Programmable time slot interface bus arbiter

A method of programming a subordinate arbiter from a controller associated with a super arbiter, comprising:

• arbitrating an entire common system bus between said super arbiter and said subordinate arbiter by said super arbiter only;
• configuring arbitration parameters of said subordinate arbiter from said controller associated with said super arbiter;
• and
• electrically isolating a first portion of said common system bus including said controller and said super arbiter from a second portion of said common system bus including said subordinate arbiter.

Apparatus for programming a subordinate arbiter from a controller associated with a super arbiter, comprising:

• means for arbitrating an entire common system bus between said super arbiter and said subordinate arbiter by said super arbiter only;
• means for configuring arbitration parameters of said subordinate arbiter from said controller associated with said super arbiter;
• and
• means for electrically isolating a first portion of said common system bus including said controller and said super arbiter from a second portion of said common system bus including said subordinate arbiter.

A system bus arbiter, comprising:

• a control portion to assign time slot access to each of a plurality of devices using an arbitrated system bus;
• a first set of configuration registers providing arbitration parameters to said control portion relating to each of said plurality of devices;
• and
• a second set of configuration registers providing arbitration parameters to said control portion relating to each of said plurality of devices, said second set of configuration registers being substantially the same as said first set of configuration registers;
• wherein only one of said first set of configuration registers and said second set of configuration registers control parameters of said control portion at any one time, the other of said first set of configuration registers and said second set of configuration registers being accessible for updating.

A bus arbitrated system, comprising:

• a system bus divided into time slots;
• a plurality of asynchronous data ports in communication with said system bus;
• and
• an arbitrator for said system bus allowing said asynchronous data ports to share said system bus using said time slots.