Method and apparatus for establishing priority between processing units having a common communication channel

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Abstract of the Disclosure A system for controlling the flow of data over a common bus between a plurality of processing units is disclosed which preferably includes a MOS/LSI circuit controller chip associated with each processing unit for awarding priority of access to the common bus when two or more processing units attempt to simultaneously gain access to the common bus. A contention circuit located in each controller chip is responsive to the sensing of each bit in the address of its associated processing unit, and generates a plurality of transitions on the common bus during the time a binary one bit is sensed in the address and listens for the presence of any transition on the common …