Computer Science – Software | e-Consult
Software (1 questions)
Login to see all questions.
Click on a question to view the answer
The Interrupt Vector Table (IVT) is a table in memory that contains the addresses of the interrupt handlers for each possible interrupt. It's a crucial component of the interrupt handling mechanism.
Role of the IVT: The IVT maps each interrupt number (IRQ) to the memory address of the corresponding interrupt handler routine. Each entry in the IVT contains the starting address of the function that should be executed when that specific interrupt occurs.
How the IVT is used during interrupt handling:
- When an interrupt occurs, the CPU receives an interrupt number (IRQ).
- The CPU uses this interrupt number as an index into the IVT.
- The value at that index in the IVT is the memory address of the interrupt handler for that particular interrupt.
- The CPU then loads this address into the Program Counter (PC) and jumps to the address in the IVT, effectively transferring control to the appropriate interrupt handler.
This mechanism ensures that the correct interrupt handler is executed for each type of interrupt, allowing the system to respond appropriately to different events.