An improved system is described for allowing an embedded controller and a
host processor to share access to modules in a computer system. The
shared access system of the present invention enables exclusive,
one-at-a-time access by a processor to a module and concurrent access by
more than one processor to a module. An internal bus with two power
sources is used to allow continued access by one of the processors when
one of the two power sources is not providing power. Asynchronous
clocking is provided to allow increased throughput to modules. An example
of a protocol that allows an embedded controller to access more than one
module is also described.