It still looks like the authors were illustrating the blocking nature of these calls:
-
Blocking nature of
start_item. There’s a solid arrow starting fromstart_item, since it simultaneously places thereqinto the sequencer’s request FIFO. -
Blocking nature of
get_next_item. Since the driver doesn’t actually do anything in this call except wait for the next request, there’s no other solid line there. -
Blocking nature of
finish_item. There’s a solid arrow starting fromfinish_item, because that call simultaneously sends the request to the driver through the sequencer.
