Abstract: An information processing device in which interrupts are generated when some events are occurred. The information processing device includes: an interrupt generating unit to generate an interrupt; an interrupt control unit to receive the generated interrupt, count an interrupt reception count per unit time, notify of the interrupt and delay, if the counted interrupt reception count per unit time exceeds a predetermined value, the interrupt notification; and an interrupt processing unit to process the notified interrupt.

Abstract: A method for allowing simultaneous parameter-driven and deterministic simulation during verification of a hardware design, comprising: enabling a plurality of random parameter-driven commands from a random command generator to execute in a simulation environment during verification of the hardware design through a command managing device; and enabling a plurality of deterministic commands from a manually-driven testcase port to execute in the simulation environment simultaneously with the plurality of random parameter-driven commands during verification of the hardware design through the command managing device, the plurality of deterministic commands and the plurality of random parameter-driven commands each verify the functionality of the hardware design.

Abstract: In virtualized computer system in which a guest operating system runs on a virtual machine of a virtualized computer system and has direct access to a hardware device coupled to the virtualized computer system via a communication interface, a computer-implemented method of handling interrupts from the hardware device to the guest operating system includes: (a) receiving a physical interrupt from the hardware device on a shared interrupt line of an interrupt controller; (b) masking the shared interrupt line of the interrupt controller; (c) generating a virtual interrupt corresponding to the physical interrupt to the guest operating system; and (d) the guest operating system executing an interrupt service routine.

Abstract: An I2C bus control circuit includes a continuous transmission control section in addition to a transmission control section, a sequence control section, a data line control section, and a clock line control section. The continuous transmission control section has a number-of-continuous transmission bytes register and first to (n?1)th continuous transmission data registers, and supplies an interrupt signal to the controller when continuous transmission is completed or an error is detected. The number of times the controller conducts interrupt processing is thus reduced and the processing time is reduced.

Abstract: CPU architecture is modified so that content of the interrupt mask register can be changed directly based on a decoding result of an instruction decoder of a CPU. Such modification does not require a great deal of labor in changing a CPU design. In addition, an extended CALL instruction and an extended software interrupt instruction are added to the CPU, and each of the extended CALL instruction and the extended software interrupt instruction additionally has a function of changing the value of the interrupt mask register. Atomicity is achieved by: allowing such a single instruction to concurrently execute a call of a process and a value change of the interrupt mask register; and disabling other interrupts during execution of the single instruction.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus to effectively handle an interrupt in a reconfigurable array. In the method, the reconfigurable array pauses execution of an operation when an interrupt request occurs, and after storing register values of a register to be used for handling the interrupt request, an interrupt service is performed by select processing units of the reconfigurable array in response to the interrupt request. Upon completion of the interrupt service, the register values are restored, and the reconfigurable array resumes execution of the operation.

Abstract: A multiprocessing system is disclosed. The system includes a multithreading microprocessor, including a plurality of thread contexts (TCs), each comprising a first control indicator for controlling whether the TC is exempt from servicing interrupt requests to an exception domain for the plurality of TCs, and a virtual processing element (VPE), comprising the exception domain, configured to receive the interrupt requests, wherein the interrupt requests are non-specific to the plurality of TCs, wherein the VPE is configured to select a non-exempt one of the plurality of TCs to service each of the interrupt requests, the VPE further comprising a second control indicator for controlling whether the VPE is enabled to select one of the plurality of TCs to service the interrupt requests.

Abstract: A host device includes a peripheral control module that includes a first memory register that receives data from a first memory and a direct memory access (DMA) module that communicates with the first memory. The host device also includes a host control module that receives data from the first memory. The host device also includes a DMA control module that communicates with the first memory register, the host control module and a second memory that includes a first memory array. The DMA control module compares contents of the first memory array to contents of the memory register and controls transfers of data from the first memory to the peripheral control module based on the comparison.

