Synchronized Processing System With Bus Arbiter Which Samples and Stores Bus Request Signals and Synchronizes Bus Grant Signals According to Clock Signals

This invention relates generally to digital systems and in particular to systems comprising a plurality of devices interconnected by a common bus having a bus arbiter for determining which one of the devices shall have first access to the common bus when more than one device is requesting use thereof. The devices may be processors, memories and/or input-output controllers.

Bus arbitration is generally accomplished by distributed or centralized arbitration techniques. In a distributed arbitration system each of the devices connected to the common bus comprises an arbitration network as described in a patent to Evett, U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,040 which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. In such a distributed arbitration system, the arbitration network in each device determines the device's priority relative to other devices based on a code generated by each device. This approach is often used in high reliability or fault-tolerant systems where single point failures cannot be tolerated. In a centralized arbitration system, a single bus arbiter determines which one of a plurality of devices will be granted access to a common bus based on assigned priority to each device. However, if one or two of the higher priority devices monopolize the bus, then lower priority devices are prevented from ever using it. Thus, there is a need for a bus arbiter that will allow all devices to have an equalized opportunity to have common bus access.

In accordance with the present invention a bus arbiter is provided for determining which one of a plurality of devices interconnected by a common bus has priority for obtaining access to the bus and further insures that each of the devices will obtain periodic access to the bus. In response to a series of sampling signals bus access requests generated by the devices are sampled and stored. The requesting devices are granted access to the bus in accordance with a predetermined priority. However, each of the requesting devices is granted access to the bus prior to the occurrence of the next succeeding sampling signal. In this manner equal access to the bus is obtained for all of the devices.

In a preferred embodiment the bus arbiter comprises: a plurality of devices interconnected by a common bus; means for producing a series of sampling signals; means for sampling and storing bus request signals in response to each one of the series of the sampling signals; means for converting the sampled bus request signals into a sequence of bus granting signals; means for executing the bus granting signals in a period of time between successive sampling signals.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention a method is provided for enabling a plurality of devices with predetermined prioritization to have equal access to a common bus of a digital system in response to bus access requests from said devices comprising the steps of sampling a first plurality of the bus requests in response to a sampling signal, storing the plurality of sampled bus requests in a memory means, generating a sequence of bus grant signals, based on a preferred priority order of the bus requests from the devices, to obtain bus access based on the device having the highest priority of the sampled bus requests, resetting one of the stored bus requests, for the device having generated the current highest priority one of said stored bus requests, immediately following the generating of said one of the bus grant signals in the sequence, and sampling a subsequent plurality of the bus requests in response to a next one of the sampling signals when all of a prior plurality of stored bus requests have been reset.

The above-mentioned aspects and other features of the invention are explained more fully in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a computer system comprising a plurality of devices interconnected by a common bus and having a bus arbiter for determining device access to the common bus;

FIG. 2 shows a bus clock and bus arbiter timing events occurring at various transitions of the bus clock;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a bus request gate of the invention employing programmable array logic;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a bus request memory of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a priority resolver of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a bus grantor synchronizer of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a bus access control logic of the invention employing programmable array logic;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a bus request reset logic of the invention employing programmable array logic;

FIG. 9A is a typical combinational logic diagram; and

FIG. 9B is a programmable array logic equivalent diagram for the logic diagram shown in FIG. 9A.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a generalized computer system 50 comprising a plurality of devices including I/O controllers 5-10, processors 11-15, and memories 16-20. These devices are interconnected by a common bus 22 and coupled to each of the plurality of devices 5-20 is a bus arbiter 24 for determining the priority of device access to the common bus 22 during a series of sample periods. The bus arbiter 24 provides an equal opportunity for each of the devices 5-20 to gain access to the common bus 22 in accordance with bus request signals 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 generated by each of the devices 5-20 and fed to the bus arbiter 24 where they are converted into a sequence of bus priority grant signals 44.sub.1 -44.sub.16. The number of devices 5-20 in computer system 50 is somewhat arbitrary; however, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the bus arbiter 24 has been designed to handle a total of 16 bus requests from 16 devices which may be any combination of the I/O controllers 5- 10, processors 11-15, and memories 16-20.

