Patent · US Expired

Multiprocessor system

US4228496A · kind A · utility

335Cited by
13References
80Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 7, 1976
Grant dateOct 14, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 7, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F15/173
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A multiprocessor system the kind in which two or more separate processor modules are interconnected for parallel processing includes two redundant interprocessor buses dedicated exclusively to interprocessor communication. Any processor module may send information to any other processor module by either bus. The buses are shared in use by the processor modules on a time-sharing basis. Use of each bus is controlled by a special bus controller. The multiprocessor system includes an input/output system having multi-port device controllers and input/output buses connecting each device controller for access by the input/output channels of at least two different processor modules. Each device controller includes logic which insures that only one port is selected for access at a time. The multiprocessor system includes a distributed power supply system which insures nonstop operation of the remainder of the multiprocessor system in the event of a failure of a power supply for a part of the system. The distributed power supply system includes a separate power supply for each processor module and two separate power supplies for each device controller. Either one of the two power supplies pr…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.