Core Interrupt Mask for Multi-Core Processor Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-core processors, efficiently allocating interrupt service routines (ISRs) to available processor cores is challenging due to issues like increased interrupt response latency, cache misses, and performance degradation, especially when frequent interrupts occur or when processor cores have different physical proximity and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A core interrupt mask (CIM) is used to identify available and unavailable processor cores, guiding the assignment of ISRs to cores that minimally impact overall system performance, thereby optimizing resource utilization and reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If interrupt service routines are allocated to processor cores without considering availability status, then interrupt handling can proceed, but interrupt response latency increases and system performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of the core interrupt mask to identify available processor cores before assigning interrupt service routines. This advance preparation ensures that interrupts are directed to cores that are currently available, reducing interrupt response latency and preventing performance degradation that would occur if interrupts were assigned to busy cores.
2Productivity
If interrupt service routines are assigned to any available core, then resource utilization is simplified, but cache misses increase and performance optimization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by evaluating the availability status of each processor core individually through the core interrupt mask, rather than treating all cores uniformly. This allows interrupt service routines to be assigned to specific cores based on their current state, optimizing cache utilization and reducing cache misses while maintaining effective resource utilization.
3Device complexity
If processor cores are used without tracking their status, then device complexity is reduced, but interrupt handling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The core interrupt mask serves as an intermediary data structure that tracks the availability status of processor cores. This intermediary mechanism provides a simple yet effective way to monitor core status without adding significant complexity to the interrupt control system, while simultaneously improving interrupt handling efficiency by enabling informed assignment decisions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Technologies are generally described herein for handling interrupts within a multi-core processor. A core specific interrupt mask ("CIM") can be adapted to influence the assignment of interrupts to particular processor cores in the multi-core processor. Available processor cores can be identified by evaluating the CIM. An interrupt with an interrupt service routine ("ISR") that is received by the multi-core processor can be assigned to one or more of the available processor cores identified by the CIM.