Single cycle arbitration within an interconnect

摘要

An interconnect within an integrated circuit provides arbitration to select one of a plurality of signal inputs for connection to a signal output. The arbitration applied uses a first arbitration parameter value, in the form of a time stamp value, and, if two or more signal inputs share such a time stamp value, then uses a second arbitration parameter, in the form of a least recently granted value. The time increment applied to the time stamp value associated with each signal input when it is granted access to the signal output is selected to reflect the quality of service to be associated with that signal input. When a comparison is made between time stamp values, the lowest time stamp value is given priority. A large time increment value corresponds to a low priority (quality of service).

主权项

1. Interconnect circuitry for providing a communication path for data between a selected one of N signal inputs and a signal output, where N is an integer of two or more, said interconnect circuitry comprising:
multiplexing circuitry configured to select one of said N signal inputs as a selected signal input in dependence upon a selection signal and to connect said selected signal input to said signal output to send given data; and arbitration circuitry configured to generate said selection signal so as to perform an arbitration in a single cycle between a plurality of said N signal inputs having respective data to send, wherein said arbitration is performed in dependence upon: (i) respective values of a first arbitration parameter associated with each of said plurality of said N signal inputs; and (ii) when two or more of said plurality of said N signal inputs have a common value of said first arbitration parameter, a second arbitration parameter associated with each of said two or more of plurality of said N signal inputs, said second arbitration parameter having a different value for each of said two or more of said plurality of said N signal inputs.