Abstract: A distributed control system and methods of operating such a control system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the distributed control system is operated in a manner in which interrupts are at least temporarily inhibited from being processed to avoid excessive delays in the processing of non-interrupt tasks. In another embodiment, the distributed control system is operated in a manner in which tasks are queued based upon relative timing constraints that they have been assigned. In a further embodiment, application programs that are executed on the distributed control system are operated in accordance with high-level and/or low-level requirements allocated to resources of the distributed control system.

Abstract: An interrupt control apparatus that controls an interrupt process request caused by a predetermined interrupt factor is disclosed. The interrupt control apparatus includes: an obtaining unit configured to obtain an interrupt process request signal including an interrupt factor identifier associated with at least equal to or more than two interrupt factors; an interrupt process unit configured to execute an interrupt process requested by the interrupt process request signal; and a control unit configured to control the interrupt process unit so as not to execute interrupt processes caused by interrupt factors associated with the interrupt factor identifier until the interrupt process executed by the interrupt process unit ends.

Abstract: Interrupt request detection circuitry is disclosed for detecting and outputting interrupt requests to a processor.

Abstract: A core of a network includes a storage unit to store a plurality of parameters to receive and transmit data packets in a communication system. A program controls transfer of the data packets between the core and a network node. The plurality of parameters in the storage unit controls the receiving and transmitting.

Abstract: A flexible interrupt controller circuit and methodology are provided which use an interrupt circuit (300) that multiplexes (324) a plurality of interrupt priority registers (321, 322) based on the current context of the system that is identified in mode control selector (326). By using the mode control selector (326) to selectively couple different priority level assignments to a priority encoding module (330), context sensitive switching of the priority levels assigned to each interrupt request can be implemented with reduced latency. The context switch could be based on an OS context ID, power management modes, security modes, and other system defined modes where priority levels would differ. The selected priority level information is used to provide an interrupt request signal (332) which will cause an interrupt to occur in the data processing system.

Abstract: An interrupt controller has an interrupt register unit receiving a plurality of interrupt source signals, an interrupt detector coupled to the interrupt register unit, a counter unit coupled to the interrupt detector, wherein on the first occurrence of an interrupt source signal the counter unit defines a time window during which the interrupt register stores further interrupt source signals, and an interrupt request unit coupled to the counter unit for generating an interrupt request signal.

Abstract: A method for centralized link power management control (CLMC), performed by a north-bridge of a processing unit, comprises the following steps. A data transmission status of a bus is monitored. CLMC is activated to configure devices corresponding to the bus in order to speed up data transmission of the bus when detecting that the data transmission status of the bus is continually busy. CLMC is activated to configure devices corresponding to the bus in order to slow down data transmission of the bus when detecting that the data transmission status of the bus is continually idle.

Abstract: A technique of operating a processor subsystem masks interrupts to the processor subsystem during a power-down sequence of a processor of the processor subsystem. A boot vector for the processor of the processor subsystem is set. The boot vector provides an address associated with a saved processor state. A current state of the processor is saved to provide the saved processor state. The technique determines whether one or more first masked interrupts occurred during the saving of the current state of the processor. The processor that is to be powered-down is stopped when the one or more first masked interrupts did not occur during the saving of the current state of the processor. The technique also determines whether one or more second masked interrupts occurred following the saving of the current state of the processor. The processor is powered-down when the one or more second masked interrupts did not occur following the saving of the current state of the processor.

Abstract: A system and method for transitions a computing system between operating modes that have different power consumption characteristics. When a system management unit (SMU) determines that the computing system is in a low activity state, the SMU transitions the central processing unit (CPU) into a low power operating mode after the CPU stores critical operating state of the CPU in a memory. The SMU then intercepts and processes interrupts intended for the CPU, modifying a copy of the critical operating state. This effectively extends the time during which the CPU stays in lower power mode. When the SMU determines that the computing system exits a low activity state, the copy of the critical operating state is stored in the memory and the SMU transitions the CPU into a high power operating mode using the modified critical operating state.

