Method and device for the counting and management of asynchronous events emitted by peripheral devices in a data processing system

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1, which further comprises the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device apart from an asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device.

Claim 4

A method in accordance with claim 2, which further comprises, following the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device, if the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register, withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are not more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue.

Claim 5

A method in accordance with claim 1, which further comprises the step of modifying the content of the boundary register assigned to a particular peripheral so as to increase the limit value in the event of an overflow situation applying to the particular peripheral device.

Claim 6

A method in accordance with claim 4, which further comprises the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device apart from an asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device.

Claim 7

A method in accordance with claim 5, which further comprises, following the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device, if the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register, withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are not more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue.

Claim 8

A method in accordance with claim 4, which further comprises, following the step of modifying the content of the boundary register assigned to a particular peripheral device, if the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register, withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are no more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue.

Claim 9

A method in accordance with claim 7, which further comprises the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device apart from an asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device.

Claim 10

A method in accordance with claim 8, which further comprises, following the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device, if the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register, withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are no more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue.

Claim 11

In a data processing system of the type including a central processing system and a plurality of peripheral devices emitting asynchronous messages, an input-output controller including microprograms for controlling data transfer between the peripheral devices and the central processing system, said input-output controller comprising: a transmitted events counter assigned to each peripheral device; a boundary register assigned to each peripheral device for storing a limit value; means for receiving each asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device; means for forming an event message intended for forming the central processing system of the asynchronous message; and means for accessing the transmitted events counter assigned to the particular peripheral device and comparing the content of this transmitted events counter with the content of the boundary register assigned to the particular peripheral device, and, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is less than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a primary waiting queue where event messages wait for action by the central processing system, and incrementing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter, or, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a secondary waiting queue where the event message remains so long as the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register.

Claim 12

In a data processing system of the type including a central processing system and a plurality of peripheral devices emitting asynchronous messages, an input-output controller including microprograms for controlling data transfer between the peripheral devices and the central processing system, said input-output controller comprising: a transmitted events counter assigned to each peripheral device; a boundary register assigned to each peripheral device for storing a limit value; means for receiving each asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device; means for forming an event message intended for forming the central processing system of the asynchronous message; and means for accessing the transmitted events counter assigned to the particular peripheral device and comparing the content of this transmitted events counter with the content of the boundary register assigned to the particular peripheral device, and, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is less than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a primary waiting queue where event messages wait for action by the central processing system, and incrementing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter, or, if the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register, then placing the event message in a secondary waiting queue where the event message remains so long as the content of the accessed transmitted events counter is equal to or greater than the content of the assigned boundary register.

Claim 13

An input-output controller in accordance with claim 10, which further comprises means for modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device apart from an asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device.

Claim 14

An input-output controller in accordance with claim 11, which further comprises means for withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are no more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue, if, following the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device, the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register.

Claim 15

An input-output controller in accordance with claim 10, wherein the content of the boundary register assigned to a particular peripheral is capable of being modified so as to increase the limit value in the event of an overflow situation applying to the particular peripheral device.

Claim 16

A method in accordance with claim 13, which further comprises means for modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device apart from an asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device.

Claim 17

An input-output controller in accordance with claim 14, which further comprises means for withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are no more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue, if, following the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device, the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register.

Claim 18

An input-output controller in accordance with claim 13, which further comprises means for withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are no more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue, if, following the step of modifying the content of the boundary register assigned to a particular peripheral device the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register.

Claim 19

A method in accordance with claim 16, which further comprises means for modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device apart from an asynchronous message emitted by a peripheral device.

Claim 20

An input-output controller in accordance with claim 17, which further comprises means for withdrawing from the secondary waiting queue and placing in the primary waiting queue as many event messages as are necessary such that, by increasing by one the content of the accessed transmitted events counter upon each placing of a new event message into the primary queue, the content of the accessed transmitted events counter reaches the limit value contained in the assigned boundary register, or until there are no more event messages waiting in the primary waiting queue, if, following the step of modifying the content of the transmitted events counter assigned to a particular peripheral device, the content of the transmitted events counter is then less than the limit value in the boundary register.