The bus arbiter 24 as shown in FIG. 1 determines the priority order in which the plurality of devices 5-20 interconnected by common bus 22 will gain access to the bus 22 during each one of the series of sample periods, and also permits each one of said devices 5-20 to have an equal opportunity with respect to the other devices for bus access by virtue of the series of sample periods. Bus arbiter 24 comprises a sample and store 27 network which receives up to 16 bus request signals 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 from any combination of the devices 5-20 connected to bus 22. The sample and store 27 network comprises a bus request gate 28 coupled to a bus request memory 30 for storage of said bus requests signals 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 upon the occurrence of one of a series of sample or enable signals 42. A priority resolver 32 coupled to the outputs of bus request memory 30 converts the bus requests signals 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 which are sampled by the series of enable signals 42 into a sequence of bus grant signals 48.sub.1 -48.sub.8. Priority resolver 32 determines which one of the stored or latched bus requests 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16 has the highest priority and generates the sequence of bus grant signals 48.sub.1 -48.sub.16 to the bus grantor synchronizer 34 (and to the bus request reset 26) in accordance with the priority established for each of the latched bus requests 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16. The bus grantor synchronizer 34 generates bus priority grant signals 44.sub.1 -44.sub.16 which are synchronized with the bus clock 38 and sent to the device having the highest priority of all the devices 5-20 requesting access to bus 22 that were sampled and stored in the bus request memory 30. The bus clock 38 is coupled from common bus 22 to the bus request gate 28 and bus access enable 36. In the bus access enable 36, the bus clock 38 is gated by the enable signal 42 forming the gated clock signal 45 which is used to synchronize the bus priority grant signals 44.sub.1 -44.sub.16 for each of the devices 5-20. The enable signal 42, generated by the bus access enable 36, clocks a new set of bus requests signals 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 into the bus request memory 30 after all previous bus requests stored in said memory 30 have been processed. Monitoring the latched bus request signals 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16 from the bus request memory 30 determines when all of the previously stored bus requests 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 have been processed. The bus grant signals 48.sub.1 -48.sub.16 generated by the priority resolver 32 are coupled to a bus request reset 26 which also receives the bus requests signals 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16. The bus request reset 26 generates one of the reset signals 27.sub.1 -27.sub.16 for one of the storage elements in the bus request memory 30 after a device which generated the corresponding one of the bus requests 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 stored in said memory 30 has been granted access to the bus 22. The resetting of the most recently processed one of the latched bus requests 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16 enables the priority resolver 32 to determine which one of the remaining stored bus requests 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16 in the bus request memory 30 should be processed next based on a preferred priority order, or if the bus request memory 30 is empty, the bus access enable 36 permits the sampling of a new set of bus requests 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 for storage in bus request memory 30.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the bus clock 38 signal is shown along with timing events being noted at the various transitions of the bus clock 38. At time T1, any active bus requests 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 are gated into the bus request memory 30 by the enable signal 42. At time T2, the latched bus requests signals 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16 are coupled to the priority resolver 32 which proceeds to determine the highest priority device requesting access to bus 22. This priority determination takes place between T2 and T3 resulting in the generation of one of the bus grant signals 48.sub.1 -48.sub.16 which is coupled to the bus grantor synchronizer 34. At time T4, one of the bus priority grant signals 44.sub.1 -44.sub.16 is generated and sent to the device currently having the highest priority for obtaining bus 22 access.

