The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 30, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 29, 1999
Herman Lee Blackmon, Rochester, MN (US);
Robert Allen Drehmel, Goodhue, MN (US);
Kent Harold Haselhorst, Byron, MN (US);
James Anthony Marcella, Rochester, MN (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and system for arbitrating data transfers between devices connected via electronically isolated buses at a switch. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, multiple arbitration controllers are interposed between devices and a switch to which the devices are connected, wherein each of the multiple arbitration controllers are effective to select a data transfer operation and detect collisions between said selected data transfer operations. The switch is enabled for any selected data transfer operations between which collisions are not detected. The switch is also enabled for only one of the selected data transfer operations between which collisions are detected. Any selected data transfer operations for which the switch is not enabled are deferred. The deferred data transfer operations are prioritized within the multiple arbitration controllers, such that for a subsequent selection of the deferred data transfer operations, the switch is enabled for the deferred data transfer operations.