Inter-component communication including slave component initiated transaction

A component with inter-component communication capabilities, comprising:

• a plurality of control pins including a clock pin;
• a plurality of data pins;
• and
• a logic unit coupled to the plurality of control and data pins and configured to provide a clock signal to another component through the clock pin, to receive an alert signal from the other component through a selected one of the control and data pins to initiate a transaction with the component, to transmit in response to the alert signal to the other component through the data pins a status request to determine nature of the transaction, and to receive in response to the status request from the other component through the data pins a status to indicate the nature of the transaction, wherein the receipt of the alert signal, the transmission of the status request and the receipt of the status are in reference to the clock signal.

A system for computing, comprising:

• a processor;
• a controller;
• and
• a bridge coupling the controller to the processor;
• wherein the controller includes
• a plurality of control pins including a clock pin;
• a plurality of data pins;
• and
• a logic unit coupled to the plurality of control and data pins and configured to receive a clock signal from the bridge through the clock pin, to provide an alert signal to the bridge through a selected one of the control and data pins to initiate a transaction with the bridge, to receive in response to the alert signal from the bridge through the data pins a status request to determine nature of the transaction, and to provide in response to the status request to the bridge through the data pins a status to indicate the nature of the transaction, wherein the provision of the alert signal, the receipt of the status request and the provision of the status are in reference to the clock signal.