System and method for dynamically selecting interrupt storage time threshold parameters

In a computer system having a processor coupled to a bus, a computer readable medium coupled to said bus and having stored therein a computer program that when executed by said processor causes said computer system to implement a method for dynamically calculating the maximum amount of time a peripheral component event can be stored before generating a corresponding interrupt, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) measuring the average latency associated with an interrupt generated corresponding to a peripheral component event;
• b) measuring a total overhead associated with recognizing said interrupt;
• c) receiving a selected goal value for a percentage of said total overhead caused by a host computer;
• d) calculating the quantity of said peripheral component events to coalesce such that said percentage of said total overhead caused by said host computer is approximately equal to said selected goal value;
• and
• e) using said quantity of said peripheral component events to coalesce to compute said maximum amount of time said peripheral component event can be stored before generating a corresponding interrupt.