Some of the logic used to implement the functions of the bus arbiter 24 as shown in FIG. 1., utilizes programmable array logic such as that developed by Monolithic Memories, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif. 95050. Programmable array logic may efficiently solve system partitioning and interface problems brought about by increases in semiconductor device technology, and it is an extension of the fusible link technology used in a bipolar programmable read-only memory (PROM). The fusible link PROM first provided the capability to "write on silicon." In a few seconds, a blank PROM is transferred from a general purpose device into one containing a custom algorithm, microprogram, or Boolean transfer function. This has opened up new horizons for the use of PROMs in computer controlled stores, character generators, data storage tables and many other applications. The key to the PROM's success is that it allows the designer to quickly and easily customize the chip to fit his unique requirements. Programmed array logic extends this programmable flexibility by utilizing fusible link technology to implement logic functions such as custom logic varying in complexity from random gates to complex arithmetic functions. Further details of a programmed array logic concept are described in the Programmed Array Logic Handbook, 3rd edition, by Monolithic Memories, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif. 95050.

Programmed array logic implements the familiar sum of products logic by using a programmable AND array whose output terms feed a fixed OR array. Since the sum of products formed can express any Boolean transfer function, the programmed array logic circuit uses are only limited by the number of terms available in the AND-OR arrays. Programmed array logic devices may be procured in different sizes to allow for effective logic optimization and are fully described in the above-referenced Handbook.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, there is shown a normal combinatorial logic diagram for the following function:

FIG. 9B shows a programmed array logic equivalent for this transfer function. The "X" represents an intact fuse used to perform the logic AND function; however, the input terms on the common line with the X's are not connected together. The programmable array logic devices are programmed using inexpensive conventional PROM programmers with appropriate personality and socket adapter cards.

The first step in designing a programmed array logic device is selecting the pinout by examining the random logic to be replaced with a device function. The next step is to write the Boolean logic equations (in sum of products form) which will transform the inputs into the desired outputs. These explicit logic equations specify the design of a programmed array logic device precisely, and they are easily simulated and edited. Tables 1-7 show the Boolean logic equations for the programmed array logic required to implement the logic design of bus arbiter 24. By using PALASM from Monolithic Memories, Inc., which is a Fortran IV program for assembling the programmed array logic design specification and translating the logic equation to a fuse pattern, the process of designing a custom chip is automatically accomplished. PALASM also contains a simulator which exercises Function Table vectors in the logic equations. Inconsistencies between the vectors and the equations are reported as errors. The simulator also translates a function table vectors to a set of universal test vectors which may be used for functional testing after the programmed array logic device is fabricated.

Referring again to Tables 1-7 and in particular to Table 3 which specifies the programmed array logic for generating a portion of the reset signals 27.sub.1 -27.sub.16 for resetting the latched bus requests signals 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16. The first logic equation for generating RESET 1 is as follows:

This logic equation states that the RESET1 signal is generated if, and only if, a bus grant signal (BGRNT1) exists when a bus request (BREQ1) signal does not exist, or power has been turned on (PWRON) or an initialize signal (INIT) exists from a remote location. The remaining logic equations are similarly interpreted and by virtue of the chosen acronyms are essentially self-identifiable. In tables 7 and 8, the "IF" equation indicates that if any of the latched bus requests signals (LBREQ1 to LBREQ16) are active, then the respective outputs (ANYO1 to ANY16) will be brought from a voltage level to a GROUND level. Therefore, the enable signal 42 as shown in FIG. 7 will be generated only when there are no active latched bus requests signals 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16.

Referring now to FIG. 3, two programmed array logic devices, PAL01 52 and PAL02 54, are used to implement the combinational logic required for generating the gated bus requests signals 56.sub.1 -56.sub.16. PAL01 52 handles eight of the bus requests 40.sub.1 -40.sub.8 and PAL02 54 handles the other eight of the bus requests 40.sub.9 -40.sub.16 in conjunction with bus clock 38 and enable signal 42 as specified by the logic equations shown in Tables 1 and 2. PAL01 52 and PAL02 54 generate one or more of the gated bus requests signals 56.sub.1 -56.sub.16 (depending on the number of devices 5-20 seeking bus access) for storing in the bus request memory 30.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a plurality of QUAD SR (SET-RESET) flip-flops 60-66 for providing storage for the gated bus request signals 56.sub.1 -56.sub.16. Each SR flip-flop 60-66 may be embodied by a Texas Instrument (TI) 74LS279 Quad SR flip-flop integrated circuit (IC), which provides four storage locations per IC. Each gated bus requests 56.sub.1 -56.sub.16 signal has a storage location assigned to it within one of the SR flip-flops 60-66. Whenever there is a request from more than one device connected to bus 22, wanting access to bus 22 by generating the bus request signals 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16, priority resolver 32 converts the latched bus requests 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16 into a sequence of bus grant signals 48.sub.1 -48.sub.16 by determining the device priority of the latched bus request signals 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16.

