Abstract: The problem which is being addressed by this invention is the lack of determinism in mass market operating systems. This invention provides a mechanism for mass market operating systems running on mass market hardware to be extended to create a true deterministic responsive environment. This is accomplished through programming hardware elements of the scheduler to behave deterministically with respect to the software scheduler.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing interrupt service routines to minimize the latency between the occurrence of a hardware interrupt signal and the execution of a modular interrupt service routine. In a preferred embodiment, a method for allowing modular interrupt service routines to be inserted in the hierarchy of a MS Windows protected mode operating system modules in a manner which minimizes the above mentioned latencies for the hardware interrupt request line 0 (IRQ 0). In another embodiment, a method for allowing modular interrupt service routines to be inserted in the hierarchy of MS Windows protected mode operating system modules in a manner which minimizes the above mentioned latencies for all hardware interrupt request lines (IRQs) signals other than IRQ 0.