Immediate system management interrupt source with associated reason register

A method for generating and processing system management interrupts comprising the steps of:

• storing a reason value within a reason register, wherein said reason value is programmable by a user, and wherein said reason value is indicative of a pending system management interrupt;
• loading an enable bit within an enable register;
• setting a bit of a flag register in response to said enable bit;
• asserting a first non-vectored system management interrupt in response to the setting of said bit of said flag register;
• providing said non-vectored system management interrupt to a microprocessor;
• invoking an interrupt service at a predetermined location in response to said system management interrupt;
• reading said reason value within said reason register;
• and
• performing a specific function within said interrupt service routine with dependence upon said reason value.

A method for generating and processing system management interrupts within a computer system comprising the steps of:

• storing a reason value within a reason register, wherein said reason value is programmable by a user, and wherein said reason value is indicative of a reason a subsequent system management interrupt is being asserted;
• loading an enable bit within an enable register;
• setting a bit of a flag register in response to said enable bit;
• asserting a first non-vectored system management interrupt in response to the setting of said bit of said flag register;
• providing said non-vectored system management interrupt to a microprocessor;
• invoking an interrupt service routine at a predetermined location in response to said system management interrupt;
• reading said reason value within said reason register;
• and
• performing a specific function within said interrupt service routine with dependence upon said reason value.