Flexible configuration of timebases in a timer system

Abstract

Referring to FIGS. 2, 13, and 14, the tag value transferred by timebase select signals (50) indicates which timebase is presently available on timer bus (71). In one embodiment, each channel (61, 62, 80, 81, and 86) compares the tag value of the timebase select signals (50) with a user programmed tag value stored in a register portion (264). If the stored tag value matches the tag value being driven on the timebase select signals (50), then the match signal (263) is asserted to indicate that the channel is either to provide a timebase value to the timer bus (71) for timebase channels (80, 81), or to receive the timebase value from the timer bus (71) for work and other channels (86). FIG. 15 illustrates examples of how timebase values (namely TB1-TB8) may be selectively provided during the different time slots of a timer bus (e.g. 71).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.