Multi-node system with global access states
US8024526B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 9, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 24, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0817
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system may include several nodes coupled by an inter-node network configured to convey coherency messages between the nodes. Each node may include several active devices coupled by an address network and a data network. The nodes implement a coherency protocol such that if an active device in one of the nodes has an ownership responsibility for a coherency unit, no active device in any of the other nodes has a valid access right to the coherency unit. For example, if a node receives a coherency message requesting read access to a coherency unit from another node, the node may respond by conveying a proxy address packet, receipt of which removes ownership, on the node's address network to an owning active device. In contrast, the active device's ownership responsibility may not be removed in response to a device within the same node requesting read access to the coherency unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.