Methods and structure for preserving lock signals on multiple buses coupled to a multiported device

Abstract

Structure and methods for preserving lock requests by master devices on multiple buses each coupled to a port of a multiported device. The invention provides for arbitration among multiple ports of a multiported device to preserve the intent of a lock request to retain exclusive control of the bus over an extended period involving multiple bus transactions directed through a corresponding port. In a first exemplary preferred embodiment, an AMBA AHB compliant bus bridge or multiported slave device is coupled through its ports to multiple AHB buses each having one or more master devices coupled thereto. Logic circuits and methods associated with port arbitration for the bus bridge device or multiported slave device preserve the intent of HLOCK requests asserted by master devices on one of the AHB buses coupled to a port to preserve the intent of the lock request through port arbitration within the multiported device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.