Does Cortex-A8 support software interrupts?

Question

Does Cortex-A8 support Software Generated Interrupt, i.e is there any instruction to generate a software interrupt in Cortex-A8?

The manual mentions about SWI instruction (SVC), but this instruction seems to be used when changing the mode from user to SuperVisor mode.

Can I assume there is no Software Interrupt/Exception instruction supported in Cortex-A8?

Answer 1

Yes you are right. In the Cortex-A8 is the only software generated interrupt the Supervisor Call (SVC) instruction to enter Supervisor mode. The SVC handler reads the opcode to extract the SVC function number. A SVC handler returns by executing the following instruction, irrespective of the processor operating state:

MOVS PC, R14_svc

This action restores the PC and CPSR, and returns to the instruction following the SVC. IRQs are disabled when a software interrupt occurs.

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