Interrupt and exception clustering in a processor using external event groups
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorOceager P. Yee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems or methods of the present disclosure may provide for interrupt clustering using a processor and/or system on a chip. An interrupt controller includes an input terminal configured to receive an interrupt request and an output terminal configured to output an interrupt based on the interrupt request. The interrupt controller also includes detection circuitry configured to detect whether a threshold number of interrupt requests have been received by the interrupt controller for an external event group. The interrupt controller also includes holding circuitry configured to hold release of the interrupt and to release the held interrupts after the external event has been received by the interrupt controller.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- an interrupt controller comprising:
- input terminals configured to receive interrupt requests;
- output terminals configured to transmit interrupts based on the respective interrupt request;
- detection circuitry configured to detect whether any interrupt requests of an external event group have been received and whether an external event has occurred for the external event group of the interrupts;
- and
- holding circuitry configured to hold release of the interrupts of the external event group and to release the held interrupts upon receipt of the external event at the interrupt controller.
A method comprising:
- receiving an interrupt request at an interrupt controller, wherein the interrupt request requests an interrupt to be transmitted to an endpoint;
- determining that the interrupt is associated with an external event group;
- holding transmission of the interrupt until an external event has been received by the interrupt controller;
- after holding the transmission of the interrupt, determining that the external event has been received by the interrupt controller;
- and
- based on the determination that the external event has been received after holding the transmission of the interrupt, transmitting all held interrupts for the external event group from the interrupt controller.
A system comprising:
- one or more peripheral devices configured to generate interrupt requests to transmit interrupts;
- a programmable interrupt controller configured to:
- track which interrupt requests are part of an external event group;
- cluster interrupts that are part of the external event group, wherein clustering interrupts comprises holding interrupts until a threshold number of interrupt requests have been received;
- and
- not clustering interrupts that are not part of the external event group;
- and
- one or more endpoints configured to service the interrupts transmitted from the programmable interrupt controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.