Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling collision in a system having a common unit shared by a plurality of devices are disclosed. More particularly, method and apparatus for controlling priority collision in a system where a computer is shared by a plurality of terminal devices or a memory unit is shared by a plurality of computers are disclosed. Continued time period of non-access to the common unit by any of the plurality of devices is measured in each of the plurality of devices, and when the measured time period coincides with one of preset time periods inherently assigned to the respective devices, the associated one of the plurality of devices is permitted to access to the common unit on the condition that the common unit is not busy and that one device issues an access request to the common unit. In addition to ordinary access request to the common unit, a priority interruption access request may be issued.