Pre-stored vector interrupt handling system and method
First Claim
1. In a system comprising a processor configured to execute program code instructions stored in a program store, a pre-stored vector interrupt handling system, comprising:
- an interrupt vector store comprising a plurality of interrupt vectors;
an interrupt control device connected to a plurality of interrupt request signals, said interrupt control device outputting an interrupt request signal to the processor; and
a selector, responsive to the processor'"'"'s cycle type signal, for selecting between a program code instruction from the program store and an interrupt vector from said interrupt vector store to be loaded into an execution unit of the processor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-stored vector interrupt handling system for rapidly processing interrupt requests from input/output (I/O) devices in processor-based systems includes selection logic and an interrupt vector store to quickly deliver a branch instruction from the interrupt vector store directly to the execution unit of a processor. The interrupt vector store is either pre-loaded with a table of the processor'"'"'s branch instructions during system initialization or implemented in ROM. During normal operation, when an interrupt is received, a master interrupt signal is issued to the processor, which asserts an instruction cycle mode signal to external chip select logic. The chip select logic de-selects the program store and selects the interrupt vector store. An interrupt vector from the vector store is loaded onto the data bus and then directly into the execution unit of the processor.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. In a system comprising a processor configured to execute program code instructions stored in a program store, a pre-stored vector interrupt handling system, comprising:
-
an interrupt vector store comprising a plurality of interrupt vectors;
an interrupt control device connected to a plurality of interrupt request signals, said interrupt control device outputting an interrupt request signal to the processor; and
a selector, responsive to the processor'"'"'s cycle type signal, for selecting between a program code instruction from the program store and an interrupt vector from said interrupt vector store to be loaded into an execution unit of the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. In a system comprising a processor, a method for pre-stored vector interrupt handling, comprising the steps of:
-
intercepting a processor'"'"'s normal instruction fetch bus cycle;
generating an interrupt identifier signal to the interrupt vector store; and
delivering a pre-stored interrupt vector directly to the execution unit of the processor, said pre-stored interrupt vector dependent upon said interrupt identifier signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
24. A system for handling interrupts in a processor-controlled device, said processor-controlled device comprising a processor executing a software program stored as a set of program instructions, the system comprising:
-
an interrupt vector store;
an interrupt controller connected to a plurality of interrupt request signals, said interrupt controller outputting a master interrupt signal; and
a selector in a controlling arrangement with said interrupt vector store and with a memory storing program instructions being executed by the processor, said selector causing the processor to receive the next program instruction when the master interrupt signal is not asserted, and to receive an interrupt vector (branch instruction op-code and address) from the interrupt vector store when the master interrupt signal is asserted.
-
Specification