Method and apparatus for monitoring interrupts during a power down event at a processor

Abstract

In a particular embodiment, a method of monitoring interrupts during a power down event at a processor includes activating an interrupt monitor to detect interrupts. The method also includes isolating an interrupt controller of the processor from the interrupt monitor, where the interrupt controller shares a power domain with the processor. The method also includes detecting interrupts at the interrupt monitor during a power down time period associated with the power down event.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus to monitor for interrupts during a power down event at a processor. Background technique [0002] Advances in technology have produced smaller and more powerful computing devices. For example, there currently exist a variety of portable personal computing devices, including wireless computing devices, such as portable wireless telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and paging devices that are small, lightweight, and easily portable by users. More specifically, portable wireless telephones, such as cellular telephones and Internet Protocol (IP) telephones, can communicate voice and data packets over wireless networks. Many such wireless telephones incorporate additional devices to provide enhanced functionality to the end user. For example, a wireless telephone may also include a digital still camera, digital video camera, digital recorder, and audio file player. Also, the wir...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, interrupts arriving at the interrupt controller may be lost when the processor and interrupt controller are placed in a low power state

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