Method and apparatus for resource sharing in a multi-processor system

Abstract

A computer system that includes at least two host agents is provided. The computer system further includes a chipset that includes a resource to be shared by the at least two host agents. The chipset is coupled to the at least two host agents. The chipset prevents a first host agent, that occupies the shared resource to access the shared resource until a second host agent, has made progress in accessing said shared resource.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least a first and a second host; and    a chipset including a shared resource, the shared resource to prevent the first host occupying the shared resource from reaccessing the shared resource until the second host has had an opportunity to make progress in accessing the shared resource.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the chipset further comprises a control device to perform at least one of setting and resetting at least one of a plurality of flags.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of a plurality of flags comprises a defer flag that is one of set and reset to specify a host currently occupying the shared resource.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein the defer flag prevents the host currently occupying the shared resource from reoccupying the shared resource until a different host has had an opportunity to make progress in accessing the shared resource.  
     
     
         5 . A method comprising: 
 preventing a first host occupying a shared resource from reaccessing the shared resource until a second host has had an opportunity to make progress in accessing the shared resource.    
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 5 , wherein the preventing comprises performing at least one of setting and resetting at least one of a plurality of flags.  
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one of setting and resetting at least one of the plurality of flags comprises specifying a host currently occupying the shared resource.  
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 7 , further comprising preventing the host currently occupying the shared resource from reoccupying the shared resource until a different host has had an opportunity to make progress in accessing the shared resource.