9 Describe what happens when a processor which is currently working on a job receives an

interrupt from an external source.

Current cycle is completed

- Priority of interrupt compared with current job
If higher:
- Contents of special registers saved/job placed in blocked state/in ready Q
- Interrupt/program for execution of interrupt, is identified/vectored interrupt
used
- Interrupt serviced by running program
- On completion values of special registers from original program area
replaced/original job restored
If lower:
- Interrupt allocated position in job queue...
- According to priorities
- Current job continues with next cycle

7 Describe the stages of the process of transferring data from memory to backing store. Your
answer should include references to buffers and interrupts. [6]
-Processor fills buffer with data
-Processor continues with other job
-Buffer is emptied to storage device
-When buffer empty
-signal sent to processor (interrupt)…
-requesting further data to be sent to buffer
-dependent on priority
-Processor interrupts present job to refill buffer
-Mention of double buffering

9 Explain how interrupts are dealt with by a processor and how interrupted jobs may later be
resumed.
-Interrupt given a priority
-Placed in queue with other interrupts to be done…
-according to priority.
-When it becomes the highest priority interrupt it is dealt with
-Contents of special registers are placed on a stack/saved
-Interrupt (and others) dealt with
-values read from stack into special registers.
-Check for interrupt(s) at end of each cycle before fetching next instruction
-Vectored interrupts