Patent ID: 6122700
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for reducing interrupt density between devices, comprising the steps of:(a) storing one or more interrupt events received at a first device in a memory; and(b) issuing an interrupt from the first device to a second device attached to the first device upon an occurrence of a first predefined event, wherein the second device retrieves the stored interrupt events from the memory and processes the retrieved interrupt events in response to the issued interrupts;(c) issuing an interrupt for every interrupt event from the first device to the second device after the occurrence of the first predefined event until an occurrence of a second predefined event, wherein the second device retrieves the stored interrupt events and processes the retrieved interrupt events in response to the issued interrupt;(d) storing a plurality of interrupt events received at a first device in the memory without issuing an interrupt from the first device to the second device after the occurrence of the second predefined event; and(e) issuing an interrupt from the first device to the second device upon another occurrence of the first predefined event, wherein the second device retrieves the stored interrupt events from the memory and processes the retrieved interrupt events in response to the issued interrupt.