Method and apparatus for arbitration and access to a shared bus

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5983302
SERIAL NO

09104401

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Abstract

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The present invention is directed to providing a computer system which arbitrates control of a shared bus among plural devices included in the computer system. In accordance with the present invention, at least one of the devices is afforded a higher priority than the remaining devices, yet none of the remaining devices are effectively denied system bus access or control for extended periods of time. The present invention can therefore increase operating efficiency even as the number of devices included in the computer system is increased to achieve enhanced processing power. In addition, the present invention can provide sophisticated multimedia features, including real time signal processing, without sacrificing overall operating efficiency. In accordance with the present invention, the plural devices arbitrate system bus control in a manner which achieves acceptable multimedia results when processing real time data streams such as video data streams, audio data streams, animation data streams, and so forth, yet which does not sacrifice the access of remaining devices in the computer system to the shared bus.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
APPLE INCONE APPLE PARK WAY CUPERTINO CA 95014

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Christiansen, Kevin M Saratoga, CA 7 126
Eckstein, Bruce Cupertino, CA 4 59
Stubbs, Mark A Felton, CA 4 76

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