1991-04-02
1993-10-05
Richardson, Robert L.
G06F 1300
Patent
active
052513009
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is the national phase of international application PCT/GB89/00887, having an international filing date of Aug. 3, 1989.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of data processing networks. More particularly the invention relates to data processing networks adapted to perform distributed processing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of data processing networks is becoming more widespread. Data processing networks have considerable advantages over isolated single processor systems. The processors within a data processing network are able to share resources such as storage, printers etc as well as sharing the processing load. A limiting factor in the efficiency of data processing networks are the delays introduced in transmitting information between processors within the data processing network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One approach to reducing this limitation is to develop higher speed communication systems for linking the processors within data processing networks. Great strides forward have been made in this regard with the development of optical fibre based communication systems and the like.
The invention provides a data processing network having a first processor, a second processor and a communication system linking said first processor and said second processor characterised in that when said first processor issues a call for triggering said second processor to allocate a real identifier for an object or other type of entity, control logic associated with said first processor and responsive to said call from said first processor allocates a local identifier available for immediate use by said first processor and subsequently transforms between said local identifier and said real identifier.
The invention both recognises and solves the problem of a first processor being delayed whilst waiting for an identifier to be supplied by a second processor. Control logic associated with the first processor provides a local identifier for use by the first processor without having to wait for the real identifier from the second processor. This mode of operation presents the problem that the first and second processors are using different identifiers for the same entity and so the control logic must also transform between the real and local identifiers in order to maintain integrity between the processors. The control logic is typically provided in the form of software running on the first processor.
It will be appreciated that the entity or object for which an identifier is required may take many possible forms. Typical examples of the sort of entity/object possible are a window within a windowing display system or a block of storage or code. The identifier may be thought of as a label, tag or "handle" for the entity. The identifier may, for example, be a number, string or combination of numbers and strings. It will also be appreciated that invention applies equally well to networks having any number of processors.
Another preferred feature of the invention is that when said second processor issues a call for triggering said first processor to allocate a real identifier for an entity/object, control logic associated with said second processor and responsive to said call from said second processor allocates a local identifier available for immediate use by said second processor and subsequently transforms between said local identifier and said real identifier. By providing such control logic at each end of the communication system neither processor need wait for a real identifier to be allocated by the other processor.
The transformation that the control logic subsequently performs when the real identifier has been determined by the second processor can take a number of forms. One possibility would be that the control logic pass the real identifier onto the first processor which would then modify its data or constructs to ensure that all further processing for that entity/object carried out by the first processor used the real identifier. Such an approach woul
REFERENCES:
patent: 4466063 (1984-08-01), Segarra et al.
"Method for Managing Client/Server Relationships in the AIX Operating System", IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 31, No. 8, Jan. 1989.
Halliwell Harry
Prior Hugh W.
Vines David J.
Bailey Wayne P.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Richardson Robert L.
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