Functionality of Memory-Mapped I/O - 25.4.1 | 25. Programmed I/O Overview | Computer Organisation and Architecture - Vol 3
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Introduction to Memory-Mapped I/O

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Teacher
Teacher

Today we're going to explore memory-mapped I/O. Can anyone tell me what they understand by this term?

Student 1
Student 1

I think it means that the CPU can use memory addresses to communicate with I/O devices?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Memory-mapped I/O allows I/O devices to be treated as part of the memory space. This means the same address bus is used for both memory and devices. Now, why do you think this helps the CPU?

Student 2
Student 2

It makes communication faster because the CPU can access I/O devices just like it accesses memory?

Teacher
Teacher

Great point! Remember, we call this integration because it can simplify the architecture but also has its challenges.

Student 3
Student 3

What are those challenges?

Teacher
Teacher

Good question! One challenge is that memory addresses are shared, which limits the number of devices that can be connected. We’ll explore this further. To remember this, think of the acronym MMI – Memory Mapped I/O.

Teacher
Teacher

To summarize, memory-mapped I/O integrates device communication into the CPU's address space, enhancing speed but restricting the total addressable I/O devices.

Polling in Programmed I/O

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's talk about how the CPU communicates with I/O devices using polling. Who can explain what polling means?

Student 4
Student 4

Polling is when the CPU continuously checks if an I/O device is ready for transferring data?

Teacher
Teacher

That's right! By polling, the CPU checks a status bit repeatedly. What challenges does this present?

Student 1
Student 1

It wastes CPU time since it can’t do other tasks while waiting, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! So it’s inefficient. We have to address this in system design. Let’s remember this with the mnemonic 'Busy Bee' – because the CPU is busy polling instead of processing other tasks.

Student 2
Student 2

So, polling isn't the most efficient way to handle I/O?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! We might rely on interrupt-driven I/O as an alternative. To summarize, while polling is a simple approach for programmed I/O, it can lead to wasted CPU resources.

Addressing and Control Commands

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let’s delve into how we identify I/O devices using addressing schemes. Who can help me understand the addressing mechanism?

Student 3
Student 3

We need unique addresses for each I/O device, similar to memory addressing?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly. In both memory-mapped I/O and isolated I/O, we need distinct addresses. Can anyone explain the difference between these two types?

Student 4
Student 4

In memory-mapped I/O, the same address space is shared by memory and I/O devices, while isolated I/O has separate spaces for each.

Teacher
Teacher

Well done! This separation allows more devices to be connected in isolated I/O systems. Now, discussing control commands, why do we need specific instructions for reading and writing?

Student 2
Student 2

To ensure the CPU correctly communicates with both memory and I/O, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! A mnemonic you can use here is 'C4R' for Control Commands for Reading and Writing. So to recap: I/O addressing allows unique identification of devices, affecting the overall architecture design significantly.

Programmed I/O Steps

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Teacher
Teacher

I’d like to wrap up by discussing the steps involved in programmed I/O operations. Can anyone outline these steps?

Student 1
Student 1

First, the CPU requests the I/O operation?

Teacher
Teacher

That's the first step. Then what follows?

Student 2
Student 2

The I/O module checks the status and sets the status bit accordingly!

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent! The CPU then polled the status bits. Why doesn’t the I/O module just tell the CPU directly?

Student 3
Student 3

It’s part of the design. Does it help reduce complexity for the CPU?

Teacher
Teacher

Precisely! Complexity reduction is a significant benefit. Lastly, once the device is ready, data transfer occurs, which can be broken down into read and write steps. Let’s summarize the I/O steps: Request, check status, poll, and then transfer.

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section discusses the functionality of memory-mapped I/O, focusing on the communication between CPU and I/O devices, the addressing schemes, and their significance.

Standard

The section elaborates on how CPU interacts with I/O devices through memory-mapped I/O and isolated I/O. It discusses the polling method, I/O addressing, and the command requirements to facilitate data transfer effectively, while addressing the limitations and advantages of each approach.

Detailed

Functionality of Memory-Mapped I/O

In computer architecture, memory-mapped I/O allows the CPU to communicate with peripheral devices using the same address space as the main memory. This approach facilitates an integrated method of interfacing input/output devices by assigning unique addresses within a predefined space. Typically, when a device is ready for data transfer, the CPU polls these addresses to check the device's status. This section elaborately discusses the procedure of programmed I/O, the significance of command structures, and the necessity of a unique addressing scheme to manage both memory and I/O devices efficiently. It distinguishes between memory-mapped I/O, where I/O devices share the same address space as memory, and isolated I/O, which allocates separate address spaces for memory and I/O devices. With both concepts, the importance of control signals and addressing mechanisms plays a critical role in efficient data transfer between the CPU and peripheral devices.

