Efficient interrupt message definition

A computer comprising:

• a plurality of processors, the processors being configured in a plurality of groups based on proximity, the groups having an order and the processors within each group having an order;
• a plurality of devices, each device adapted to issue interrupts, each interrupt to be serviced by a processor of the plurality of processors;
• a bus interconnecting the plurality of devices and the plurality of processors;
• and
• a computer storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method establishing messages for each of the plurality of devices, each message formatted for transmission over the bus and each message for use in interrupting a processor of the plurality of processors, the method comprising:
• assigning, for each of a plurality of devices, target processors to messages, the assigning comprising, for each message, selecting a target processor from a group selected based on the group order, the processor selected from within each group being selected based on the order of processors within the selected group.

A method of operating a computer, the computer comprising a plurality of devices adapted to issue interrupts, each interrupt to be serviced by a processor of the plurality of processors, the processors being configured in a plurality of groups based on proximity, and the method establishing a plurality of messages for each of the plurality of devices to use in interrupting a processor of the plurality of processors, the method comprising:

• storing, in each of the devices a plurality of messages, each message targeting a processor of the plurality of processors;
• sending, from a processor of the plurality of processors to a device of the plurality of devices, a request to perform a function and a suggested message, of the plurality of messages established for the device, for use in issuing an interrupt upon completion of the function, the act of sending comprising selecting the suggested message according to the acts of:
• identifying an efficient processor of the plurality of processors to efficiently service the interrupt issued from the device upon completion of the function;
• and
• selecting as the suggested message a message targeting a processor of the plurality processors based on proximity of the processor targeted in the suggested message to the efficient processor.