Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an interface mechanism and particularly to an interface mechanism for interfacing a real-time clock operating at a first frequency with a data processing circuit operating at a second frequency. The interface mechanism comprises a first input for receiving a relative real-time clock value from the real-time clock, and a second input for receiving an update value from the data processing circuit specifying a desired value for the real-time clock. Update logic is also provided for producing an absolute real-time clock value, the update logic being arranged in response to receipt of the update value to generate an offset value derived from the relative real-time clock value and the update value, the offset value then being applied to the relative real-time clock value to produce an updated absolute real-time clock value. The updated absolute real-time clock value is then output from the interface mechanism. This enables the update of the real-time clock to be performed very efficiently, without the need to perform any of the update procedure in the slow frequency domain of the real-time clock.

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First Claim