Paper 1 Theory Unit 4 Operating Systems and Computer Architecture

The Operating Systems:-

The Operating System is essentially a software that is running in the
Background that manages the basic functions shown here. The tasks
mentioned here are not all performed by all OS but it is just to give some
basic idea. Without the OS, using a computer to perform day to day tasks
will become impossible.
Common examples of an operating systems include:-
- Windows:-
- It is a single user Multi-Tasking OS i.e. only one user can
use the computer at a time but can have many applications
open at the same time.
- Linux
- Android
- UNIX
- DOS
When the computer is first turned on start-up programs are loaded into the memory
from the ROM (read only memory) that make sure that hardware (such processor,
internal memory and BIOS are working correctly). Following which, the operating
systems is loaded into memory.
Simple devices (such as the ones with embedded microprocessors) do not have
Operating Systems as they allow simple hardware functions which can be selected
simply (touch of a button or selection from a screen).
An INTERRUPT is a signal sent from HW (for e.g. paper jam in printer, disk drive ready
for data writing, key press, mouse click) or SW (for e.g. launching of a user application,
Timer Interrupt that will cause to switch between processes or division by zero error) that will
cause the CPU to drop whatever it was doing and attend to the (service) the source
of the interrupt. It is especially due to SW interrupts that we are allowed to carry
out multiple tasks at the same time (multitasking) so seamlessly. For CPU to come
back to what it was doing before the interrupt occurred, it has to save its current
state. The CPU does this by saving the contents of its register in the RAM (possibly
using a FIFO stack) so that when its done servicing the interrupt it can access the
RAM, reload its registers and start execution from where it left off. This transition is
carried out by an important part of the OS known as Interrupt Handler.
When discussing modern OS the role of BUFFERS cannot be ignored. These are
temporary storage areas that are used to compensation the speed of a CPU as
compared to other much slower hardware devices. If it weren’t for buffers, the
CPU would waste valuable clock cycles waiting for some hardware to complete its
operation. Instead now, when a HW is working on some task its accessing data
from within a buffer put there by the CPU earlier. The CPU (who is busy with
something else) is only notified (via interrupt) when then the task is complete.
For example consider how a printer would work (also shown with flow chart à) :-
- The CPU sends a part of a document to the printer’s buffer (a.k.a “print spool”)
and starts working on some other task.
- When the printer is done with printing the contents in the buffer it sends an
interrupt which will cause the CPU to drop what it was doing and send more
data to the buffer and then go back to what it was doing before.
- This process is carried out till the entire document is printed.
NOTE:-The amount of data that the CPU can send at one time to any HW is limited
to the size of its buffer.
Early versions of COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE consisted of machines that were
fed with data while they were running. Which meant that they weren’t able to store
data/programs and required HUMAN INTERVENTION to supply machines with
data to complete any task. It was only till 1945 when John Von Neumann proposed
the VON NEUMANN ARCHITECTURE that allowed for a memory like unit that
could store programs and data, due to which data and programs could move
between processor and memory without human intervention.
We can see the different buses used here to
connect different parts of the architecture. à

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A-Levels/IGCSE/O-Levels Computer Science https://sites.google.com/site/csvault042/home
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Paper 1 Theory Unit 4 Operating Systems and Computer Architecture

A more detailed diagram is shown here with depiction of

REGISTERS. Also shown above is the tables that outlines
the different BUSES and their working.
The Von Neumann model relies on UNIQUE ADDRESSES (where the
data is stored in the memory) and REGISTERS (high speed storages that
are needed for manipulating data before being processed). For example,
adding two numbers will require both numbers as well as the sum to be
stored in a register.
The CONTROL UNIT is comprised of the
CURRENT INSTRUCTION REGISTER or CIR
which holds the “instruction” that is currently
being processed and the PROGRAM COUNTER
or PC which holds the “address” of the next
instruction to be executed. The control unit
basically (1) reads the instruction from location in
the PC (2) interprets or “decodes” it (3) then
sends signals via the control bus to other
components of the computer telling them what to
do.
THE PROCESSOR is comprised of the
ARITHMATIC AND LOGIC UNIT or ALU The INPUT and OUTPUT devices essentially provide (input) the computer with
(carries out operations such as arithmetic data in a computer understandable form and then present (output) results in human
operations such as ADD or SUBTRACT and logic understandable form.
operations such AND, OR, NOT) (discussed in more detail in UNIT 5)
The Fetch Decode Execute Cycle:-
To carry out its processing the
PROCESSOR needs to fetch
instructions and data from memory,
decode them and then finally execute
them. This process is known as the
FETCH DECODE EXECUTE cycle.

Hassan Zulfiqar Haider For more study material please visit:-

A-Levels/IGCSE/O-Levels Computer Science https://sites.google.com/site/csvault042/home
03234140902
hassanzulfiqarhaider@gmail.com