Bus bridge with distribution of a common cycle clock to all bridge portals to provide synchronization of local buses, and method of operation thereof

A bus bridge for interconnecting a plurality of buses, comprising:

• a plurality of bridge portals, each bridge portal being coupled to a respective one of the buses;
• a plurality of switching subsystems, each coupled to a respective one of the bridge portals and which collectively form a switching system which interconnects the plurality of bridge portals;
• and
• a plurality of cycle clock subsystems, each operatively associated with a respective one of the bridge portals and the respective switching subsystem coupled to the associated bridge portal;
• wherein each cycle clock subsystem comprises:
• a cycle clock generator for generating a cycle clock;
• and
• a cycle counter which receives the cycle clock at a reset input thereof, and which produces a cycle count output which constitutes a common timing reference for the respective switching subsystem and the respective bridge portal;
• and further wherein the cycle count output generated in one of said subsystems is distributed to the cycle counters of all other of said subsystems to provide a common timing reference for the bridge portals of all of said buses, the bridge portal associated with said one subsystem being a cycle monster portal.