Loosely-coupled, synchronized execution
US5896523A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/1683
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Synchronized execution is maintained by compute elements processing instruction streams in a computer system including the compute elements and a controller. Each compute element includes a clock that operates asynchronously with respect to clocks of the other compute elements. Each compute element processes instructions from an instruction stream and counts the instructions processed. Upon processing a quantum of instructions from the instruction stream, the compute element initiates a synchronization procedure and continues to process instructions from the instruction stream and to count instructions processed from the instruction stream. The compute element halts processing of instructions from the instruction stream after processing an unspecified number of instructions from the instruction stream in addition to the quantum of instructions. Upon halting processing, the compute element sends a synchronization request to the controller and waits for a synchronization reply.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.