Arbitration circuitry
AssigneeArm Limited
InventorAndrew David TUNE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Arbitration circuitry is provided for allocating up to M resources to N requesters, where M≥2. The arbitration circuitry comprises group allocation circuitry to control a group allocation in which the N requesters are allocated to M groups of requesters, with each requester allocated to one of the groups; and M arbiters each corresponding to a respective one of the M groups. Each arbiter selects a winning requester from the corresponding group, which is to be allocated a corresponding resource of the M resources. In response to a given requester being selected as the winning requester by the arbiter for a given group, the group allocation is changed so that in a subsequent arbitration cycle the given requester is in a different group to the given group.
Claims18
Arbitration circuitry for allocating resources to requesters, where a maximum number of resources that can be allocated to requesters in a given arbitration cycle is M, a maximum number of requesters requesting allocation of a resource in the given arbitration cycle is N, and M≥2;
- the arbitration circuitry comprising:
- group allocation circuitry to control a group allocation in which the N requesters are allocated to M groups of requesters, with each requester allocated to one of the groups;
- M arbiters each corresponding to a respective one of the M groups, each arbiter to select one requester from the corresponding group as a winning requester to be allocated a corresponding resource of the M resources;
- in which:
- in response to a given requester being selected as the winning requester by the arbiter corresponding to a given group, the group allocation circuitry is configured to change the group allocation so that in a subsequent arbitration cycle the given requester is in a different group to the given group.
Arbitration circuitry for allocating resources to requesters, where a maximum number of resources that can be allocated in a given arbitration cycle is M, a maximum number of requesters that can request allocation of a resource in the given arbitration cycle is N, and M≥2;
- the arbitration circuitry comprising:
- means for controlling a group allocation in which the N requesters are allocated to M groups of requesters, with each requester allocated to one of the groups;
- M means for arbitration each corresponding to a respective one of the M groups, each means for arbitration to select one requester from the corresponding group as a winning requester to be allocated a corresponding resource of the M resources;
- in which:
- in response to a given requester being selected as the winning requester by the arbiter corresponding to a given group, the means for controlling is configured to change the group allocation so that in a subsequent arbitration cycle the given requester is in a different group to the given group.
An arbitration method for allocating resources to requesters, where a maximum number of resources that can be allocated in a given arbitration cycle is M, a maximum number of requesters that can request allocation of a resource in the given arbitration cycle is N, and M≥2;
- the method comprising:
- allocating N requesters to M groups of requesters, with each requester allocated to one of the groups;
- performing arbitration using M arbiters each corresponding to a respective one of the M groups, each arbiter to select one requester from the corresponding group as a winning requester to be allocated a corresponding resource of the M resources;
- and
- in response to a given requester being selected as the winning requester by the arbiter corresponding to a given group, changing the group allocation so that in a subsequent arbitration cycle the given requester is in a different group to the given group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.