Mobile communication device having a prioritized interrupt controller

摘要

A microprocessor system having an interrupt controller is provided for use in a mobile communications device. Peripheral processing units generate interrupt requests for sending to the microprocessor. The microprocessor has components for responding to interrupt requests by interrupting current processing and performing an interrupt service routine associated with the interrupt request. The interrupt controller receives interrupt requests directed to the microprocessor from the peripheral processing units and for prioritizes the interrupt requests on behalf of the microprocessor. By providing an interrupt controller for prioritizing interrupt requests on behalf of the microprocessor, the microprocessor therefore need not devote significant internal resources to prioritizing the interrupt request signals.