Abstract: Provided is a detection circuit for monitoring a power supply voltage with a circuit configuration in which power consumption is reduced, and a sensor device including the detection circuit. A detection circuit (100) detects an input signal input thereto to output an output signal. An interrupt condition generating circuit (10a) directly detects a power supply voltage (VDD) supplied thereto from a power supply, and outputs an interrupt signal until the power supply voltage makes a transition to a predetermined voltage range. An interrupt condition reception circuit outputs, as an output signal, a given voltage without allowing an input signal (Vtemp) to be output until an interrupt caused by the interrupt signal is released, and outputs, as an output signal, the input signal by allowing the input signal to be output when the interrupt caused by the interrupt signal is released.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method of transferring data from a computer system to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device after a computer system crash where interrupts are masked, the method comprising: (a) detecting the computer system crash; (b) transferring at least a portion of the data to a USB driver for the USB device; (c) the USB driver transferring the portion of the data to a USB controller driver for a USB controller for the USB device; (d) the USB controller driver causing the USB controller to transfer the portion of the data to the USB device; (e) polling the USB controller to determine whether the data transfer was completed; and (f) if the data transfer was completed, providing a notification to the computer system.

Abstract: Executing a simulation of a computer platform, the simulation including simulation models. A dynamic quantum is accessed whose current value specifies a maximum number of units of execution a simulation model is allowed to perform without synchronizing with another simulation model. The dynamic quantum may be received from a user. Respective simulation models are invoked for execution with the current value of the dynamic quantum provided to each of the simulation models. The method also comprises modifying the value of the dynamic quantum based on a simulation event.

Abstract: System and methods for preventing an operating-system scheduler in a computer system from crashing as a result of an uncleared periodic interrupt are disclosed. A periodic interrupt is generated using a real-time clock (RTC) residing on a chipset. A flag indicating a periodic interrupt is entered into a status register associated with the RTC in firmware residing on the CMOS chip, if the status register indicates no periodic interrupt has been pending. An interrupt handler associated with the RTC attempts to handle the periodic interrupt, if pending. If the periodic interrupt is pending after a preset interval of time elapses, a basic-input-output system (BIOS) residing on a memory unit coupled to the chipset generates a system-management interrupt (SMI). If the periodic interrupt is pending after the preset interval of time elapses, a firmware SMI handler residing on the memory unit clears the pending periodic interrupts from the status register.

Abstract: A method and system of determining the execution point of programs executed in lock step. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are computer systems comprising a first processor that executes a program, and a second processor that executes a duplicate copy of the program in lock step with the first processor. After receipt of a duplicate copy of an interrupt request by each processor, the first processor determines the execution point in its program relative to the execution point of the duplicate copy of the program executed by the second processor.

Abstract: A method to detect an event between a data source and a data sink using a trigger core is described herein. The method comprises monitoring control lines and an associated data stream for a programmable pattern, wherein the pattern is one or more of a condition, state or event. The method further comprises generating an indication by updating a status register, sending an interrupt or asserting a control line upon a pattern match.

Abstract: A microcontroller may have a central processing unit (CPU); a programmable logic device receiving input signals and having input/outputs coupled with external pins, and an interrupt control unit receiving at least one of the internal input signals or being coupled with at least one of the input/outputs and generating an interrupt signal fed to the CPU.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is contemplated. An interrupt is received in a processor from an interrupt controller. Responsive to receiving the interrupt, the interrupt is masked in the interrupt controller to permit another interrupt to be transmitted by the interrupt controller to the processor. The other interrupt has a lower priority than the previously-received interrupt in the interrupt controller.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, an interrupt control circuit that controls a plurality of interrupt requests for interrupt handling executed by a processor, includes: an interrupt control module unit as a detecting unit determining whether or not there is an interrupt request masked with interrupt handling executed by a processor during the interrupt handling; and an interrupt control circuit including a priority mask flag indicating whether or not there is the interrupt request. With such configuration, it is possible to simply determine whether or not there is another masked interrupt request.

