Distributed early arbitration

摘要

A commander module, coupled to a system bus including system bus control request signals and associated with one of the system bus control request signals, including means for determining whether control of the system bus is required and means for requesting control of the system bus, prior to determining whether such control is required, by asserting the associated system bus control request signal. A computer system including the system bus and at least two such commander modules coupled to the system bus and means for arbitrating for control of the system bus where the arbitrating means are coupled to and responsive to the system bus control request signals.