Importance

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Abstract

The apparatus controls access to at least one subsystem in response to requests for access from a plurality of equipments operatively connected to a corresponding port of said apparatus. The requests for access have a plurality of command levels wherein the command levels have a fixed predetermined priority relative to each other. The apparatus comprises a plurality of port request control elements for generating a plurality of specific request signals including a command level request signal to indicate the command level of a request received from the corresponding equipment, and a go signal to indicate the availability of the apparatus and the subsystem in order to execute the command requested. An activity priority select control element receives the specific request signals, and processes the go signals from each of the port request control elements to grant access within a predetermined time period to the equipment connected to the port having the highest port priority within the highest command level. There is also included logic which maintains a table of port priority for each command level utilized to determine a port priority within a command level. The table of port priority corresponding to the command level which was granted access is conditionally rotated when an equipment is granted access.

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First Claim