Bus Arbitration MCQs

1. Which of the following best describes bus arbitration?

(A) The process of transferring data between components

(B) The process of determining which device has control over the system bus

(C) The process of addressing memory locations

(D) The process of managing power distribution to devices

2. In a bus arbitration scheme, what is the primary function of the arbiter?

(A) To manage memory addresses

(B) To transfer data between devices

(C) To decide which device will gain access to the bus based on priority or request

(D) To provide power to the bus

3. Which type of bus arbitration involves multiple devices requesting access to the bus, and the arbiter grants access to one device at a time?

(A) Round-robin bus arbitration

(B) Distributed bus arbitration

(C) Token-based bus arbitration

(D) Centralized bus arbitration

4. In a distributed bus arbitration scheme, how is the arbitration decision made?

(A) The device with the highest priority automatically gains access

(B) A single central arbiter makes the decision

(C) Each device participates in the arbitration process and decides collectively who gets access to the bus

(D) The device with the lowest address gains access

5. What is a common method used in centralized bus arbitration to manage multiple requests?

(A) First-come, first-served

(B) Random selection

(C) Token passing

(D) Priority-based arbitration

6. Which bus arbitration method uses a token that circulates among devices to grant access to the bus?

(A) Priority-based arbitration

(B) Token-based arbitration

(C) Round-robin arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

7. How does round-robin bus arbitration work?

(A) The device with the highest priority always gets access

(B) Each device takes turns gaining access to the bus in a fixed order

(C) The device with the lowest address gains access first

(D) Devices are granted access based on their request time

8. Which arbitration method can result in a single device monopolizing the bus if not managed properly?

(A) Token-based arbitration

(B) Round-robin arbitration

(C) Priority-based arbitration

(D) Distributed arbitration

9. What advantage does token-based bus arbitration offer over other methods?

(A) It avoids bus contention issues by ensuring only one device can access the bus at a time

(B) It provides faster data transfer rates

(C) It allows for higher priority devices to access the bus immediately

(D) It reduces the complexity of managing bus access requests

10. In priority-based bus arbitration, how is priority typically assigned to devices?

(A) By the order of device connection to the bus

(B) By assigning numerical priority levels or using a fixed priority order

(C) By random selection

(D) By the amount of data each device needs to transfer

11. Which type of bus arbitration is often used in systems where devices need to be equal partners and share the bus fairly?

(A) Token-based arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Round-robin arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

12. What is a key disadvantage of priority-based bus arbitration?

(A) It requires a complex algorithm for managing requests

(B) Lower-priority devices may suffer from starvation if higher-priority devices frequently access the bus

(C) It is less efficient than round-robin arbitration

(D) It does not handle bus contention well

13. How does a centralized arbiter differ from a distributed arbiter in bus arbitration?

(A) A centralized arbiter uses token-based arbitration, while a distributed arbiter uses priority-based arbitration

(B) A distributed arbiter is controlled by a single device, while a centralized arbiter has multiple control points

(C) A centralized arbiter makes all the decisions regarding bus access, while a distributed arbiter allows devices to make decisions collectively

(D) A distributed arbiter provides faster access to the bus than a centralized arbiter

14. In which bus arbitration scheme would you expect to see a token circulating among devices?

(A) Centralized arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Round-robin arbitration

(D) Token-based arbitration

15. Which bus arbitration method is particularly suitable for systems with a high number of devices requiring fair access to the bus?

(A) Priority-based arbitration

(B) Round-robin arbitration

(C) Token-based arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

16. How does priority-based arbitration ensure that higher-priority devices receive bus access?

(A) By passing a token to each device in turn

(B) By rotating access among all devices equally

(C) By allowing higher-priority devices to preempt access over lower-priority devices

(D) By requiring devices to request access in a specific order

17. What is the primary challenge associated with round-robin bus arbitration?

(A) Preventing high-priority devices from monopolizing the bus

(B) Managing the complexity of device prioritization

(C) Handling token passing between devices

(D) Ensuring that all devices receive fair access without delay

18. Which bus arbitration method involves passing a control signal that grants access to one device at a time?

(A) Priority-based arbitration

(B) Token-based arbitration

(C) Round-robin arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

19. What mechanism does priority-based bus arbitration use to resolve multiple access requests?

(A) By rotating access in a fixed sequence

(B) By granting access to the device with the highest priority

(C) By passing a token among devices

(D) By using a lottery system

20. In a bus arbitration system, what could lead to bus contention issues?

(A) Devices being assigned equal priority levels

(B) A single device holding the bus for an extended period

(C) Multiple devices requesting access simultaneously without a proper arbitration mechanism

(D) A token-based arbitration scheme

21. How does distributed bus arbitration handle access requests?

(A) By having each device participate in a collective decision-making process for bus access

(B) By using a single central arbiter to control access

(C) By passing a token among devices to grant access

(D) By assigning fixed priorities to each device

22. Which bus arbitration scheme is most likely to use a priority encoder?

(A) Token-based arbitration

(B) Round-robin arbitration

(C) Priority-based arbitration

(D) Distributed arbitration

23. What is a key advantage of token-based bus arbitration?

(A) It allows all devices to access the bus simultaneously

(B) It eliminates the risk of bus contention by ensuring only one device can access the bus at a time

(C) It simplifies the arbitration process by not requiring priority levels

(D) It provides the fastest data transfer rates

24. Which bus arbitration technique ensures that no device is left waiting indefinitely for bus access?

(A) Distributed arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Token-based arbitration

(D) Round-robin arbitration

25. How does centralized bus arbitration typically handle multiple requests from devices?

(A) By rotating access among devices in a fixed order

(B) By using a central arbiter to manage and prioritize access requests

(C) By passing a token to each device

(D) By allowing devices to negotiate access among themselves

26. In which arbitration scheme might you encounter a situation where a lower-priority device could suffer from starvation?

