Reexamination Certificate
1996-03-27
2003-02-25
Trammell, James P. (Department: 2764)
Reexamination Certificate
active
06524019
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, each of which is a multiprocessor wherein a plurality of processors share a memory, and more particularly to an inter-cluster data transfer system and data transfer method for transferring, in these hierarchical multi-processors, data from a processor in one cluster to a processor in another cluster.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Garry Rodrigue, Parallel Computations, Academic Press, 1982, there is described a data transfer formula in a multiprocessor system in which a plurality of processors, each having a local distributed memory, are one-dimensionally combined.
This description of the prior art discloses no data transfer formula for a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, wherein a plurality of processors share a memory, are combined.
According to this prior art, in transferring data, each processor individually designates another processor as destination of transfer.
Therefore, if this prior art is applied to a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which processors in the same cluster share a memory, data transfers from a plurality of processors in a cluster to processors in another cluster may result in repeated transfers of exactly the same data, inviting inefficiency of data transfers.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to make possible efficient execution of data transfers between clusters in a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, each of which is a multiprocessor wherein a plurality of processors share a memory.
Another object of the invention is to prevent, where data are transferred between clusters in a hierarchical multiprocessor system, duplicated transfers of the same data and thereby minimize the number of data transfers between clusters.
A first inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention, for use in a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, each of which is a multiprocessor wherein a plurality of processors share a memory has the following configuration:
each of said clusters includes one master processor, and
said master processor includes transferable data transfer means for transferring data, which are to be transferred from a processor in the cluster to which the master processor belongs to a processor in another cluster, to the master processor of that other cluster.
A second inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention, for use in a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, each of which is a multiprocessor wherein a plurality of processors share a memory, has the following configuration:
each of said clusters includes one master processor;
said master processor includes transferable data generating means and transferable data transfer means;
said transferable data generating means puts together data to be transferred from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs to a processor in another cluster; and
said transferable data transfer means transfers the data put together by said data generating means to the master processor in the other cluster.
A third inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention, for use in a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, each of which is a multiprocessor wherein a plurality of processors share a memory, has the following configuration:
each of said clusters includes one master processor; said master processor includes data collecting means, transferable data generating means and transferable data transfer means;
said data collecting means collects data to be transferred from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs to a processor in another cluster;
said transferable data generating means puts together the data collected by said data collecting means to generate transferable data; and
said transferable data transfer means transfers the transferable data generated by said data generating means to the master processor in the other cluster.
A fourth inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention, for use in a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, each of which is a multiprocessor wherein a plurality of processors share a memory, has the following configuration:
each of said clusters includes one master processor;
said master processor includes data collecting means, transferable data generating means, transferable data transfer means and transferable data receiving means;
said data collecting means collects data to be transferred from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs to a processor in another cluster;
said transferable data generating means puts together the data collected by said data collecting means to generate transferable data;
said transferable data transfer means transfers the transferable data generated by said data generating means to the master processor in the other cluster; and
said transferable data receiving means receives the transferable data transferred from another cluster.
A fifth inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention, for use in a hierarchical multiprocessor system in which a plurality of clusters, each of which is a multiprocessor wherein a plurality of processors share a memory, has the following configuration:
each of said clusters includes one master processor;
said master processor includes data collecting means, transferable data generating means, transferable data transfer means, transferable data receiving means, and transferable data distributing means;
said data collecting means collects data to be transferred from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs to a processor in another cluster;
said transferable data generating means puts together the data collected by said data collecting means to generate transferable data;
said transferable data transfer means transfers the transferable data generated by said data generating means to the master processor in the other cluster;
said transferable data receiving means receives the transferable data transferred from another cluster; and
said transferable data distributing means distributes the transferable data received by said transferable data receiving means to the processors in the cluster to which it belongs.
A sixth inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention further has the following configuration in the third inter-cluster data transfer system:
said transferable data generating means generates transferable data by putting together the remaining data after the removal of duplicates from the data collected by said data collecting means from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs.
A seventh inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention further has the following configuration in the fourth inter-cluster data transfer system:
said transferable data generating means generates transferable data by putting together the remaining data after the removal of duplicates from the data collected by said data collecting means from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs.
An eighth inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention further has the following configuration in the fifth inter-cluster data transfer system:
said transferable data generating means generates transferable data by putting together the remaining data after the removal of duplicates from the data collected by said data collecting means from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs.
A ninth inter-cluster data transfer system according to the invention further has the following configuration in the third inter-cluster data transfer system:
said data collecting means collects attribute information on the data to be transferred from a processor in the cluster to which it belongs to a processor in another cluster, said information including the initial address and size on the memory in which said data are stored; and
said transferabl
Foley & Lardner
Peeso Thomas
Trammell James P.
LandOfFree
Inter-cluster data transfer system and data transfer method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inter-cluster data transfer system and data transfer method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inter-cluster data transfer system and data transfer method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3149310