Patent · US Active

Context switching for computing architecture operating on sequential data

US9996387B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 6, 2017
Grant dateJun 12, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 6, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A data stream processing unit (DPU) and methods for its use and programming are disclosed. A DPU includes a number of processing elements (PEs) arranged in a physical sequence. Each datum in the data stream visits each PE in sequence. Each PE has a memory circuit, data and metadata input and output channels, and a computing circuit. The metadata input represents a partial computational state that is associated with each datum as it passes through the DPU. Each computing circuit implements a finite state machine that operates on the data and metadata inputs as a function of its position in the sequence and a data context, producing an altered partial computational state that accompanies the datum. When the data context changes, the current state of the finite state machine is stored, and a new state is loaded. The processing elements may be collectively programmed to perform any desired computation.

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