Method and apparatus for providing fast interrupt response using a ghost instruction
US5931934A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/4812
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data processing device 100 uses a portion of a random access memory 111 as an input buffer for holding a portion of a stream of data which is received by an input interface 130. Likewise, a portion of a memory 121 is used as an output buffer for holding a portion of processed data which is output by an output interface 140. A processing unit 110 within the processing device manages the flow of input and output data. The input interface asserts an I/O request 860 when it receives a data word, and the output interface asserts an I/O request 870 when it needs a data word. In response to an I/O request, fast interrupt circuitry inserts a ghost instruction which is formed by doppelganger circuitry into an instruction sequence which is being accessed from a ROM 112. The ghost instruction performs the requested data transfer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.