MSI Generation via Linked Lookup Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of I/O physical functions and virtual functions increases, managing interrupt requests consumes excessive power and increases the complexity and size of the interface logic and/or the interrupt controller in computing systems.
Innovation Solution
An improved MSI generation mechanism that uses MSI table and/or MSI-X table information stored in a plurality of linked lookup tables, with an arbiter providing a serialized approach to handling interrupt requests, reducing hardware complexity and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional interrupt controllers are used to manage multiple I/O physical functions and virtual functions, then interrupt request management capability increases, but power consumption increases and hardware complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the interrupt message generation functionality from the traditional interrupt controller and implements it directly in the PCIe interface logic. This removes the need for a separate interrupt controller hardware component, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining the capability to manage multiple I/O physical functions and virtual functions. The interface logic now directly generates MSI and MSI-X messages without requiring an additional power-consuming interrupt controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the interrupt message generation functionality into the PCIe interface logic itself, combining what were previously separate functions (PCIe interface and interrupt controller) into a single integrated unit. This consolidation eliminates redundant hardware components and reduces overall power consumption while maintaining full interrupt management capability for multiple functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional interrupt controllers are used to manage multiple I/O physical functions and virtual functions, then interrupt request management capability increases, but hardware complexity and size of interface logic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the interrupt controller as a separate hardware component and removes it entirely, taking out its functionality and integrating it directly into the PCIe interface logic. This eliminates the need for additional interrupt controller hardware, thereby reducing hardware complexity and size while preserving full interrupt management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the interrupt message generation functionality into the existing PCIe interface logic, combining previously separate functions into one integrated unit. This consolidation reduces hardware complexity by eliminating redundant components and interconnections between the PCIe interface and separate interrupt controller.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes logic circuitry, such as an interrupt controller, that serially arbitrates among a plurality of incoming interrupt requests for a target device and produces a selected incoming interrupt request. The logic generates a message signaled interrupt (MSI) message for the target device based on the selected incoming interrupt request using a plurality of linked lookup tables, such as a hierarchy of LUTs that include data used to generate the MSI message. Associated methods are also presented.