Abstract: In a system having N devices all using a common data bus (CDB), a priority resolution circuit (PRC) for determining that particular device of the N devices which shall obtain control of the CDB when a device other than the particular device is attempting to obtain control of the CDB and comprising first logic common to all of the devices. A first control bus is common to every device and has a high signal level (SL) thereon when none of the devices is attempting to obtain control of the common data bus and a low SL thereon when any of the devices is attempting to obtain control of the CDB; and a second control bus is common to every device and has a low SL thereon when none of the devices has control of the CDB and a high SL thereon when any of the devices has control of the CDB.