An apparatus and method for granting one or more requesting entities
access to a resource in a predetermined time interval. The apparatus
includes a first circuit receiving one or more request signals, and
implementing logic for assigning a priority to the one or more request
signals, and, generating a set of first_request signals based on the
priorities assigned. One or more priority select circuits for receiving
the set of first_request signals and generating corresponding one or more
fixed grant signals representing one or more highest priority request
signals when asserted during the predetermined time interval. A second
circuit device receives the one or more fixed grant signals generates one
or more grant signals associated with one or more highest priority
request signals assigned, the grant signals for enabling one or more
respective requesting entities access to the resource in the
predetermined time interval, wherein the priority assigned to the one or
more request signals changes each successive predetermined time interval.
In one embodiment, the assigned priority is based on a numerical pattern,
the first circuit changing the numerical pattern with respect to the
first_request signals generated at each successive predetermined time
interval.