Abstract: A method, information processing system, and computer readable medium, mitigate processor assignments. A first processor in a plurality of processors is assigned to a first communication port in a plurality of communication ports. An interrupt associated with the first communication port is generated. An assignment of a processor other than the first processor to handle the interrupt is inhibited.

Abstract: To provide a processor capable of achieving high processing efficiency by performing the exclusive control between task processing and interrupt handling properly even in a multiprocessor. An interrupt processor that includes a plurality of unit processors, in which at least of the plurality of unit processors is capable of performing interrupt handling requested from the outside is configured such that the unit processor P1 of the unit processors P0 to P3 comprises an purge inhibit flag 106 for causing the unit processor P1 to enter a lock state where the purge of the task is being inhibited, a hardware semaphore unit 13 for inhibiting other unit processors from accessing a predetermined region in memory accessed by the unit processor P1 after the unit processor P1 is brought into the lock state, and an interrupt control unit 11 for inhibiting the interrupt processor from performing the interrupt handling during the execution of exclusive control.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling computer operation time is provided for counting how long the time for using the computer lasts. The steps of the time counting method are as following. First step is counting an operation time period for using the computer at the computer powered on; second step is determining the operation time period equal to a predetermined operating-time limit; third step is controlling the computer into an interrupted operating state when the operation time period is equal to the predetermined operating-time limit, wherein an interrupted time period for the computer stayed in the interrupted operating state is counted; fourth step is determining the interrupted time period equal to a predetermined suspension time; and fifth step is controlling the computer back to a normal operating state when the interrupted time period is equal to the predetermined suspension time, wherein the operation time period is re-counted.

Abstract: Interrupts are directed to currently idle processors. Which of a number of processors of a computing system that are currently idle is determined. An interrupt is received and directed to one of the currently idle processors for processing. Determining which processors are currently idle can be accomplished by monitoring each processor to determine whether it has entered an idle state. When a processor has entered an idle state, it is thus determined that the processor is currently idle. Where just one processor is currently idle, an interrupt is directed to this processor. Where more than one processor is currently idle, one of these processors is selected to which to deliver an interrupt, such as in a round-robin manner. Where no processor is currently idle, then one of the processors is selected to which to deliver an interrupt.

Abstract: An interrupt control unit provides controls on an interrupt from an accelerator to a CPU based on a packet transmitted to or received from a controlled object. The interrupt control unit includes: a storage part for storing therein an interrupt control timing table in which a condition of switching a mode of the interrupt control is described; and an interrupt control mode switching part for switching the mode of the interrupt control to the CPU between a permission mode and a mask mode, based on the interrupt control timing table in the storage part.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive from a requesting device, at a memory device, a request to access a memory domain associated with the memory device, and to deny, by the memory device, the request if the memory domain comprises any part of a secure domain, and the requesting device has not asserted a secure transfer indication. Additional operations may include granting the request if the memory domain comprises some part of the secure domain and the requesting device has asserted the secure transfer signal, or if the memory domain comprises only a non-secure domain. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to a multi-tasking interference system. A gatekeeper receives primary and secondary inputs, and a quantifier ascertains attention values associated with primary inputs and interruption values associated with secondary inputs. Attention values are ascertained based on attributes associated with primary inputs such as type or genre of media presentation, temporal location within media presentation, or a likelihood of impending commercials. Based on a comparison between attention values and interruption values the gatekeeper determines whether, when, and how to interrupt the primary input with the secondary input and accordingly thereafter interrupts the primary input with the secondary input based on the foregoing assessment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of processing an interrupt comprising a peripheral unit sending an interrupt, the interrupt being intended for a virtual unit executed by a processing unit, transmitting the interrupt to an interrupt control unit coupled to a processing unit, and the interrupt control unit storing the interrupt in an interrupt register. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the interrupt is transmitted to the interrupt control unit in association with an identifier of the virtual unit receiving the interrupt, the interrupt register in which the interrupt belonging to a set of registers is stored comprising one interrupt register per virtual unit likely to be executed by the processing unit, the interrupt being transmitted to the processing unit if the virtual unit receiving the interrupt is being executed by the processing unit.

