Hi, I was learning about Intel 8086-80486 CPUs and their interactions with HW. But I still don´t understand it quite well. Please, help me fill blank spots.

First, I know that CPU communicates with HW using BIOS interrupts. But, what really happens in PC, when I call some INT instruction? I know that according the interrupt table some instructions begin to execute, but how by executing some instructions can BIOS recognize what I want to do? Becouse as far as I know, CPU has no extra communication channel with BIOS, it can only adress memory and receive data. So how can I instruct BIOS to do something, when I can only address RAM?

Next thing I don't understand is about privilege levels. I know about ring model, and access rights, but how does the CPU know which privilege level has executed an instruction? I think that these privileges apply only when intruction is trying to address memory, but how does an application get its privilege level? I mean I know its level 3, but how is it set?

And last thing, I know that paging is address scheme that is used to support aplication-transparent virtual memory, or swapping, but I could not find any information about how paging is tied with protected mode. Like if paging is like next mode independent of protected mode, or its somehow implemented within protected mode. And if it is implemented in protected mode, isn´t it too slow, to first address application space, then offset, and then paging folder, page and offset once again?