IP Library Granted Patent US 8,166,223
Granted Patent B2
US 8,166,223 · App. 12/636,027 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Apparatuses to provide a message signaled interrupt to generate a PCI express interrupt

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,166,223
App. No.
12/636,027
Granted
Apr 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Machine-readable media, methods, and apparatus are described to issue message signaled interrupts. In some disclosed embodiments, a device generates message signaled interrupts in a manner that enables a device driver written with level-sensitive semantics to properly service the device despite the edge-triggered characteristics message signaled interrupts.

Claims (18)

1. A device comprising:

a PCI Express interrupt enable register to enable one or more interrupts;

a PCI Express interrupt status register to allow one or more interrupts to be asserted when enabled; and

a message signaled interrupt generator to generate a PCI Express interrupt whenever a bit in the PCI Express interrupt status register is updated, if enabled.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a device interface to send a MSI request to request interrupt service, in response to a write to the PCI Express interrupt status register, that the interrupt status register is updated.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a MSI handler block to provide a core function, to send a MSI request to request interrupt service for the core function.

4. A device comprising:

a PCI Express interrupt enable register to enable one or more interrupts;

a PCI Express interrupt status register to allow one or more interrupts to be asserted when enabled; and

a message signaled interrupt generator to generate a PCI Express interrupt to indicate the activation of a level-edged interrupt whenever a bit in the PCI Express interrupt status register is set, if enabled.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a device interface to send a MSI request to request interrupt service, in response to a write to the PCI Express interrupt status register, that the interrupt status register is updated.

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising a MSI handler block to provide a core function, to send a MSI request to request interrupt service for the core function.

7. A device comprising:

a PCI Express interrupt enable register to enable one or more interrupts;

a PCI Express interrupt Status register to allow one or more interrupts to be asserted when enabled; and

a message signaled interrupt generator to generate a PCI Express interrupt to indicate the deactivation of a level-edged interrupt whenever a bit in the PCI Express interrupt status register is cleared, if enabled.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising a device interface to send a MSI request to request interrupt service, in response to a write to the PCI Express interrupt status register, that the interrupt status register is updated.

9. The device of claim 7 further comprising a MSI handler block to provide a core function, to send a MSI request to request interrupt service for the core function.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2022
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: TAHOE RESEARCH, LTD.
Reel/Frame 061175/0176 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2011
From: BENNETT, JOSEPH A.
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026476/0206 →