Signal dispatching for C language interrupt handling

Details Signal dispatching for C language interrupt handling Signal dispatching for C language interrupt handling

1996-05-03

1997-07-01

Harvey, Jack B.

395736, G06F 946

Patent

active

056447728

ABSTRACT:
A system for handling multiple nested interrupts in a microprocessor device using C language interrupt handlers in which each interrupt handier is executed in two distinct stages, which are a Freeze mode handler and a signal handler, is disclosed. Upon the occurrence of each interrupt, a microprocessor of the device is placed in Freeze mode and the appropriate Freeze mode handler responds immediately to the interrupt, capturing all critical data and deactivating the interrupt request. Once the Freeze mode handler has completed execution, if execution of the signal handler is not necessary, an "interrupt return" or "IRET" instruction is executed, causing execution to return to the point at which the interrupt occurred. Otherwise, a signal number of the appropriate signal handler is pushed onto a signal stack stored in a memory associated with the microprocessor and a determination is made as to whether the signal dispatcher is running. If so, an IRET instruction is executed; otherwise, the microprocessor exits Freeze mode, C level context is prepared and execution of the signal dispatcher is initiated. The signal dispatcher continually checks the signal stack, pops the next signal number from the stack, and calls the associated signal handler, which is executed to completion, at which point the signal dispatcher again checks the stack. This continues until the stack is empty, at which point the signal dispatcher is exited, C level context is restored, and execution returns to the point at which the initial interrupt occurred.

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Daniel Mann, "A Short Cut: C Language Interrupt Handlers," Fusion 29K News, Issue 13, Mar. 1993.

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