Abstract: In a method for communication between a master node and a plurality of slave nodes connected by a bus therebetween, a first interrupt request is asserted by one of the plurality of slave nodes via a primary interrupt line. The plurality of slave nodes are electrically connected by the primary interrupt line. A unique delay time for requesting an interrupt is associated with each of the plurality of slave nodes. A second interrupt request is asserted by the one of the plurality of slave nodes via a secondary interrupt line electrically connecting the plurality of slave nodes. The second interrupt request is asserted in response to successfully asserting the first interrupt request and after the unique delay time associated with the one of the plurality of slave nodes. A message is then transmitted from the one of the plurality of slave nodes to the master node via the bus.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for debugging throughput deficiency in an architecture using on-chip throughput computations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a subsystem module of the integrated circuit (e.g., may be a field-programmable gate array), a other subsystem module associated with the subsystem module to execute a specified function of the integrated circuit, an interconnect module comprising a transmission line to associate the subsystem module to the other subsystem module, and a throughput monitor circuit (e.g., may continuously determine the throughput value) located in the integrated circuit and coupled with the interconnect module to measure a throughput value as a specified number of data bits per a specified period of time. The system may include, an interrupt generation circuit located in the integrated circuit and coupled with the throughput monitor circuit to determine whether the throughput value is less than a specified throughput value.

Abstract: A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes causing a processor to enter into a first power state. Then an interrupt is received that signals the processor to leave the first power state. The method continues by causing the processor to remain in the first power state if the interrupt was received less than a minimum dwell time after the processor entered the first power state.

Abstract: Fault isolation capabilities made available by user space can be provided for a embedded network storage system without sacrificing efficiency. By giving user space processes direct access to specific devices (e.g., network interface cards and storage adapters), processes in a user space can initiate Input/Output requests without issuing system calls (and entering kernel mode). The multiple user spaces processes can initiate requests serviced by a user space device driver by sharing a read-only address space that maps the entire physical memory one-to-one. In addition, a user space process can initiate communication with another user space process by use of transmit and receive queues similar to transmit and receiver queues used by hardware devices. And, a mechanism of ensuring that virtual addresses that work in one address space reference the same physical page in another address space is used.

Abstract: An instruction encoding architecture is provided for a microprocessor to allow atomic modification of privileged architecture registers. The instructions include an opcode that designates to the microprocessor that the instructions are to execute in privileged (kernel) state only, and that the instructions are to communicate with privileged control registers, a field for designating which of a plurality of privileged architecture registers is to be modified, a field for designating which bit fields within the designated privileged architecture register is to be modified, and a field to designate whether the designated bit fields are to be set or cleared. The instruction encoding allows a single instruction to atomically set or clear bit fields within privileged architecture registers, without reading the privileged architecture registers into a general purpose register.

Abstract: The serial communication device capable of reducing the load on the CPU is provided for a system using the serial communications such as the car navigation system. The attention is focused on the control method of the serial communication, in which a DMA controller is used for the data reception in the serial communication, and a number larger than the number of data received at a time is set in advance as the number of transfers of the receive DMA controller, and further, the function to generate the timeout interrupt when data is not received for a certain period is added to the serial interface, so that the serial communication can be controlled and performed without applying the load on the CPU.

