Assigning PCI device interrupts in a computer system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assigning interrupts to devices on a PCI bus in a computer system in which a plurality of address lines are channeled through a multiplexer to a PCI device on the PCI bus. The multiplexer enables the user to dynamically select which address line is routed to the IDSEL pin on the PCI device. According to the PCI specification, the address line connected to the IDSEL pin determines the Device ID for that PCI device. In turn, the Device ID establishes which of the four available interrupt INT# lines are assigned to that PCI device. Thus, the interrupt INT# line assignments can be dynamically controlled. Where desired, the user can force two PCI devices to share an interrupt line, or the user can force the devices to use separate interrupts.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.