Patent ID: 6295574
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computer system comprising:a microprocessor comprising:a dedicated real time interrupt (RTI) pin; andan RTI control unit coupled to said RTI pin, wherein said RTI control unit is configured to detect an RTI signal on said RTI pin and wherein said RTI control unit is further configured to cause the microprocessor to suspend execution of a task and to execute an RTI service routine in response to detecting said RTI signal, and further wherein said microprocessor is adapted to execute said RTI service routine without requiring an interrupt acknowledge cycle, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to require said interrupt acknowledge cycle for an interrupt from another peripheral prior to executing a corresponding interrupt service routine; anda real time peripheral coupled to provide said RTI signal on said RTI pin, wherein said real time peripheral is configured to provide or require data according to a sample interval from an external process.