Fast arbiter having easy scaling for large numbers of requesters, large numbers of resource types with multiple instances of each type, and selectable queuing disciplines

摘要

A fast arbiter having a selectable queuing descipline and capable of being easily scaled to both large numbers of requesters and large numbers of types of resources where there are multiple instances of each type of resource, is provided by a request logic circuit coupled to each requester, thereby forming a plurality of request logic circuits; a grant logic circuit is coupled to each instance of the plurality of types of resources, thereby forming a plurality of grant logic circuits; a broadcast medium transfers information among the plurality of request logic circuits and the plurality of grant logic circuits. During a first cycle, request logic circuits enable a selected requester to broadcast are quest onto the broadcast medium for the preselected type of resource. During a second cycle, grant logic circuits enable a first grant logic circuit to broadcast queue position information on the broadcast medium for the preselected type of resource, and the queue position information for the preselected type of resource is hereinafter referred to as a first queue position information.