METHOD AND DEVICE RELATED TO BUS ACCESS

摘要

A method and device for partitioning access to a bus shared by a hybrid network of 1394a compliant devices and 1394b compliant devices. An embodiment of the present invention first resolves an extended network of 1394a and 1394b compliant devices. This step may be performed by independently resolving a network of 1394a compliant devices (A network) [260], as well as a network 1394b compliant devices (B network) [270] on the same communication link. A border node [250] connects the two network types. The embodiment then partitions access to the shared media communication link between the A network [260] and B network [270]. This partition allows the 1394a compliant devices in the A network [260] to arbitrate for communication link access during a 1394a style fairness interval. When all devices in the 1394a network have had an opportunity to access to the communication link, this embodiment of the present invention allocates access to the communication link to a B network [270] of 1394b compliant devices.