Arbitration logic for multiple bus computer system.

摘要

An arbitration mechanism 42 is provided for use in a computer system 10 which comprises (i) a central processing unit (CPU) 24; (ii) a first system bus 36 which connects the CPU 24 to system memory 32 so that the CPU 24 can read data from, and write data to, the system memory 32; (iii) a second system bus 16 connected to the CPU 24; (iv) a host bridge 20 connecting the second-system bus 16 to a peripheral bus 22, the peripheral bus 22 having at least one peripheral device 18 attached thereto; and (v) an input/output (I/O) bridge 78 connecting the peripheral bus 22 to a standard I/O bus 92, the standard I/O bus 92 having a plurality of standard I/O devices 90 attached thereto. The arbitration mechanism 42 comprises (i) a first level 100 of logic for arbitrating between the plurality of standard I/O devices 90, wherein one standard I/O device 90 is selected from a plurality of the standard I/O devices 90 competing for access to the standard I/O bus 97, and (ii) a second level 102, 104 of logic for arbitrating between the selected standard I/O device 90, the CPU 24 and the at least one peripheral device 18, wherein one of the selected standard I/O device 90, the CPU 24 and the at least one peripheral device 18 is selected to access the peripheral bus 22. The arbitration mechanism 42 includes sideband signals which connect the first 100 and second levels 102, 104 of arbitration logic and include arbitration identification information corresponding to the selected standard I/O device 90.