Method and apparatus for processing interrupts

• US 6,708,241 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Futral, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US09/479,339
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 710/260-269
• US Class Current: 710/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/24 using interrupt G06F13/32 takes precedence

Abstract

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method of processing interrupts includes the following. An interrupt status message is transmitted after detecting a change in state of an interrupt. Briefly, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of processing interrupts includes the following. After receiving an end of interrupt (EOI) signal interrupting signals until an interrupt status message indicating that the interrupt state is current is recieved.

Claims

1. A method of processing interrupts for a computing system including a remote subsystem comprising:

transmitting from the remote subsystem an interrupt message that specifies a current state of at least two of a plurality of interrupt lines if a change in an interrupt state of a selected interrupt line is detected, wherein the selected interrupt line is one among the plurality of interrupt lines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting an interrupt message comprises transmitting an interrupt status message.

3. The method of claim 2, and further comprising:

transmitting an interrupt status message from the remote subsystem also if an interrupt status request is detected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing system includes a microprocessor to process the interrupts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing system and remote subsystem are coupled via a serial bus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting an interrupt message comprises transmitting the message serially across the serial bus.

7. A method of processing Interrupts comprising:

masking interrupt signals after receiving an end of interrupt (EOI) signal; and

no longer masking interrupt signals after receiving an Interrupt status message indicating that the interrupt state is current.

8. The method of claim 7, and further comprising:

transmitting an interrupt status request after receiving the EOI signal.

9. A method of processing interrupts comprising:

masking interrupt signals after receiving an end of interrupt (EOI) signal;

no longer masking interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message indicating that the interrupt state is current;

transmitting an interrupt status request after receiving the EOI signal, wherein no longer masking interrupt signals comprises;

no longer masking interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message, the interrupt status message being responsive to the interrupt status request transmitted after receiving the EOI signal, the interrupt status request indicating that the interrupt state is current.

10. A system comprising:

a primary computing system; and

a remote subsystem;

said primary system and said subsystem being coupled by a serial bus;

wherein said computing system includes a receiver to reconfigure serialized messages to be received by said primary system via the serial bus;

wherein said subsystem includes a converter to serialize messages to be transmitted to said primary system via the serial bus; and

wherein said subsystem is further adapted to transmit an interrupt message that specifies a current state of at least two of a plurality of interrupt lines if a change in interrupt state of a selected interrupt line is detected, wherein the selected interrupt line is one among the plurality of interrupt lines.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said subsystem is further adapted to transmit an interrupt status message if a change in interrupt state is detected.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said subsystem is further adapted to transmit an interrupt status message also if an interrupt status request is detected.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said primary system includes a microprocessor to process the interrupts.

14. A system comprising:

a primary computing system; and

a remote subsystem;

said primary system and said subsystem being coupled by a serial bus;

wherein said computing system includes a receiver to reconfigure serialized messages to be received by said primary system via the serial bus;

wherein said subsystem includes a converter to serialize messages to be transmitted to said primary system via the serial bus; and

said receiver being adapted to mask interrupt signals after receiving an end of interrupt (EOI) signal and being adapted to no longer masking interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message indicating that the interrupt state is current.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said primary system is adapted to transmit an interrupt status request after receiving the EOI signal.

16. A system comprising:

a primary computing system; and

a remote subsystem;

said primary system and said subsystem being coupled by a serial bus,

wherein said computing system includes a receiver to reconfigure serialized messages to be received by said primary system via the serial bus;

wherein said subsystem includes a converter to serialize messages to be transmitted to said primary system via the serial bus; and

said receiver being adapted to mask interrupt signals after receiving an end of interrupt (EOI) signal and being adapted to no longer masking interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message indicating that the interrupt state is current, wherein said primary system is adapted to transmit an interrupt status request after receiving the EOI signal, wherein said primary system is further adapted to no longer mask interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message, the interrupt status message being responsive to the interrupt status request transmitted after receiving the EOI signal, the interrupt status request indicating that the interrupt state is current.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver to reconfigure serialized messages to be received by said receiver via a serial bus coupling said receiver and a subsystem;

said receiver is adapted to be employed in a primary computing system;

said receiver being further adapted to mask interrupt signals after receiving an end of interrupt (EOI) signal from said subsystem and being adapted to no longer masking interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message from said subsystem indicating that the interrupt state is current.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said primary computing system is adapted to transmit an interrupt status request after receiving the EOI signal.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver to reconfigure serialized messages to be received by said receiver via a serial bus coupling said receiver and a subsystem;

said receiver is adapted to be employed in a primary computing system,

said receiver being further adapted to mask interrupt signals after receiving an end of interrupt (EOI) signal from said subsystem and being adapted to no longer masking interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message from said subsystem indicating that the interrupt state is current,

wherein said primary computing system is adapted to transmit an interrupt status request after receiving the EOI signal,

wherein said receiver is further adapted to no longer mask interrupt signals after receiving an interrupt status message from said subsystem, the interrupt status message being responsive to the interrupt status request transmitted after receiving the EOI signal, the interrupt status request indicating that the interrupt state is current.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a converter to serialize messages to be transmitted to a primary computing system via a serial bus coupling said converter and said primary computing system;

said converter adapted to be employed in a remote subsystem; and

said converter being further adapted to transmit an interrupt message that specifies a current state of at least two of a plurality of interrupt lines to said primary system if a change in interrupt state of a selected interrupt line of said subsystem is detected, wherein the selected interrupt line is one among the plurality of interrupt lines.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said converter is further adapted to transmit the interrupt message as an interrupt status message if a change in interrupt state is detected.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said converter is further adapted to transmit an interrupt status message also if an interrupt status request is detected.