Interrupt Management for Network Event Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data processing systems face inefficiencies due to high interrupt overhead and delayed processing of network events, particularly when interrupts are not invoked frequently, leading to potential delays in packet processing and increased CPU usage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that dynamically decide whether to enable interrupts based on the presence of current indications that the stack will be invoked, using a lock to restrict access and maintaining state to optimize interrupt usage, ensuring timely processing of network events without unnecessary overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If interrupts are frequently invoked to process network events promptly, then network event processing timeliness is improved, but interrupt overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork event processing delayVSAvoidinterrupt overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts interrupt enabling based on stack invocation state. The interrupt controller monitors whether the stack is currently being invoked and enables interrupts only when the stack is not being accessed, creating a dynamic adaptation to system state that balances timeliness and overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from stack invocation status to control interrupt enabling. By monitoring the lock state that indicates whether the stack is being invoked, the system receives feedback about current processing state and adjusts interrupt behavior accordingly, enabling interrupts only when safe and necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If interrupts are enabled continuously to ensure timely packet processing, then processing reliability is improved, but CPU usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket processing reliabilityVSAvoidCPU usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from continuous interrupt enabling to dynamic enabling based on real-time stack state. The interrupt controller responds to changing conditions by enabling or disabling interrupts according to whether the stack is currently being invoked, optimizing CPU usage while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system checks the stack invocation state in advance before enabling interrupts. By examining the lock state that indicates current stack usage, the system performs preliminary verification to prevent interrupt enabling during unsafe periods, ensuring reliability while avoiding unnecessary CPU overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If interrupt rate is reduced to lower overhead, then energy efficiency is improved, but network event processing delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterrupt overheadVSAvoidpacket processing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback about stack invocation status to intelligently control interrupt rate. Rather than using a fixed low interrupt rate, the system monitors stack state and enables interrupts when the stack is not being accessed, ensuring that events are processed promptly while maintaining low overhead during periods when the stack is busy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The interrupt controller serves itself by monitoring the lock state and making autonomous decisions about interrupt enabling. The system self-regulates its own interrupt behavior based on observed stack invocation patterns, reducing overhead while maintaining timely processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If stack access is unrestricted to improve processing speed, then processing efficiency is improved, but system stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestack processing efficiencyVSAvoidstack access stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The lock mechanism serves as an intermediary that mediates access to the stack. Rather than allowing unrestricted direct access or complete blocking, the lock provides controlled access that maintains stability while allowing efficient processing when the stack is not being accessed by other entities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9948533B2Interrupt management

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 XILINX INC

AI summary

A method for use in a data processing system connected to a network in accordance with a data transfer protocol, the data processing system having one or more event queues for holding network events, and being capable of responding to interrupts issued in response to the presence of a network event in the data processing system by invoking a stack to cause processing in accordance with the data transfer protocol of network events on the event queues; the method comprising: deciding whether to permit the interrupts to be enabled, in dependence on the result of a determination as to the presence of current indications that the stack will be invoked by an entity in the data processing system to cause processing in accordance with the data transfer protocol of network events on the event queues.