Methods and systems for handling interrupts

A processor with an interface for receiving interrupts comprising:

• a scheduler for performing thread switching between a plurality of application layer threads;
• at least one application layer thread designated to handle the interrupts.

An interrupt service routine adapted to be activated upon an interrupt event, and to activate an application layer thread to handle the interrupt event, without clearing the interrupt event.

A Java thread scheduler comprising:

• a thread state memory for indicating a state and priority of each of a plurality of Java threads, the Java threads including interrupt service threads adapted to handle interrupt events;
• and
• a thread switching mechanism for switching between the plurality of Java threads on the basis of the state and priority of the Java threads.

An application layer thread adapted to handle an interrupt event by running to completion or until pre-emption by a higher priority application layer thread, and adapted to clear the interrupt event upon completion.

A processor comprising:

• an interface adapted to receive interrupts;
• a scheduler adapted to perform thread switching between a plurality of application layer threads;
• at least one application layer thread designated to handle the interrupts.

A Java system comprising:

• a plurality of interrupt priority listener threads implemented in Java;
• an interrupt manager which binds the interrupt priority listener threads to interrupt sources.