Exception Control Circuit for Faster Interrupt Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information processing apparatuses face inefficiencies due to prolonged suspension of normal processing when exceptions occur in data processing units, as existing methods lack a prompt mechanism for switching between exception handlers and normal processing.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with an exception control unit that continuously monitors the status of a data processing unit via dedicated lines, using setup information to determine whether to generate interrupts for switching to an exception handler or returning to normal processing, thereby reducing suspension time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the processor waits for the data processing unit to complete processing before handling exceptions, then processing accuracy is improved, but processing speed deteriorates due to prolonged suspension of normal processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the data processing unit proactively notify the exception control unit of its status (busy or idle) via a dedicated notification line before the processor needs to check. This allows the exception control unit to pre-judge whether an interrupt should be issued, enabling the processor to switch to exception handling promptly without waiting for completion of processing, thus resolving the contradiction between accurate exception detection and processing speed
2Speed
If the processor continuously monitors the data processing unit status, then exception detection speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an exception control unit as an intermediary between the data processing unit and the processor. This intermediary continuously monitors the status of the data processing unit via a dedicated notification line and autonomously judges whether to issue interrupts based on status information and setup information. This eliminates the need for the processor to continuously monitor status, achieving fast exception detection while keeping the processor simple and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The exception control unit performs self-service by autonomously judging whether to issue interrupts based on the status information from the data processing unit and the setup information from the processor. This autonomous decision-making capability allows continuous monitoring without requiring processor intervention, maintaining fast exception detection speed while reducing the processing burden and system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus performs switching between an exception handler and normal processing. The information processing apparatus includes a processor a data processing unit that performs a particular processing upon receiving a processing request from the processor; an interrupt controller that issues an interrupt request to the processor; and an exception control unit that controls the interrupt controller, wherein the data processing unit is connected with the exception control unit via a dedicated line. The data processing unit includes a notification unit that notifies, via the dedicated line, the exception control unit of status information indicating current status of the data processing unit, and based on the notified status information and setup information set by the processor, the exception control unit judges whether to cause the interrupt controller to issue to the processor an interrupt request to execute an exception handler.