METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERRUPT COALESCING

摘要

Apparatus and methods implemented therein moderate the rate at which a peripheral device interrupts the operation of a host device. Moderation of interrupts is achieved by implementing interrupt coalescing schemes. In response to detecting an assertion of a first interrupt, a first time value from a free-running counter is read. A second time value is read from the free-running counter when an assertion of a second interrupt is detected. An identifier of the first interrupt is communicated to a host device when a sum of the first time value and an interrupt coalescing time period is equal to or greater than an instantaneous time read from the free-running counter. An identifier of the second interrupt is communicated to the host device when a sum of the second time value and an interrupt coalescing time period is equal to or greater than an instantaneous time read from the free-running counter.

主权项

1. A method for interrupt coalescing comprising:
performing in control circuitry of a peripheral device:
reading a first time value from a free-running counter when an assertion of a first interrupt is detected, the first time value corresponding to a detection time of the first interrupt;reading a second time value from the free-running counter when an assertion of a second interrupt from a different interrupt source than the first interrupt is detected, the second time value corresponding to a detection time of the second interrupt;communicating an identifier of the first interrupt to a host device when an instantaneous time read from the free-running counter is equal to or greater than a sum of the first time value and an interrupt coalescing time period; andcommunicating an identifier of the second interrupt to the host device, when an instantaneous time read from the free-running counter is equal to or greater than a sum of the second time value and the interrupt coalescing time period.