US Patent 7586927 Multistage cascade arbiter

Multiple comparators compare the enable and priority values for multiple inputs and select a winner from one of the inputs. Multiple comparator stages each include one or more of the comparators. Each comparator stage selects winners from the outputs of a preceding comparator stage. The overall winners are those inputs that are winners in each comparator stage. If there are multiple overall winners, a second arbitration is preformed to identify an ultimate winner.