(A) Priority-based arbitration

(B) Round-robin arbitration

(C) Token-based arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

27. What is a potential drawback of round-robin bus arbitration?

(A) It requires a central arbiter for decision-making

(B) It may result in devices monopolizing the bus

(C) It may not efficiently handle devices with varying access requirements

(D) It involves complex priority management

28. Which bus arbitration method would you likely use in a system where fairness is a critical concern?

(A) Centralized arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Token-based arbitration

(D) Round-robin arbitration

29. How does token-based bus arbitration prevent multiple devices from accessing the bus simultaneously?

(A) By rotating access among devices in a fixed sequence

(B) By using a token that grants exclusive access to one device at a time

(C) By prioritizing devices based on predefined levels

(D) By allowing devices to negotiate access among themselves

30. What method is commonly used to implement priority-based bus arbitration?

(A) Rotating access in a fixed order

(B) Passing a token among devices

(C) Using a priority encoder to determine which device should gain access

(D) Allowing devices to arbitrate among themselves

31. Which arbitration technique is best suited for a system with a large number of devices requiring equal access?

(A) Centralized arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Token-based arbitration

(D) Round-robin arbitration

32. What is the main advantage of using a centralized arbiter in bus arbitration?

(A) It provides the fastest data transfer rates

(B) It ensures all devices have equal access to the bus

(C) It eliminates the need for priority management

(D) It simplifies the arbitration process by having a single point of control

33. How does priority-based arbitration handle situations where multiple devices request access simultaneously?

(A) By using a fixed sequence to grant access

(B) By granting access to the device with the highest priority

(C) By passing a token among devices

(D) By allowing devices to resolve access conflicts on their own

34. In a system with multiple devices, which bus arbitration method ensures each device gets a chance to access the bus?

(A) Token-based arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Round-robin arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

35. What is a potential advantage of distributed bus arbitration over centralized arbitration?

(A) It simplifies the arbitration process by having a central arbiter

(B) It can reduce the single point of failure by distributing control among devices

(C) It provides faster decision-making for bus access

(D) It ensures all devices have equal priority

36. Which method might lead to inefficient bus usage if some devices consistently have higher priority?

(A) Token-based arbitration

(B) Round-robin arbitration

(C) Priority-based arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

37. How does round-robin arbitration ensure fairness among devices?

(A) By passing a token among devices

(B) By using priority levels to manage access

(C) By granting each device access in a sequential, fixed order

(D) By allowing devices to negotiate access among themselves

38. What is a common feature of token-based bus arbitration?

(A) All devices participate in a collective decision-making process

(B) Devices are granted access based on a priority scheme

(C) Access is rotated among devices in a fixed sequence

(D) A single token circulates among devices to grant access

39. Which bus arbitration method is often used in systems requiring strict fairness and equal access opportunities for all devices?

(A) Round-robin arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Token-based arbitration

(D) Centralized arbitration

40. What disadvantage might occur in a system with priority-based bus arbitration?

(A) Lower-priority devices might experience delayed or denied access

(B) It may not provide fair access for all devices

(C) It requires a complex mechanism for managing tokens

(D) It might result in more frequent bus contention

41. How does a distributed arbiter manage bus access?

(A) By having a single central arbiter control the access

(B) By allowing each device to participate in making the decision collectively

(C) By using priority levels to determine access

(D) By passing a token among devices

42. What is a benefit of using a priority encoder in bus arbitration?

(A) It helps to efficiently determine which device should access the bus based on priority levels

(B) It ensures that all devices have equal access opportunities

(C) It simplifies the token passing process

(D) It avoids contention by rotating access among devices

43. In a system using round-robin arbitration, what is the key benefit?

(A) It ensures high-priority devices always have access

(B) It provides equal opportunity for all devices to access the bus

(C) It uses a token to grant access

(D) It simplifies priority management

44. Which method of bus arbitration is likely to be most complex to implement?

(A) Token-based arbitration

(B) Round-robin arbitration

(C) Priority-based arbitration

(D) Distributed arbitration

45. What problem does token-based arbitration address in a bus system?

(A) It prevents multiple devices from accessing the bus simultaneously, avoiding contention

(B) It ensures high-priority devices always gain access

(C) It provides equal access opportunities for all devices

(D) It simplifies the priority management process

46. Which bus arbitration technique is designed to prevent starvation by giving each device access in a fair order?

(A) Centralized arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Token-based arbitration

(D) Round-robin arbitration

47. In a token-based arbitration system, what happens if the token is lost or damaged?

(A) The system may experience a halt in arbitration until the token is recovered or replaced

(B) All devices gain access simultaneously

(C) The system reverts to priority-based arbitration

(D) The system continues to function normally without the token

48. Which bus arbitration method is least likely to lead to bus contention issues?

(A) Centralized arbitration

(B) Priority-based arbitration

(C) Round-robin arbitration

(D) Token-based arbitration

49. What is a common drawback of using a centralized arbiter in bus arbitration?

(A) It may result in unfair access for devices

(B) It requires complex priority management

(C) It creates a single point of failure that can affect the entire system if the arbiter fails

(D) It is less efficient than round-robin arbitration

50. How does priority-based arbitration affect devices with the lowest priority?

(A) Priority-based arbitration does not affect device access

(B) Devices with the lowest priority always gain immediate access

(C) Devices with the lowest priority are guaranteed equal access

(D) Devices with the lowest priority may experience delayed access or starvation