Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Interrupt processing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-30
2001-04-17
Beausoleil, Robert (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Interrupt processing
C710S268000, C710S269000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219743
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to data processing systems, and in particular, to interrupt isolation and handling in data processing systems.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Modern data processing systems may have many attached remote peripheral units, numbering in the tens, or more. Each of these remote units may be the source of an interrupt that the operating system (OS) must isolate and handle. Moreover, it is the nature of most interrupts that they require immediate attention. For example, a peripheral device may monitor its environment, and generate an interrupt if an environmental problem, such as over temperature, fan loss or power loss occurs. These environmental problems may require immediate attention in order to preserve data integrity, and prevent the hardware from becoming permanently damaged.
Interrupt isolation mechanisms examine each of the attached peripheral units. The operating system traverses the attached peripheral units until a device having a set interrupt register is found Having thus isolated the source of the interrupt, the OS can service the interrupt. Having to examine each of the attached peripheral units, until the interrupt source is found can introduce a significant delay in overall data processing system speed. Thus, there is a need in the art for apparatus and methods to reduce the time needed to isolate interrupt sources, and thereby improve the handling of interrupts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned needs are addressed by the present invention. Accordingly, there is provided, in a first form, a method of dynamic resource mapping for isolating interrupt sources. The method includes providing a plurality of interrupt source device identifiers, wherein each identifier corresponds to one of a plurality of interrupt sources. A table mapping the interrupt source identifiers to corresponding interrupt numbers is generated, and an interrupt, represented by one of the interrupt numbers, is associated with a corresponding device generating the interrupt using the table.
There is also provided, in a second form, a data processing system having a central processing unit (CPU), wherein a plurality of peripheral devices are coupled to the CPU. The CPU includes circuitry operable for dynamic resource mapping for isolating interrupts from the plurality of peripheral devices, which circuitry includes circuitry operable for providing a plurality of interrupt source device identifiers. Each identifier corresponds to one of the plurality of peripheral devices. Also included is circuitry operable for generating a table mapping the interrupt source identifiers to corresponding interrupt numbers, and circuitry operable for associating an interrupt, represented by one of the interrupt numbers, with a corresponding device generating the interrupt using the table.
Additionally, there is provided, in a third form, a program product in a computer readable medium for dynamic resource mapping for isolating interrupt sources. The program product has programming for providing a plurality of interrupt source device identifiers, wherein each identifier corresponds to one of a plurality of interrupt sources. Also included is programming for generating a table mapping the interrupt source identifiers to corresponding interrupt numbers, and programming for associating an interrupt, represented by one of the interrupt numbers, with a corresponding device generating the interrupt using the table.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
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Kennel John C.
Mayes Jeffrey Scott
Beausoleil Robert
Chung-Trans Xuong
International Business Machines - Corporation
Leeuwen Leslie A. Van
Newberger Barry S.
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