Interrupt Processing Register Allocation via Priority Lookup Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interrupt processing methods are inefficient due to significant context switch times, which hinder high-speed operation in systems requiring rapid processing of interrupts, especially when handling interrupts with varying priorities.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a look-up table to assign either a common or dedicated register based on interrupt priority, allowing context to be maintained in the common register for lower-priority interrupts, thereby minimizing context switching and enabling faster execution of higher-priority interrupts without switching contexts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If context switching is performed for every interrupt, then interrupt processing is completed, but processing time increases and system speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the register file into multiple banks (e.g., Bank 0, Bank 1, Bank 2, Bank 3) that can be independently accessed. Each bank can store context for different interrupt levels, allowing the system to switch between interrupt contexts by selecting different banks rather than performing full context switches to memory, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-allocates multiple register banks to store context information for different interrupt levels before interrupts occur. When an interrupt arrives, the system can immediately switch to the pre-prepared register bank corresponding to that interrupt level, eliminating the need to save and restore context from memory during interrupt handling, thus reducing time loss.
2Productivity
If dedicated registers are allocated for each interrupt, then interrupt processing speed increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the register banks universal by allowing any register bank to serve any interrupt level through configurable mapping. The register banks can be dynamically assigned to different interrupt priorities based on system needs, providing multi-functionality without requiring dedicated registers for each interrupt, thus increasing processing speed while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic register bank allocation where the assignment of register banks to interrupt levels can be changed during system operation. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize interrupt processing speed for different scenarios without the rigidity of fixed dedicated registers, balancing speed improvement with manageable complexity through software-controlled allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for interrupt processing. An interrupt processing method includes executing a first interrupt by using a common register, receiving a second interrupt and a second priority of the second interrupt during execution of the first interrupt, comparing a first priority of the first interrupt with the second priority of the second interrupt, generating a first register index corresponding to the second priority of the second interrupt by using a look-up table based on the second priority of the second interrupt being greater than the first priority, and, based on the first register index being a dedicated index, maintaining a context of the first interrupt stored in the common register, assigning a dedicated register for execution of the second interrupt, and executing an interrupt program corresponding to the second interrupt by using the assigned dedicated register. The interrupt program is saved in a memory.