Abstract: A mechanism for minimizing interrupt context execution in a computer system by providing means for a driver to select the context for its execution. The operating system determines the system processing load and stores this information for use by the driver software. Based on the system processing load information, each driver then selects an execution context which meets its particular service requirements. When the system processing load is low and a lower-priority context will provide adequate service to the application, the lower-priority context is selected in order to reduce the amount of interrupt context execution. When the system processing load is high and a lower-priority context may not provide adequate service to the application, a higher-priority context is selected in order to ensure that execution of the application is within the driver's latency requirements.

Abstract: A modem to select a data transfer protocol based at least in part on conditions of the computing environment in which the modem is implemented. The modem includes means for monitoring the system processing load and selecting modem technologies and bit rates which are appropriate for current and anticipated system loading. The modem can determine system loading from measurements of microprocessor utilization in various execution contexts and can select a technology and bit rate which meets modem data transfer requirements while minimizing utilization during peak system loading.