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Polling and CPU Wastage

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So, basically it is a sensing of status, then using the read write command, then transferring of data; this is the way that we are going to do, but here what is the problem that we have first? CPU needs to wait and poll, it is checking it continuously. So, it cannot do any other work. So, there is a wastage of CPU time.

Detailed Explanation

In memory-mapped I/O, the CPU repeatedly checks the status of a device to see if it is ready to send or receive data. This process is called polling. While the CPU is doing this, it cannot perform other tasks, leading to inefficient use of CPU resources and time. Essentially, the CPU is sitting idle, waiting for devices to become ready instead of being productive.

Examples & Analogies

Think of polling like waiting for a friend to reply to your text message. If you keep checking your phone every few seconds, you can't focus on anything else, and you may waste a lot of time when you could be doing something fun or interesting.

Programmed I/O Steps

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So, basically this is now programmed I/O details now you just see these are the simple steps ; first one CPU requests to I/O operation that in processor we have shown it, I/O module performs operation, then by looking into the state of the devices I/O module sets the status bit, CPU checks status bits periodically, I/O module does not inform CPU directly...

Detailed Explanation

In programmed I/O, the CPU initiates the I/O operation by sending a request. The I/O module then performs the requested operation and updates a status bit that indicates whether the device is ready. The CPU continuously checks this status bit to determine the next steps. Unlike interrupt-driven I/O, there is no direct notification from the I/O module to the CPU; instead, it relies on the CPU to check periodically.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine you're waiting for an elevator. You push the button to request it, and then you keep looking at the light panel to see if the elevator has arrived. You can't do anything else while you wait, and the elevator won't knock on your door to let you know when it's there; you have to keep checking.

Addressing I/O Devices

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Already I have mentioned that we need some commands I/O commands. So, first the issues for that I/O command is like that how to identify the module. So that means, we have to have device address...

Detailed Explanation

To communicate with I/O devices, the CPU must know how to identify each device uniquely, which is achieved through addressing. Each device connected to the system must have a unique address, similar to how each house has a unique address. This allows the CPU to retrieve data from or send data to the correct device during operations.

Examples & Analogies

Think of it like sending a letter. You need the specific address of where you want to send it. Just as you would write the address on an envelope to ensure it reaches the right person, the CPU uses the unique address to make sure data is sent to the correct I/O device.

Memory-Mapped I/O vs Isolated I/O

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In that particular case we are having two different ways of doing it. One is your memory mapped I/O and second one is your isolated I/O...

Detailed Explanation

Memory-mapped I/O uses the same address space for both memory and I/O devices, meaning some memory addresses are reserved for device communication. In contrast, isolated I/O has separate address spaces for memory and I/O devices, with an additional control signal to determine whether a specified address refers to a memory location or an I/O device.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a library where books (memory) and magazines (I/O devices) are stored in the same section: that's like memory-mapped I/O. Now imagine a library where books are on one floor and magazines on another; this separation resembles isolated I/O, where you need to remember which floor to check for specific information.

I/O Commands Types

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So, in most of the cases we are talking about your LDA load accumulator or say SPA store accumulator; one is your read command, another is write command...

Detailed Explanation

I/O commands can be categorized into three main types: control commands to manage devices, test commands to check device status, and read/write commands to transfer data. These commands instruct the CPU on how to interact with I/O modules, enabling data exchanges between the CPU and devices.

Examples & Analogies

Think of commands like different types of instructions you give to a waiter in a restaurant. You can ask them to check if a dish is available (test), give an order (control), or ask for a drink refill (read/write). Each instruction tells the waiter what you want from the menu, just as the CPU instructs the I/O module on how to handle data.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Polling: The process of checking the status of an I/O device.

  • Memory-Mapped I/O: An architecture where I/O and memory share the same address space.

  • Isolated I/O: An architecture with separate address spaces for memory and I/O devices.

  • Control Commands: Commands issued by the CPU to manage I/O operations.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Example of memory-mapped I/O: A printer accessed via a defined memory address.

  • Example of polling: Continuously checking a status register to see if a device is ready to send data.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Polling's the game, checking the same, wasting CPU time, isn’t it a shame?

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a programmer who uses a bridge to help cars cross the river (I/O devices). Memory-mapped I/O helps manage both sides of the river with the same road (address space) making transport efficient yet limited.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • I.O.C. - Identify, Operate, Control commands for I/O operations.

🎯 Super Acronyms

MMI - Memory Mapped I/O for memory and device address space sharing.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: MemoryMapped I/O

    Definition:

    A method where I/O devices are assigned memory addresses and can be accessed like memory.

  • Term: Polling

    Definition:

    A method of repeatedly checking the status of an I/O device to determine if it is ready for data transfer.

  • Term: Control Commands

    Definition:

    Instructions sent by the CPU to identify and control I/O devices for read/write operations.

  • Term: Addressing Scheme

    Definition:

    The method of assigning unique addresses to memory locations and I/O devices.

  • Term: Isolated I/O

    Definition:

    A method where memory and I/O devices have separate address spaces.