Importance

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Abstract

A universal peripheral controller is disclosed which uses DMA devices to provide access between a plurality of peripheral devices and other circuits within a computer system. A processor in the computer system recognizes a request from the controller to connect a peripheral via the system bus to another circuit connected thereto and establishes the connection. The processor then passes information to the controller and leaves the task of controlling the transfer of information to the DMA circuitry in the controller. The controller has a sequencer which examines each of the plurality of peripherals connected to it in a round robin operation to determine which peripherals are requesting a connection via the computer system bus to transfer information. The sequencer limits the time each peripheral can be connected to the system bus before servicing another peripheral request in order that all peripherals have equal access to the system bus.

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First Claim