Unit 5: Input-Output Organization
Marks: 10 out of 70
Course Outcome: Visualize CPU-I/O Communication and working.
5.1 Input-Output Interface
• Used to transfer information between processor / internal storage and
external I/O devices.
• Characteristics of Each device:
i. Type of device.
ii. Data transfer rate.
iii. Data formats.
iv. Operating mode.
Each device has its own characteristics value.
Interface unit consists of following components
i. Data Bus Buffer: storing bits of information before transmission
ii. Timing and Control logic: generates necessary timing and control
signals for transmission.
iii. Port A, Port B: used to transfer data between Input-Output device and
interface unit
iv. Control Register: stores control signals for input and output operations
between CPU and I/O device.
v. Status Register: Indicates status of data register, port A, port B and
record error.
5.2 Modes of transfer
There are three modes of transfer
1. Programmed I/O
2. Interrupt Initiated I/O
3. DMA (Direct Memory Access)
Programmed I/O Interrupt Initiated I/O
1. Microprocessor ask each device 1. Whenever any I/O device want to
for data transfer if they have any. transfer to microprocessor, it sends
interrupt signal to microprocessor.
2. Most of the time microprocessor 2. Microprocessor is available for
remains busy in asking all devices. processing instead of waiting for
devices to respond.
3. Simple method 3. Sophisticated method
4. Synchronous operations 4. Asynchronous operations
5. Different types of device ports are 5. Different types of interrupts are
used for communication. used for communication
- Software or hardware
- Maskable or non-maskable
- Vectored or non-vectored
DMA (Direct Memory Access)
• Transfers data between memory and peripheral devices, without the
participation of the processor.
• DMA ask for control of bus from microprocessor using pin HOLD
• Microprocessor gives control of bus to DMA using pin HLDA
• In both programmed I/O and Interrupt Initiated I/O, processor remains
busy for transfer.
• In DMA processor remains busy in execution of instruction meanwhile
DMA performs all data transfer operations between memory and I/O
device.
The DMA controller transfers the data in three modes:
1. Burst Mode: DMA releases bus only after complete data transfer.
2. Cycle Stealing Mode: DMA steals one cycle for transferring single byte
of data and then releases bus.
3. Transparent Mode: DMA controller takes the charge of system bus only
if the processor does not require the system bus.
5.3 CPU-IOP Communication
