Introduction to I/O                                                                                                                                  Print this page
<< Previous |  First | Last |  Next >>       

Processor & Device Communication

During the I/O operation, the I/O module must communicate with the processor and with the external device.

Processor communication involves the following -

  Command decoding :  
   
The I/O module accepts command from the processor, typically sent as signals on control bus.
 
  Data :  
   
Data are exchanged betweeen the processor and the I/O module over the data bus.
 
  Status Reporting :  
   
Because peripherals are so slow, it is important to know the status of the I/O module. For example, if an I/O module is asked to send data to the processor(read), it may not be ready to do so because it is still working on the previous I/O command. This fact can be reported with a status signal. Common status signals are BUSY and READY.
 
  Address Recognition :  
   
Just as each word of memory has an address, so thus each of the I/O devices. Thus an I/O module must recognize one unique address for each peripheral it controls.
 

On the other hand, the I/O must be able to perform device communication. This communication involves command, status information and data.

<< Previous |  First |  Last |  Next >>