Interrupt Latency Control Unit for Dynamic Priority Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer systems have a static view of interrupt priority, which is time-consuming to determine and can lead to incorrect assignments, causing latency issues in embedded systems like modems, where timing is critical, and the operating system cannot accurately measure interrupt latency at the hardware level before it reaches the CPU.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an interrupt latency control unit (ILCU) that uses registers to store arrival and delivery times of interrupts, allowing the system to calculate latency and dynamically adjust interrupt priorities to reduce waiting times and improve real-time performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If interrupt priorities are statically defined by system architect, then system simplicity is maintained, but interrupt latency cannot be optimized for time-critical operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic interrupt priority adjustment by allowing the operating system to modify interrupt priorities at runtime based on measured latency values. The system transitions from static architect-defined priorities to dynamic OS-controlled priorities, enabling time-critical interrupts to be optimized without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the operating system measures interrupt latency values and uses this information to adjust interrupt priorities. The system monitors latency performance and automatically modifies priority assignments to optimize time-critical operations, creating a closed-loop control system for interrupt management.
2Measurement precision
If interrupt priorities are adjusted through trial and error, then priority determination can be optimized, but system testing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to automatically determine optimal interrupt priorities through self-measurement and self-adjustment. The operating system independently measures latency values and adjusts priorities without requiring external trial-and-error testing, allowing the system to optimize its own interrupt handling behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary latency measurements during system operation to establish baseline performance data. By measuring and analyzing latency values in advance, the system can proactively adjust interrupt priorities before performance degradation occurs, eliminating the need for extensive post-deployment testing.
3Ease of manufacture
If incorrect interrupt priority is assigned, then system configuration is simplified, but high priority interrupts may be preempted causing system errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the operating system monitors interrupt latency and automatically adjusts priorities to prevent preemption errors. By continuously measuring latency and adapting priority assignments, the system ensures that time-critical interrupts maintain appropriate priority levels without requiring complex manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes interrupt priority parameters based on measured latency values. The system adjusts priority levels as configurable parameters rather than fixed values, allowing automatic adaptation to different operational conditions and preventing preemption errors through runtime parameter optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor may include a core to execute interrupt latency control unit (ILCU) software and an interrupt controller circuitry. The interrupt controller circuitry includes: a first register to store a first time value at which a first interrupt is received at the interrupt controller circuitry and a second register to store a second time value at which the first interrupt is delivered to the core. The ILCU software is to: read the first time value in the first register and the second time value in the second register; determine an amount of time the first interrupt was pending at the interrupt controller circuitry; determine interrupt configuration information that adjusts the first interrupt priority of a subsequent interrupt; and send the interrupt configuration information to the interrupt controller circuitry. The interrupt controller circuitry is to adjust the first interrupt priority of the subsequent interrupt to the second interrupt priority.