Analog Devices,inc.

Robert Koslawsky

Zvi Greenfield

Alberto E Sandbank

A multiprocessor system includes a distributed bus arbitration system in which bus arbitration takes place simultaneously on each of the multiple processors connected to the bus. Each processor has a local arbitrator of common configuration with the other local arbitrators and a dedicated request line. Each local arbitrator is connected to each dedicated request line to monitor signals on lines indicative of requests for mastership of the bus by the processors. Since each local arbitrator is of common configuration with the other local arbitrators, is operating synchronously with the other arbitrators, and is provided with a similar set of inputs, each arbitrator will arrive at the same conclusion as to which processor is to become bus master. Accordingly, an external bus arbitrator is not required and acknowledge lines are not required to communicate signals indicative of the result of the bus arbitration to the processors. Additionally, the number of priority request lines can be dramatically reduced by requiring a requesting processor to de-assert a bus request upon detecting a priority request by another processor. The multi processor system also includes a distributed DRAM refresh system in which each processor has a local DRAM refresh controller of common configuration with the other DRAM refresh controllers. Signals on a refresh line are monitored by each of the local DRAM refresh controllers to enable synchronous updating of local DRAM refresh counters and resets of the local DRAM refresh counters. Thus, as mastership of the bus passes from one processor to the other, the new bus master's local DRAM refresh controller can continue the DRAM refresh process without requiring information to be transferred from the old bus master to the new bus master, and without duplicating DRAM refresh operations.

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Ramat-Hashron, Israel

Robert Koslawsky