Apparatus for relaying received interrupt requests

An apparatus receiving interrupt requests and outputting interrupt requests in response to the received interrupt requests, comprising:

• inputs for receiving the interrupt requests;
• outputs being connected to said inputs, the apparatus outputting a plurality of the interrupt requests in response to a single interrupt request being received;
• and
• the apparatus outputting the interrupt requests after checking that an operation initiated by a previously output interrupt request has been executed.

An apparatus receiving interrupt requests and outputting interrupt requests in response to the received interrupt requests, comprising:

• inputs for receiving the interrupt requests;
• outputs being connected to said inputs, the apparatus outputting an interrupt request after checking that an operation initiated by a previously output interrupt request has been executed;
• a component connected between said inputs and said outputs, said component ensuring that the interrupt request is not output until after the plurality of the interrupt requests have been received by said component, said component containing a counter for counting a number of the interrupt requests received and preventing the interrupt request from being output until a specific count has been reached;
• and
• a further component being connected to said outputs and receiving the interrupt requests output by said component, said further component outputting one or more interrupt requests in response to each interrupt request being received, said further component having a counter for counting the interrupt requests output and ensuring that the interrupt requests are output until a further specific count is reached.

A method for receiving interrupt requests and outputting interrupt requests in response to the received interrupt requests, which comprises the steps of:

• providing an apparatus for receiving the interrupt requests;
• the apparatus outputting an interrupt request only after receiving a plurality of the interrupt requests;
• providing the apparatus with a component for ensuring that the interrupt request is not output until after the plurality of the interrupt requests have been received, the component containing a counter for counting a number of the interrupt requests received and preventing the interrupt request from being output until a specific count has been reached;
• providing the apparatus with a further component causing one or more interrupt requests to be output in response to an interrupt request being received from said component, the further component having a counter for counting the interrupt requests output and ensuring that the interrupt requests are output until a further specific count is reached;
• and
• waiting to output the interrupt request until checking that an operation initiated by a previously output interrupt request has been executed.

A method for receiving interrupt requests and outputting interrupt requests in response to the received interrupt requests, which comprises the steps of:

• providing an apparatus for receiving the interrupt requests;
• the apparatus outputting one or more interrupt requests in response to a single interrupt request being received;
• and
• waiting to output an interrupt request until checking that an operation initiated by a previously output interrupt request has been executed.

An apparatus for receiving interrupt requests and outputting interrupt requests in response to the received interrupt requests, comprising:

• inputs for receiving the interrupt requests;
• outputs;
• assignment units disposed between said inputs and said outputs, said assignment units enabling a receiving interrupt request to be output by a different one of said outputs;
• a component being connected to said outputs and receiving the interrupt requests, said component causing one or more interrupt requests to be output in response to each interrupt request being received, said component having a counter for counting the interrupt requests output and ensuring that the interrupt requests are output until a specific count is reached;
• and
• the apparatus outputting the interrupt requests after checking that an operation to be initiated by a previously output interrupt request has been executed.