Interrupt Controller Dynamic Rate Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of interrupts from external I/O devices can lead to processor overhead and latency issues, as existing interrupt control methods do not consider processor state and energy efficiency effectively.
Innovation Solution
An interrupt control apparatus and method that includes a power management governor to monitor the processor's power state and an interrupt controller to adjust the interrupt rate based on processor utilization, using dynamic voltage and frequency scaling to optimize energy efficiency and reduce latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the interrupt rate is increased to improve I/O response latency, then the I/O response latency is improved, but the processor overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interrupt controller dynamically adjusts the interrupt rate based on real-time processor utilization feedback. When processor utilization is low, the interrupt rate is increased to improve I/O response latency. When processor utilization is high, the interrupt rate is decreased to reduce processor overhead. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the interrupt rate flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the processor utilization is continuously monitored and fed back to the interrupt controller. The interrupt controller uses this feedback information to adjust the interrupt rate accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that balances I/O response latency and processor overhead based on actual system conditions.
2Loss of time
If the interrupt rate is increased to improve I/O response latency, then the I/O response latency is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interrupt rate is dynamically adjusted based on processor utilization, which correlates with energy consumption. When the processor is underutilized, a higher interrupt rate is applied to improve I/O response without significantly increasing energy consumption. When the processor is heavily utilized, the interrupt rate is reduced to lower energy consumption, even if I/O response latency increases slightly. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the trade-off between latency and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the interrupt rate parameter based on processor utilization conditions. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between I/O response latency and energy consumption, applying higher interrupt rates only when the processor has available capacity to handle them efficiently.
3Loss of time
If interrupts are generated frequently without considering processor state, then the I/O response latency is improved, but the processor cannot process other operations
Solution Approach 1:
The interrupt controller monitors processor utilization as feedback and adjusts interrupt generation accordingly. When the processor is busy with other operations (high utilization), the interrupt rate is reduced to allow the processor to complete other tasks. When the processor is available (low utilization), the interrupt rate is increased to improve I/O response. This feedback-based adaptation ensures the processor can handle both I/O interrupts and other operations effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system makes the interrupt generation dynamic rather than static, adapting to the processor's current state. This dynamic behavior allows the system to prioritize different operations based on real-time conditions, improving overall system adaptability and ensuring the processor can process both I/O interrupts and other operations according to actual workload demands.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an apparatus and a method for controlling an interrupt rate for a processor based on processor utilization. Accordingly, it is possible to improve an I/O response latency and improve energy efficiency.