Method and device for the counting and management of asynchronous events emitted by peripheral devices in a data processing system
AssigneeCompagnie Internationale pour l'Informatique CII-Honeywell Bull (Societe Anonyme)
InventorPierre V. L. Miard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and device for application, counting and management of asynchronous events emanating from peripheral devices connected to a data processing system. This method enables the system to check and regulate the number of events transmitted to the logic for processing by constitution of tables and working queues managed by the firmware. This invention is applicable principally to input-output checkers associated with the computers.
Claims18
A method for managing asynchronous messages emitted by peripheral devices in a data processing system of the type including a central processing system, a plurality of peripheral devices, and a microprogrammed input-output controller for controlling data transfer between the peripheral devices and the central processing system, said method comprising the steps of:
- signalling to the input-output controller each asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device;
- forming in the input-output controller an event message intended for informing the central processing system of the asynchronous message;
- and accessing a transmitted events counter assigned to the particular peripheral device and comparing the content of this transmitted events counter with the content of a boundary register assigned to the particular peripheral device and containing a limit value;
- and, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is less than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a primary waiting queue where event messages wait for action by the central processing system, and incrementing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter;
- or, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a secondary waiting queue where the event message remains so long as the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register.
In a data processing system of the type including a central processing system and a plurality of peripheral devices emitting asynchronous messages, an input-output controller including microprograms for controlling data transfer between the peripheral devices and the central processing system, said input-output controller comprising:
- a transmitted events counter assigned to each peripheral device;
- a boundary register assigned to each peripheral device for storing a limit value;
- means for receiving each asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device;
- means for forming an event message intended for forming the central processing system of the asynchronous message;
- and means for accessing the transmitted events counter assigned to the particular peripheral device and comparing the content of this transmitted events counter with the content of the boundary register assigned to the particular peripheral device, and, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is less than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a primary waiting queue where event messages wait for action by the central processing system, and incrementing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter, or, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a secondary waiting queue where the event message remains so long as the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.