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to service an interrupting device, the processor saves its current
state and then performs the servicing tasks.
When the servicing
tasks are completed, the saved state of the processor is restored
and the operation prior to the interrupt is resumed. Consequently,
the processing power of the processor is
increased because the
overhead from polling peripheral devices for a service request is
eliminated.
In a general sense, a generic multi-processor system can be
viewed as illustrated in Figure 1.1.
Various subsystems such as
data processing, storage and data communications are
along a system bus to make up a complete system.
comprised
of
memory,
I/O
and
processor
integrated
Each subsystem is
modules
configured
to
accommodate the unique requirements of the users of the multiprocessor system.
entire system.
A system controller acts as the arbiter for the
The system controller directs the information flow,
much as a traffic policeman directs traffic, between the various
subsystems
along
the system bus to ensure
properly coordinated.
that
the
system
is
In order for each subsystem to have access
to the system bus, logic must be incorporated within each subsystem
to allow it to interface to the system bus.
The main thrust of this thesis is to explore the concepts of
bus
structure, memory-management and interrupt control.
These
concepts are addressed in a greater depth than would be possible in
a classroom environment.
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