Synchronized sampling on a multiprocessor backplane via a broadcast timestamp
First Claim
1. A multiprocessor system comprising:
- a plurality of processor units coupled together via a backplane; and
a timestamp distribution system for providing a first time signal to the plurality of processor units over the backplane, the timestamp distribution system comprising;
a first timestamp distributor for generating the first time signal, and a first timestamp communication bus on the backplane for transporting the first time signal from the timestamp distributor to the plurality of processor units;
wherein the first time signal comprises a first time data word that is transmitted at a periodic rate and wherein the first time data word does not change each time the first time signal is transmitted.
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Abstract
A multiprocessor system is provided that comprises a plurality of processor units coupled together via a backplane and a timestamp distribution system. The timestamp distribution system provides a first time signal to the plurality of processor units over the backplane. The timestamp distribution system comprises a first timestamp distributor for generating the first time signal and a first timestamp communication bus on the backplane for transporting the first time signal from the timestamp distributor to the plurality of processor units. The first time signal comprises a first time data word that is transmitted at a periodic rate wherein the first time data word does not change each time the first time signal is transmitted.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A multiprocessor system comprising:
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a plurality of processor units coupled together via a backplane; and
a timestamp distribution system for providing a first time signal to the plurality of processor units over the backplane, the timestamp distribution system comprising;
a first timestamp distributor for generating the first time signal, and a first timestamp communication bus on the backplane for transporting the first time signal from the timestamp distributor to the plurality of processor units;
wherein the first time signal comprises a first time data word that is transmitted at a periodic rate and wherein the first time data word does not change each time the first time signal is transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38)
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29. A network node element in a communication network comprising:
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a plurality of processor units coupled together via a backplane; and
a timestamp distribution system for providing a first time signal to the plurality of processor units over the backplane, the timestamp distribution system comprising;
a first timestamp distributor for generating the first time signal, and a first timestamp communication bus on the backplane for transporting the first time signal from the timestamp distributor to the plurality of processor units;
wherein the first time signal comprises a first time data word that is transmitted at a periodic rate and wherein the first time data word does not change each time the first time data word is transmitted.
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36. A timestamp distribution system for a backplane system having a plurality of processors, the timestamp distribution system comprising:
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a first timestamp distributor for generating a first time signal, and a first timestamp communication bus on the backplane for transporting the first time signal from the timestamp distributor to the plurality of processor units;
the first time signal comprising a first data frame that is transmitted at a periodic rate, the first data frame comprising a first time data word wherein the first time data word does not change each time the first data frame is transmitted;
the first data frame further comprising at least one status data word wherein the status data word reports status information regarding at least one of the plurality of processors.
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39. A method for performing synchronized operations in a multiprocessor system comprising the steps of:
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providing a timestamp distributor system comprising a first timestamp distributor for generating a first time signal and a first timestamp communication bus on a backplane for transporting the first time signal from the timestamp distributor to the plurality of processor units in the multiprocessor system;
generating the first time signal with the first timestamp generator, wherein the first time signal comprises a first data frame having a first time data word;
transmitting the first data frame at a periodic rate;
signaling a plurality of the processor units to perform some action by changing the first time data word, wherein the first time data word is not changed each time the first data frame is transmitted.
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Specification