Apparatus and method for servicing interrupts utilizing a pended bus

Claim 1

A method for performing an interrupt function on a pended bus for transferring messages between an interrupting node and an interrupt servicing node, the method comprising the following steps executed by a data processing system including the pended bus, the interrupting node, and the interrupt servicing node: providing to the bus from the interrupting node an interrupt request message including ID data for identifying the interrupting node and priority level data for specifying a priority level of the interrupt request message; monitoring interrupt request messages on the bus at the interrupt servicing node to detect the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; providing to the bus from the interrupt servicing node, in response to the detection of the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at the specified priority level; monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus at the interrupting node to detect the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; and providing to the bus from the interrupting node, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt vector message.

Claim 2

A method for performing an interrupt function on a pended bus for transferring messages between an interrupting node and an interrupt servicing node, the method comprising the following steps executed by a data processing system including the pended bus, the interrupting node, and the interrupt servicing node: providing to the bus from the interrupting node an interrupt request message including ID data for identifying the interrupting node and priority level data for specifying a priority level of the interrupt request message; monitoring interrupt request messages on the bus at the interrupt servicing node to detect the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; providing to the bus from the interrupt servicing node, in response to the detection of the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at the specified priority level; monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus at the interrupting node to detect the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; and providing to the bus from the interrupting node, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt vector message.

Claim 7

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and means coupled to the bus for obtaining control of the bus at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service a pending interrupt request from the interrupting node and for performing null operations for a predetermined time period before providing the interrupt acknowledge message.

Claim 8

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and means coupled to the bus for obtaining control of the bus at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service a pending interrupt request from the interrupting node and for performing null operations for a predetermined time period before providing the interrupt acknowledge message.

Claim 9

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vetor message; and a plurality of interrupt servicing nodes, each coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, each interrupt servicing node including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and means coupled to the bus for obtaining control of the bus at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service a pending interrupt request from the interrupting node and for performing null operations for a predetermined time period before providing the interrupt acknowledge message.

Claim 10

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vetor message; and a plurality of interrupt servicing nodes, each coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, each interrupt servicing node including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and means coupled to the bus for obtaining control of the bus at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service a pending interrupt request from the interrupting node and for performing null operations for a predetermined time period before providing the interrupt acknowledge message.

Claim 11

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node and priority level data for specifying an interrupt request priority level of the interrupt request message; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge messages including the destination data specifying the interrupting node and the priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge messages at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at the specified interrupt request priority level, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node and for indicating the interrupt request is at the interrupt request priority level specified by the priority level data of the interrupt request message; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and service priority level means coupled to the fifth means and to the sixth means for specifying a service priority level for the interrupt servicing node and for indicating that the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at times when the priority level of the interrupt request message is equal to the service priority level.

Claim 12

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node and priority level data for specifying an interrupt request priority level of the interrupt request message; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge messages including the destination data specifying the interrupting node and the priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge messages at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at the specified interrupt request priority level, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node and for indicating the interrupt request is at the interrupt request priority level specified by the priority level data of the interrupt request message; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and service priority level means coupled to the fifth means and to the sixth means for specifying a service priority level for the interrupt servicing node and for indicating that the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at times when the priority level of the interrupt request message is equal to the service priority level.

Claim 25

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node, in which the sixth means in the interrupt servicing node includes means for providing the interrupt acknowledge message with source data for identifying the interrupt servicing node; and seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node.

Claim 26

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node, in which the sixth means in the interrupt servicing node includes means for providing the interrupt acknowledge message with source data for identifying the interrupt servicing node; and seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node.

Claim 28

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; a plurality of interrupting nodes coupled to the bus, each including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node, wherein the fifth means includes: a plurality of node storage elements, each corresponding to a different one of the interrupting nodes, for indicating whether an interrupt request is pending from the corresponding interrupting node; means for setting one of the node storage elements in response to the detecting of an interrupt request message including ID data identifying the corresponding interrupting node; and means for clearing one of the node storage elements in response to the providing to the bus of an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the corresponding interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node.

