Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Ring computer networking
Patent
1997-06-27
2000-09-05
Luu, Le Hien
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Ring computer networking
709229, 709218, 709224, 709250, 370258, 370252, 370366, 370386, 370362, 370396, 370249, 370465, 395739, G06F 1516, G06F 15173
Patent
active
061157562
ABSTRACT:
A computer system employs a hierarchical ring structure for communication. Computer system elements are configured into modules with ring interface hardware, and the modules are coupled to one or more rings. Bridge modules may be included for transmitting between rings in the hierarchy. The rings are time division multiplexed, and each time slot on a ring carries a frame. According to an address carried within the frame, bridge modules determine whether or not to transmit a frame circulating on a source ring onto a target ring. If the address of the frame indicates a module upon the source ring, the bridge module retransmits the frame on the source ring. Otherwise, the bridge module transmits the frame on the target ring. The bridge module operates in this fashion at any level of the hierarchy. The owner of a time slot on a ring is permitted to release the time slot for use by other modules. To reclaim a time slot, the owner marks the time slot owned. The module using the time slot, upon detecting the owned mark, removes the frame from the time slot and responds with a null frame. If a module detects a frame to which that module is to respond but the module's buffer is full, the module may retransmit the frame upon the source ring. The time slot carrying the frame effectively serves as a queue position. According to one embodiment, rings comprise optical links.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4383315 (1983-05-01), Torng
patent: 4539679 (1985-09-01), Bux et al.
patent: 4680756 (1987-07-01), Sugimoto et al.
patent: 4725834 (1988-02-01), Chang et al.
patent: 4750109 (1988-06-01), Kita
patent: 4807118 (1989-02-01), Lin et al.
patent: 4922408 (1990-05-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5055999 (1991-10-01), Frank et al.
patent: 5282199 (1994-01-01), Herzberg et al.
patent: 5341483 (1994-08-01), Frank et al.
patent: 5351043 (1994-09-01), Hullett et al.
patent: 5463624 (1995-10-01), Hogg et al.
patent: 5467351 (1995-11-01), Baumert
patent: 5469434 (1995-11-01), Kurdzo et al.
patent: 5495481 (1996-02-01), Duckwall
patent: 5506961 (1996-04-01), Carlson et al.
patent: 5544330 (1996-08-01), Bither et al.
patent: 5548728 (1996-08-01), Danknick
patent: 5592486 (1997-01-01), Lo et al.
patent: 5787264 (1998-07-01), Christiansen et al.
patent: 5809021 (1998-09-01), Diaz et al.
patent: 5835491 (1998-11-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5862136 (1999-01-01), Irwin
Dijkstra, E.W., "Solution of a Problem in Concurrent Programming Control," Communications of the ACM, vol. 8, No. 9, Sep., 1965, p. 569.
Gustavson, David B., "The Scalable Coherent Interface and Related Standards Projects," IEEE Micro, 1992, p. 10.
Kivlin B. Noel
Luu Le Hien
Merkel Lawrence J.
Prieto Beatriz
Sun Microsystems Inc.
LandOfFree
Electro-optically connected multiprocessor and multiring configu does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electro-optically connected multiprocessor and multiring configu, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electro-optically connected multiprocessor and multiring configu will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2223149