;
• and
• a plurality of arbiters configured to arbitrate between the transaction requests, based on the associated priority values, for access by the components to the resource, wherein the arbiters are arranged in at least two levels of arbitration, wherein the components are connected in groups to assigned arbiters of a first level, wherein the arbiters of the first level are connected in groups to at least one arbiter of a second level, wherein an arbiter of any given level other than a last level is configured to forward after arbitration a winning transaction request to an arbiter of a next level, and wherein an arbiter of the last level is configured to forward a winning transaction request to the resource.

A method of controlling access to a resource by a plurality of components in an integrated circuit device that comprises a plurality of arbiters arranged in at least two levels of arbitration, the method comprising:

• receiving at different arbiters of a first level transaction requests for access to the resource from different groups of components;
• comparing at each arbiter of the first level priority values associated with each transaction request received;
• forwarding a winning transaction request, as determined from said comparison, and its associated priority value from each arbiter of the first level to at least one arbiter of a second level,
• receiving at an arbiter of a last level transaction requests from different arbiters of a previous level;
• comparing at the arbiter of the last level priority values associated with each transaction request received;
• and
• forwarding a winning transaction request, as determined from said comparison, from the arbiter of the last level to the resource.