Modular computer system
US4608631A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 1984 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 19, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/36
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A multi-processor computer system is disclosed in which processing elements, memory elements and peripheral units can be physically added and removed from the system without disrupting its operation or necessitating any reprogramming of software running on the system. The processing units, memory units and peripheral units are all coupled to a common system bus by specialized interface units. The processing elements are organized into partially independent groups each of which has dedicated interface units, but the processing units share system resources including peripherals and the entire memory space. Within each processing element group at any one time, group supervisory tasks are performed by one of the processors, but the supervisor function is passed among the processors in the group in a sequence to prevent a fault in one processor from disabling the entire group. Communication between groups is accomplished via the common memory areas. The transfer of the supervisor function from processor to processor is performed by registering the supervisor's identity in a common area in one of the dedicated interface units which area is accessable to all processors in the associated g…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.