Claim 29

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; a plurality of interrupting nodes coupled to the bus, each including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node, wherein the fifth means includes: a plurality of node storage elements, each corresponding to a different one of the interrupting nodes, for indicating whether an interrupt request is pending from the corresponding interrupting node; means for setting one of the node storage elements in response to the detecting of an interrupt request message including ID data identifying the corresponding interrupting node; and means for clearing one of the node storage elements in response to the providing to the bus of an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the corresponding interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node.

Claim 30

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node, destination data for specifying an interrupt servicing node, and priority level data for specifying an interrupt request priority level of the interrupt request message; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node and the priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt vector message including source data identifying an interrupt servicing node; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at the specified interrupt request priority level, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means including a plurality of node storage elements, each element corresponding to an interrupting node at a specified priority level, for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node and for indicating the interrupt request is at the interrupt request priority level specified by the priority level data of the interrupt request message; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node, source data for identifying the interrupt servicing node, and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and service priority level means coupled to the fifth means and to the sixth means for specifying a service priority level for the interrupt servicing node and for indicating that the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at times when the priority level of the interrupt request message is equal to the service priority level.

Claim 31

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node, destination data for specifying an interrupt servicing node, and priority level data for specifying an interrupt request priority level of the interrupt request message; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node and the priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message, an interrupt vector message including source data identifying an interrupt servicing node; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at the specified interrupt request priority level, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means including a plurality of node storage elements, each element corresponding to an interrupting node at a specified priority level, for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node and for indicating the interrupt request is at the interrupt request priority level specified by the priority level data of the interrupt request message; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node, source data for identifying the interrupt servicing node, and priority level data specifying the priority level of the interrupt request message; seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; and service priority level means coupled to the fifth means and to the sixth means for specifying a service priority level for the interrupt servicing node and for indicating that the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message at times when the priority level of the interrupt request message is equal to the service priority level.

Claim 32

A method for performing an interrupt function on a pended bus for transferring messages between an interrupting node and an interrupt servicing node, the method comprising the following steps executed by a data processing system including the pended bus, the interrupting node, and the interrupt servicing node: providing to the bus from the interrupting node an interrupt request message including ID data for identifying the interrupting node; monitoring interrupt request messages on the bus at the interrupt servicing node to detect the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node; providing to the bus from the interrupt servicing node, in response to the detection of the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node, an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message; monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus at the interrupting node to detect the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and providing to the bus from the interrupting node, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message.

Claim 33

A method for performing an interrupt function on a pended bus for transferring messages between an interrupting node and an interrupt servicing node, the method comprising the following steps executed by a data processing system including the pended bus, the interrupting node, and the interrupt servicing node: providing to the bus from the interrupting node an interrupt request message including ID data for identifying the interrupting node; monitoring interrupt request messages on the bus at the interrupt servicing node to detect the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node; providing to the bus from the interrupt servicing node, in response to the detection of the interrupt request message including ID data identifying the interrupting node, an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message; monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus at the interrupting node to detect the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and providing to the bus from the interrupting node, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message.

Claim 37

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node.

Claim 38

A system for servicing an interrupt request, comprising: a pended bus for transferring messages, including interrupt request, interrupt acknowledge, and interrupt vector messages; an interrupting node coupled to the bus and including: first means coupled to the bus for providing to the bus an interrupt request message including interrupting node ID data for identifying the interrupting node; second means coupled to the bus for monitoring interrupt acknowledge messages on the bus and for detecting an interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and third means coupled to the second means and to the bus for providing to the bus, in response to the detection of the interrupt acknowledge message including the destination data specifying the interrupting node, an interrupt vector message; and an interrupt servicing node coupled to the bus for providing the interrupt acknowledge message at times when the interrupt servicing node is ready to service the interrupt request message, including: fourth means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt request message on the bus provided by the interrupting node; fifth means coupled to the fourth means for indicating that the interrupt request is pending from the interrupting node; sixth means coupled to the fifth means and to the bus for providing to the bus the interrupt acknowledge message including destination data specifying the interrupting node; and seventh means coupled to the bus for detecting the interrupt vector message on the bus provided by the interrupting node.