4.3 Interrupts

What is an interrupt?

• An interrupt is a permanent halt of the processor.
• An interrupt is a signal to the processor to tell it that something needs its attention.

• An interrupt is a type of software bug.
• An interrupt is a method for increasing processor speed.

Organize these interrupt examples into software or hardware.

Groups:

(a) Software

,

(b) Hardware

• Output required.

• Error from hardware, e.g. printer out of paper.

• Data required from memory.

• Division by 0.

• Data input, e.g. key pressed on a keyboard, mouse click.

• New hardware device connected.

An interrupt has a priority level. What does it mean?

• An interrupt's priority level determines its urgency and the order in which it is handled by the system.
• An interrupt's priority level only affects hardware components.
• An interrupt's priority level is irrelevant to system performance.
• An interrupt's priority level indicates its duration in the system.

Reorder the following interrupts by priority level.

From highest to lowest.

• Power Failure Interrupt - Priority Level: 0 (Highest)

• Clock/Timer Interrupt - Priority Level: 1

• I/O Device Interrupt (e.g., Disk) - Priority Level: 2

• Keyboard Interrupt - Priority Level: 3

• Software Interrupt - Priority Level: 4 (Lowest)

What is a program that organizes interrupts into an order based upon priorities?

• Interrupt Handler (IH)

• Interrupt Service Routine (ISR)

What is a program that retrieves an interrupt and performs the required action(s)?

• Interrupt Handler (IH)

• Interrupt Service Routine (ISR)

What is a program that retrieves an interrupt and performs the required action(s)?

What is a program that organizes interrupts into an order based upon priorities?

Match this expressions with its translation.

• Interrupt Priority

• 中断优先级 (zhōngduàn yōuxiān jí)

• • Interrupt Signal

• • 中断信号 (zhōngduàn xìnhào)

• • Within the System

• • 系统内部 (xìtǒng nèibù)

• • Input Devices

• • 来自 (láizì)

• • Come From

• • 输入设备 (shūrù shèbèi)

What does interrupt means?

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