Custom Component communication/ triggering - Possibilities

Hello together,

I try to build up a QSYS-System in which a custom component (e.g. custom GPIO) can trigger a second custom component (e.g. custom Timer).

Till now I figured out two possibilities:

1. The triggering can be done via a Avalon Streaming Interface (Avalon-ST). (Figure 1 in attachment)

2. The triggering of the component 2 can be done via a IRQ from component 1 to the NIOS. The NIOS can set the component then via the Avalon-MM. (Illustrated in figure 2 of the attachment)

Because of my lack of knowledge I have three questions:

1. Which of my ideas would be faster and or more adequate for my application.

2. Are there any online courser, tutorials (like the one from the university program) or papers available which describe

3. Are there smarter possibilities? (I'm quite sure :-))

Thank you in advance!

Best regards

Stefan