Understanding Interrupts in Computer Systems

a) Advantage of Interrupts for Peripheral Devices

Explain the advantage of using interrupts as a technique for handling peripheral devices and relate it to computer performance. (10)

Answer

Interrupts offer a significant advantage because the processor doesn't need to constantly poll peripherals to check for data readiness. Instead, the peripheral alerts the processor when it's ready. This allows the processor to focus on other tasks while waiting for the peripheral, thus increasing overall computer performance.

b) Multiple Choice Questions on Interrupts

With regard to interrupts, check only what is correct in the following statements. (8) Explain why the last statement has been marked as correct. (7) Total 15 points

1.

To be considered an interrupt, the controller must interrupt the process, and then the process requests an interrupt from the microprocessor.

2.

When the microprocessor receives an interrupt request and is ready to handle it, it first completes the current instruction it's executing before handling the interrupt.

3.

The interrupt vector table stores the addresses of variables used by the interrupt service subroutine.

4.

Interrupts can be nested, meaning that if the microprocessor is already running an interrupt service subroutine, it can temporarily pause that subroutine to handle another interrupt.

5.

When accessing relatively slow memory, the processor can wait for an interrupt from the memory to signal that it's ready to complete the machine cycle.

Response

Statement 5 is incorrect because synchronizing the processor's machine cycle with the memory's access time is typically achieved using the READY pin. Waiting for an interrupt in this scenario wouldn't be efficient.

a) Advantage of Interrupts for Peripheral Devices (Repeated)

Explain the advantage of using interrupts as a technique for handling peripheral devices and relate it to computer performance. (10)

Answer

Interrupts offer a significant advantage because the processor doesn't need to constantly poll peripherals to check for data readiness. Instead, the peripheral alerts the processor when it's ready. This allows the processor to focus on other tasks while waiting for the peripheral, thus increasing overall computer performance.