In vectored interrupts, how does the device identify itself to the pro...
Answer: c
Explanation: By sending the starting address of the routine the device ids the routine required and thereby identifying itself.
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In vectored interrupts, how does the device identify itself to the pro...
Introduction:
Vectored interrupts are a mechanism used in computer systems to handle interrupts from various devices. When a device wants to communicate with the processor, it generates an interrupt signal. In vectored interrupts, the device needs to identify itself to the processor so that the appropriate interrupt service routine can be executed.
Identification Mechanism:
In vectored interrupts, the device identifies itself to the processor by sending the starting address of the service routine. This is known as the vector address. The vector address points to the location in memory where the interrupt service routine for that particular device is located.
Advantages of Using Vector Addresses:
Using vector addresses for identification has several advantages:
1. Efficient Handling: By sending the vector address, the device directly communicates the location of its service routine to the processor. This eliminates the need for the processor to search through a table or perform additional processing to identify the device.
2. Flexibility: Each device can have its own unique vector address, allowing for easy identification and handling of multiple interrupts from different devices.
3. Dynamic Configuration: Vector addresses can be dynamically configured or changed in some systems. This allows for flexibility in adding or removing devices without requiring significant changes to the interrupt handling mechanism.
4. Separation of Concerns: Using vector addresses enables the separation of the interrupt handling code from the device driver code. The interrupt service routine can be located at a fixed memory location, while the device driver can be updated or modified independently.
Conclusion:
In vectored interrupts, the device identifies itself to the processor by sending the starting address of its service routine, known as the vector address. This mechanism allows for efficient and flexible handling of interrupts from multiple devices, as well as separating the concerns of interrupt handling and device driver code.