Abstract: Methods, arbiters, and computer program products determine if a request for an idle bus in a dual bus data processing system is being blocked by one or more pending requests for the other bus. In this circumstance, any such pending request for the other bus is masked by the arbiter so that the request for the idle bus can be granted. Consequently, a more efficient utilization of the dual bus architecture is achieved. In an illustrative embodiment, a bus request is received for a first one of the dual busses. If the address and control busses are unavailable to allow the request to be granted, then an inquiry is made regarding the status of a pending request for the second one of the dual busses that has gained control of the address and control busses. In particular, it is determined whether a primary request has been granted and a secondary request has been pipelined for the second one of the dual busses.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting a computer terminal (e.g., a personal computer) to a data transmission network with the appropriate settings for connection obtained from the network if the terminal has been moved and the settings are not appropriate for the new location. The system and method involve detecting that the terminal has been removed from the data transmission network, and, if the terminal has been moved, checking to determine whether the previous settings are appropriate for use in the new location. If the settings are appropriate, then the previous settings are used; if not, new settings for the terminal are obtained from the network, using a program such as the IBM's Dynamic Host Connection Program (DHCP), with the details on the settings (or connection) maintained at both the network and the computer terminal and updated when a new or changed connection to the data transmission network is made.