Interrupt Coalescing Controller for CPU Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current complex computer systems face difficulties in managing multiple interrupts from various interfaces, leading to CPU performance reduction due to frequent interrupt handling and saving/restoring of execution states.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an interrupt coalescing mechanism where the interrupt controller collects and signals coalesced interrupts to the CPU based on configurable interrupt ranges and timeout counts, reducing the number of interrupts and optimizing processor performance by allowing more time for other tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the CPU responds to each interrupt individually, then the system can respond promptly to events, but the CPU performance is reduced due to frequent saving and restoring of execution state
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual interrupt requests are merged into a single coalesced interrupt signal that triggers one unified interrupt service routine. The interrupt controller accumulates multiple interrupt events and combines them into one consolidated interrupt, allowing the CPU to service multiple events in a single interrupt handler execution rather than switching contexts repeatedly for each individual interrupt.
Solution Approach 2:
An interrupt controller is introduced as an intermediary device between the interrupt sources and the CPU. This mediator component handles the accumulation, coalescing, and management of multiple interrupt requests before presenting them to the CPU as unified interrupt signals, thereby shielding the CPU from the complexity of individual interrupt management while maintaining prompt response capability.
2Productivity
If interrupt coalescing is implemented to reduce CPU overhead, then the CPU can focus on other tasks, but the complexity of the interrupt control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interrupt control functionality is segmented into distinct modular components including interrupt request accumulators, coalescing logic units, and configurable control registers. Each component performs a specific function in the interrupt coalescing process, making the overall complex system manageable through functional decomposition and enabling independent optimization of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The interrupt controller incorporates configurable parameters such as coalescing thresholds, timeout values, and interrupt prioritization levels that can be adjusted via firmware or software. These parameter changes allow the system to optimize interrupt coalescing behavior for different workload conditions without requiring hardware redesign, thereby managing complexity through software-configurable parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment of the invention, a method comprises: collecting a plurality of interrupts and servicing coalesced active interrupts to a processor if an interrupt count limit has occurred or if a timeout count has expired. In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises: an interrupt controller configured to collect a plurality of interrupts and configured to service coalesced active interrupts to a processor if an interrupt count limit has occurred or if a timeout count has expired. In yet another embodiment of the invention, an article of manufacture comprises: a non-transient computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that permit a method comprising: collecting a plurality of interrupts and servicing coalesced active interrupts to a processor if an interrupt count limit has occurred or if a timeout count has expired.