An agent may be coupled to receive a clock signal associated with the bus,
and may be configured to drive a signal responsive to a first edge
(rising or falling) of the clock signal and to sample signals responsive
to the second edge. The sampled signals may be evaluated to allow for the
driving of a signal on the next occurring first edge of the clock signal.
By using the first edge to drive signals and the second edge to sample
signals, the amount of time dedicated for signal propagation may be one
half clock cycle. Bandwidth and/or latency may be positively influenced.
In some embodiments, protocols which may require multiple clock cycles on
other buses may be completed in fewer clock cycles. For example, certain
protocols which may require two clock cycles may be completed in one
clock cycle. In one specific implementation, for example, arbitration may
be completed in one clock cycle. Request signals may be driven responsive
to the first edge of the clock signal and sampled responsive to the
second edge. The sampled signals may be evaluated to determine an
arbitration winner, which may drive the bus responsive to the next
occurrence of the first edge.