SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A REAL-TIME PROGRAMMABLE INTERFACE TO A GENERAL-PURPOSE NON-REAL-TIME COMPUTING SYSTEM

摘要

A system and method providing read-time external signals to and from a gamingapplication executing within a platform independent programming environment onacomputing system. The system comprises an input packet queue located within ablock ofsystem RAM coupled to a main system bus, a main processing module coupled tothemain system bus, and an intelligent I/O interface module coupled to the mainsystem busfor generating an input signal data packet in response to a change in state ofone or moreexternal signals. The intelligent I/O interface module comprises a controlprocessor, anplurality of external signal interfaces, and a dual-port RAM. The controlprocessorgenerates and stores the input signal data packet within the dual-port RAMbeforeasserting an interrupt signal to the main processing module. Finally, theinterrupt signalcauses the main processing module to transfer the input signal data packetfrom thedual-port RAM to the input packet queue. The main procesing system retrievesthe inputsignal data packets from the input queue by continually polling the queue andprocessingthe packets in the order received.