Abstract: An apparatus, method and program product for sending data to or receiving data from one or more I/O devices in an I/O operation with a main storage controlled by a processor in a data processing system. The apparatus includes a time-of-day (TOD) register for containing a TOD value, a clock for containing a current TOD value, and a summary register having a first condition when any one of said devices requests an I/O operation and a second condition when no devices have an outstanding I/O request, each device having an outstanding I/O request sets the summary register to its first condition only when the summary register is in its second condition, and further places the current TOD value in the TOD register. A checking program determines if a specified time delay has been exceeded between the value in said TOD register and the current TOD for each requested I/O operation. The checking program drives an interrupt to the processor when the specified time delay has been exceeded.

Abstract: A computer program device and product is provided for timely processing of data. The computer program device comprises a program storage device readable by a digital processing apparatus and a program means including instructions executable by the digital processing apparatus by designating at least one set of queues in the queuing mechanism as input queues and another as output queues; issuing a signal adapter instruction to provide initiative to check content of any or all queues in the queuing mechanism; specifying initiate-output or initiate-input appropriately by means of said signal adapter instruction to cause associated adapter to asynchronously process said output or input queues; and causing synchronization by means of said signal adapter instruction by signaling the associated data queues to update all entries in order to render them current.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for timely and accurate processing of data in a network computing environment controlled by a running program and having a queuing mechanism established in a main storage. The main storage is in processing communication with an interface element having one or more adapters. At least one set of queues in the queuing mechanism is designated for input and another set for output. A signal adapter instruction can be issued to provide initiative to check content of any or all queues in the mechanism. With the help of the signal adapter an initiate-output can be specified when appropriate and the associated adapter can then asynchronously process the input or the output queues. A synchronize option is also available to signal the associated data queues to update all entries in order to render them current as observed by both the adapter and the controlling running program.