Abstract: A method of grouping interrupts from a time-dependent data storage means in accordance with the types of the interrupts, the method comprising the steps of providing each part of the data storage means with an indicator of an event associated with the part, generating interrupts upon the occurrence of events in different parts of the data storage means, allocating interrupts associated with substantially the same part of the data storage means to a same processing means.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, information processing system, and computer readable medium for managing interrupts. The method includes placing at least one physical processor of an information processing system in a simultaneous multi-threading mode. At least a first logical processor and a second logical processor associated with the at least one physical processor are partitioned. The first logical processor is assigned to manage interrupts and the second logical processor is assigned to dispatch runnable user threads.

Abstract: Methods for processing more securely. Embodiments provide effective and efficient mechanisms for reducing APIC interference with accesses to SMRAM, where enhanced SMM code implementing these mechanisms effectively reduces APIC attacks and increases the security of proprietary, confidential or otherwise secure data stored in SMRAM.

Abstract: An instruction encoding architecture is provided for a microprocessor to allow atomic modification of privileged architecture registers. The instructions include an opcode that designates the instructions are to be executed in privileged (kernel) state only, and are to communicate with privileged control registers. The instructions designate which of a plurality of privileged architecture registers is to be modified, which bit fields within the designated privileged architecture register is to be modified, and whether the designated bit fields are to be set or cleared. An instruction atomically sets or clears bit fields within privileged architecture registers, without reading the privileged architecture registers into a general purpose register. In addition, the instruction encoding allows a programmer to specify whether the previous content of a privileged architecture register is to be saved to a general purpose register during the atomic modification.

Abstract: Dispatching of interrupts to a processor is conditionally suppressed, that is, only if an old priority value and a new priority value are either both less than or both greater than a maximum pending priority value. This conditional avoidance of dispatching is preferably implemented by a virtual priority module within a binary translator in a virtualized computer system and relates to interrupts directed to a virtualized processor by a virtualized local APIC.

Abstract: Embodiments of techniques for simultaneously connecting a plurality of expansion cards to a single bus of a host controller are described.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a start time obtaining part that obtains a start time when a predetermined process is started in response to an interrupt request associated with a valid edge of a pulse input signal, an edge occurrence time obtaining part that obtains a time of occurrence of the valid edge of the pulse input signal after the start time of the predetermined process is obtained, and a processing part that selectively performs a process based on a time relationship between the start time of the predetermined process and the time of occurrence of the valid edge.

Abstract: A disclosed embodiment is an interruptible write block comprising a primary register having an input coupled to an input of the interruptible write block, a secondary register having an input selectably coupled to an output of the primary register and to an output of the secondary register through an interrupt circuit. The interrupt circuit is utilized to interrupt flow of new data from the primary register to the secondary register during an interrupt of a write operation, such that upon resumption of the write operation the secondary register contains valid data. A method of utilizing an interruptible write block during a write operation comprises loading data into a primary register, interrupting the write operation to perform one or more other operations, loading the data into a secondary register while loading new data into the primary register, and resuming the write operation using valid data from the secondary register.

Abstract: A method of processing data comprising: processing a function using a processor operable to perform a plurality of functions, the processor having interrupts enabled; receiving an interrupt at the processor; suspending processing of the function; accessing at least one control parameter, the at least one control parameter indicating whether processing of the function should be resumed from the point where it was interrupted or whether the function should be repeated following the interrupt; following completion of the interrupt continuing processing of the function either at a start of the function or at a point at which it was interrupted dependent upon the control parameter. A function being an application, a thread, a system software routine, or multiple processing steps defined by software.

Abstract: A maskable data output buffer includes an output stage receiving data signals from a data coder. The signals output from the data coder are normally complementary data signals corresponding to complementary data input signals. However, in response to receiving a mask signal, the data coder forces the output signals to be other than complementary. The output stage normally generates a data output signal corresponding to the complementary data input signals. However, when the data input signals are other than complementary, the output of the output stage assumes a high impedance condition. Since the timing of the high impedance condition is determined from the data signals themselves, the timing of the mask operation is inherently properly timed to the output of the data from the data output buffer.