Method and apparatus for arbitrating ownership of an interface between hub agents

摘要

An apparatus for arbitrating ownership of an interface between two hub agents is described. The apparatus includes a data path input/output unit to communicate with a data path and an arbitration circuit. The arbitration unit includes a least recently serviced status tracking circuit to determine which of the data path input/output unit and a device that transmits the second request signal has been granted ownership of the data path least recently, an arbitration signal output circuit to output a first request signal, and an arbitration signal input circuit to receive a second request signal. The arbitration unit grants ownership of the data path to the data path input/output unit when the first request signal is asserted if the second request signal is not asserted.