Peripheral Devices and I/O Interfaces Quiz

Which of the following statements correctly explains the concept of device independence as applied to peripheral devices in modern computing?

• Device independence allows a system to operate without requiring specific hardware drivers.

• It ensures that application software can use any available peripheral device without modification.

• Device independence guarantees compatibility between different operating systems and peripherals.

• It mandates that all devices follow universal standards to ensure seamless communication.

In a system with multiple peripherals connected via a daisy-chained interface, what potential problem arises when one device fails, and how can this be mitigated?

• Communication halts entirely; use redundancy to avoid single points of failure.

• Data packets are corrupted; implement error detection and correction mechanisms.

• Bandwidth decreases significantly; utilize load balancing.

• Power distribution becomes uneven; employ a central power source.

In the context of I/O interfaces, how does memory-mapped I/O differ from isolated I/O regarding system bus utilization and addressing?

• Memory-mapped I/O uses the data bus exclusively, whereas isolated I/O requires separate control lines.

• Memory-mapped I/O integrates peripheral addressing within the system's memory space, while isolated I/O uses dedicated address ranges.

• Isolated I/O provides faster data transfer rates by bypassing the CPU, whereas memory-mapped I/O is slower due to interrupt handling.

• Memory-mapped I/O limits the number of addressable devices, whereas isolated I/O supports unlimited peripherals.

What challenge is inherent in implementing a bidirectional I/O interface, and how can it be addressed?

• Data collision occurs frequently; use tri-state buffers for direction control.

• Signal timing becomes inconsistent; employ a synchronous clock signal.

• Voltage levels may drop; install voltage stabilizers.

• Data transfer speed decreases; use pipelined registers.

In an asynchronous communication system, which mechanism ensures the receiver can correctly interpret the start and end of a data frame?

• Parity bits embedded in each byte.

• Start and stop bits in the transmission protocol.

• Clock signals synchronized at both ends.

• Handshaking protocols for synchronization.

What is the primary drawback of using handshaking in asynchronous data transfer, and how is it mitigated in modern systems?

• Increased data overhead; implement higher bit-rate communication.

• Latency in synchronization; use buffered I/O mechanisms.

• Complexity in hardware design; employ standardized bus interfaces.

• Risk of deadlock; integrate timeout counters.

Which of the following modes of transfer is most suitable for real-time systems, and why?

• Interrupt-driven I/O, because it allows non-blocking processing.

• Direct Memory Access, because it minimizes CPU intervention.

• Programmed I/O, because it guarantees sequential processing.

• Polling, because it provides continuous status monitoring.

In the burst mode of data transfer, what specific condition can lead to bus contention, and how is it avoided?

• Multiple devices requesting access simultaneously; use priority arbitration.

• Data exceeding buffer capacity; implement flow control mechanisms.

• Variable clock speeds; synchronize with a master clock.

• Device failure; integrate redundancy protocols.

In a priority interrupt system, how does the system ensure that higher-priority devices are serviced before lower-priority ones?

• By assigning unique interrupt vector addresses.

• By employing a daisy-chain priority resolution scheme.

• By preemptively disabling lower-priority interrupts.

• By dynamically reordering the interrupt queue based on real-time conditions.

What is the critical trade-off of increasing the granularity of priority levels in an interrupt system?

• Reduced system responsiveness due to added complexity in priority arbitration.

• Increased interrupt latency for low-priority tasks.

• Higher hardware requirements for managing priority resolution.

• All of the above.