MCA I/M.Sc.

(IT) I
Computer Organization and Architecture
TMC 102/TMI 102
By
Jaishankar Bhatt
Assistant Professor
Graphic Era Deemed to be University
Dehradun
Graphic Era Deemed to be University
1
Dehradun
 Unit 3
Topic Name : Input Output Interface

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Input output Interface
3. Isolated and Memory mapped I/O
4. Difference between Isolated and Memory mapped I/O
5. References.

Graphic Era deemed to be University

2
Dehradun
Input Output Interface: - Input-output interface provides a method for
transferring information between internal storage and external I/O devices.
Peripherals connected to a computer need special communication links for
interfacing them with the central processing unit. The purpose of the
communication link is to resolve the differences that exist between the
central computer and each peripheral. The major differences are:

1. Peripherals are electromechanical and electromagnetic devices and their

manner of operation is different from the operation of the CPU and memory,
which are electronic devices. Therefore, a conversion of signal values may be
required.
2. The data transfer rate of peripherals is usually slower than the transfer rate
of the CPU, and consequently, a synchronization mechanism may be need.

Graphic Era deemed to be University

3
Dehradun
3. Data codes and formats in peripherals differ form the word format in the
CPU and memory.
4. The operating modes of peripherals are different from each other and each
must be controlled so as not to disturb the operation of other peripherals
connected to the CPU.
To resolve these differences, computer systems include special hardware
components between the CPU and peripherals to supervise and synchronize all
input and output transfers. These components are called interface units
because they interface between the processor bus and the peripheral device.
In addition, each device may have its own controller that supervises the
operations of the particular mechanism in the peripheral.

Graphic Era deemed to be University

4
Dehradun
Block diagram of Input Output interface

Graphic Era deemed to be University

5
Dehradun
The I/O bus from the processor is attached to all peripheral interfaces. To communicate
with a particular device, the processor places a device address on the address bus.
Each interface attached to the I/O bus contains an address decoder that monitors the
address bus. When the interface detects its own address, it activates the path between
the bus lines and the device that it controls. All peripherals whose address does not
correspond to the address in the bus are disabled their interface.
I/O VERSUS MEMORY BUS: - In addition to communicating with I/O, the processor
must communicate with the memory unit. Like the I/O bus, the memory bus contains
data, address, and read/write control lines. There are three ways that computer buses
can be used to communicate with memory and I/O:
1. Use two separate buses, one for memory and the other for I/O.
2. Use one common bus for both memory and I/O but have separate control lines for
each.
3. Use one common bus for memory and I/O with common control lines.

Graphic Era deemed to be University

6
Dehradun
In the first method, the computer has independent sets of data, address,
and control buses, one for accessing memory and the other for I/O. This
is done in computers that provide a separate I/O processor (IOP) in
addition to the central processing unit (CPU). The memory communicates
with both the CPU and the IOP through a memory bus. The IOP
communicates also with the input and output devices through a separate
I/O bus with its own address, data and control lines. The purpose of the
IOP is to provide an independent pathway for the transfer of information
between external devices and internal memory.

Graphic Era deemed to be University

7
Dehradun
Isolated versus Memory Mapped I/O: - In a computer system information is
transferred between memory or I/O and the CPU. Memory transfer means
data transfer between CPU and memory and I/O transfer means data transfer
between CPU and I/O devices. There are two ways through which CPU
transfer data to memory or I/O devices, which are as follows.
1. Isolated I/O 2. Memory mapped I/O
1. Isolated I/O: - In isolated I/O technique CPU uses different instructions to
communicate memory and I/O devices. Separate addresses are also used for
memory and I/O devices. In this case CPU consider memory and peripheral
devices in two separate things.
2. Memory Mapped I/O: - In this case CPU uses same instruction to
communicates between memory and I/O devices. It doesn’t differ between
memory and I/O devices. Memory and I/O devices share the same address
apace. CPU considers the peripheral as a part of memory.
Graphic Era deemed to be University
8
Dehradun
Difference between Isolated and Memory Mapped I/O: -

Graphic Era deemed to be University

9
Dehradun
References
• Computer System Architecture, Morris Mano, PHI .
• Computer Organization & Architecture: Designing for Performance,
Stalling, PHI.
• Computer Organization and Architecture, Stalling, Pearson Education.
• Computer Architecture and Organization, J.P. Hayes McGraw Hill
Company, New Delhi.

Graphic Era deemed to be University

10
Dehradun