Remote distributed interrupt control for computer peripherals

A special broadcast communication link is provided between a central processing unit and plural computer peripheral devices, the communication link being in addition to normal data and addressing communication lines, and providing a distributed control channel which is used to inhibit selected classes of interrupt signals from controllers associated with the peripheral devices in accordance with an interrupt classification system. This communication channel permits the central processing unit to issue a data command which selectively inhibits the peripheral devices from issuing selected classes of interrupt signals.