Multiprocessor Interrupt Handling via Segmented Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multiprocessor systems, the overhead from event occurrence to the start of interrupt processing is significant, impairing the real-timeliness of interrupt processing, especially when multiple events occur in quick succession, leading to potential disruptions in main process execution.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a control unit and an interrupt unit that detect events triggering interrupt tasks, with the interrupt unit notifying the control unit, which then conveys interrupt information to sub-control units for execution, allowing for efficient task allocation and execution of interrupt tasks without overloading the main control unit, thereby reducing processing overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the main control unit handles all interrupt tasks centrally, then interrupt processing is simplified, but the overhead from event occurrence to interrupt task start increases and real-timeliness is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is segmented into a main control unit and multiple sub-control units. The main control unit handles main process execution while sub-control units are assigned to handle specific interrupt tasks. This segmentation distributes the interrupt processing load, reducing the overhead time from event occurrence to interrupt task start, while maintaining a manageable system structure through clear division of responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
An interrupt information storage unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the interrupt source and the control units. This mediator stores interrupt information temporarily and enables sub-control units to efficiently access and process interrupt tasks without creating bottlenecks, thereby reducing processing overhead while maintaining system organization.
2Productivity
If multiple sub-control units are introduced to handle interrupt tasks, then real-time responsiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control functionality is segmented into a main control unit for overall coordination and multiple specialized sub-control units for specific interrupt task execution. This segmentation improves productivity by enabling parallel processing of multiple interrupt tasks simultaneously, while the clear functional boundaries and standardized interfaces keep the overall device complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-control units are designed with universal capabilities to handle various types of interrupt tasks. Each sub-control unit can be dynamically assigned different interrupt processing functions, allowing the system to maintain high productivity across diverse interrupt scenarios without proportionally increasing device complexity through specialized hardware for each interrupt type.
3Reliability
If interrupt tasks are processed quickly, then real-timeliness is maintained, but the main process execution may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The processing workload is segmented between the main control unit executing the main process and sub-control units handling interrupt tasks. This segmentation allows interrupt tasks to be processed quickly by dedicated sub-control units without disrupting the main process execution in the main control unit, thereby maintaining both real-timeliness and execution stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The interrupt information storage unit acts as a mediator that decouples the interrupt processing mechanism from the main process execution. Interrupt information is stored in this intermediary structure, allowing sub-control units to access and process interrupts quickly without directly interfering with the main process flow, thus maintaining both real-timeliness and main process stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An even-driven interrupt processing is efficiently carried out in a multiprocessor system. A main control unit 112 executes a main process as a processing for controlling an apparatus in a unified manner. A sub-control unit 116 executes a task assigned by the main control unit 112 during the execution of the main process, as a sub-process. An event detector 162 detects an event occurrence upon which an interrupt task is to be preferentially executed during the execution of the main process. An interrupt notification unit 164 notifies the sub-control unit 116 of interrupt information indicative of an interrupt task in response to the detected event. The sub-control unit 116 notified of the interrupt information executes the interrupt task specified by the interrupt information, as a sub-process.