FIG. 5 shows the logic devices used to implement the priority resolver 32 functions. Eight of the latched bus requests signals 46.sub.1 -46.sub.8 are coupled to inverter 70 which is coupled to a 8-3 priority encoder 74 which, in turn, is coupled to 3-8 priority decoders 78 and 80. The other eight latched bus requests signals 46.sub.9 -46.sub.16 are coupled to inverter 72 which is coupled to an 8-3 priority encoder 76, the output of which is coupled to 3-8 priority decoder 80. This network of encoders and decoders results in a sequence of the bus grant signals 48.sub.1 -48.sub.16 being generated based on an order of highest priority for the devices having a latched bus request signal 46.sub.1 -46.sub.16 pending. The inverters 70 and 72 may be embodied by Texas Instrument 74SO4 integrated circuits, the 8-3 priority encoders 74 and 76 may be embodied by Texas Instrument 74148 8-to-3 line octal priority encoders. The 3-8 priority decoders 78 and 80 may be embodied by Texas Instrument 74S138 3-to-8 line decoder/demultiplexer IC. Referring now to FIG. 6, when one of the bus grant signals 48.sub.1 -48.sub.16 is generated, it is synchronized with gated clock 45 using D flip-flops 83 and 84. One of the bus priority grant signals 44.sub.1 -44.sub.16 generated by the bus grantor synchronizer 34 is coupled to one of the devices 5-20 that will now be granted bus 22 access. The D flip-flops may be embodied by Texas Instrument 74S374 octal D type flip-flop integrated circuits.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the bus access enable 36 functional logic is shown. Programmed array logic devices, PAL07 90 and PAL08 92 implement the logic required to generate a series of sampling signals in the form of one or more enable signals 42 synchronized with bus clock 38. One of said enable signals 42 allows a new pending set of bus requests 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 to be gated and stored in the bus request memory 30. The generation of a subsequent one of the sample or enable signals 42 requires that there be no latched bus requests pending which were stored in the bus request memory 30 at the occurrence of the previous enable signal 42. In addition, the gated clock signal 45 is generated in sequence with the enable signal 42 via AND gate 96. The logic equations for PAL07 90 and PAL08 92 are given in Tables 7 and 8, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is shown the bus request reset 26 functions which are embodied using four programmed array logic devices, PAL03, PAL04, PAL05, and PAL06, 100-106 for implementing the combinational logic required to generate the reset signals 27.sub.1 -27.sub.16. Tables 3-6 define the logic equations for the programmed array logic devices 100-106 which generate the reset signals 27.sub.1 -27.sub.16. All the reset signals 27.sub.1 -27.sub.16 reset the corresponding flip-flop in the bus request memory 30 if, and only if, a corresponding bus grant signal 48.sub.1 -48.sub.16 exists when a corresponding bus request signal 40.sub.1 -40.sub.16 does not exist, power on reset 99 occurs or an initialize 98 signal occurs.

This concludes the Description of the Preferred Embodiment. However, many modifications and alterations would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the inventive concept. For example, the bus arbiter 24 has been designed to handle bus requests from sixteen devices connected to bus 22; however, the bus arbiter 24 could readily be designed to accommodate fewer bus requests or greater bus requests than the embodiment described herein. In addition, the bus clock 38 may be provided to bus arbiter 24 as shown in FIG. 1, or may be generated within the bus arbiter 24 especially in such an embodiment comprising asynchronous devices coupled to the common bus. Therefore, it is intended that the scope of this invent be limited only by the appended claims.