Methods and apparatus for synchronizing data access to a local memory in a multi-processor system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
a local memory operatively coupled to a first of the processors such that data may be transferred between the shared memory and the local memory for execution of one or more programs therein; and
a processor interface circuit coupled to the first processor and the local memory thereof and operable to separately;
(i) facilitate data transfers into and out of the local memory, and (ii) facilitate communication between the other processors and the first processor, wherein the processor interface circuit is operable to produce a synchronization signal indicating that a data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus provide for receiving a request from an initiating device to initiate a data transfer into a local memory for execution of one or more programs therein, the local memory being operatively coupled to a first of a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory; facilitating the data transfer into the local memory; and producing a synchronization signal indicating that the data transfer into the local memory has been completed.
147 Citations
49 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
a local memory operatively coupled to a first of the processors such that data may be transferred between the shared memory and the local memory for execution of one or more programs therein; and
a processor interface circuit coupled to the first processor and the local memory thereof and operable to separately;
(i) facilitate data transfers into and out of the local memory, and (ii) facilitate communication between the other processors and the first processor,wherein the processor interface circuit is operable to produce a synchronization signal indicating that a data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
a plurality of local memories, each being operatively coupled to a respective one of the processors such that data may be transferred between the shared memory and the local memory for execution of one or more programs therein; and
a plurality of processor interface circuits, each coupled to a respective one of the processors and the local memory thereof and each operable to separately;
(i) facilitate data transfers into and out of the local memory, and (ii) facilitate communication between the other processors and the respective processor,wherein each processor interface circuit is operable to produce a synchronization signal indicating that a data transfer into or out of the respective local memory has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
a local memory operatively coupled to a first of the processors such that data may be transferred between the shared memory and the local memory for execution of one or more programs therein; and
a processor interface circuit coupled to the first processor and the local memory thereof and operable to separately;
(i) facilitate data transfers into and out of the local memory, and (ii) facilitate communication between the other processors and the first processor,wherein the processor interface circuit is operable to produce a synchronization signal indicating that a data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed in response to;
(i) a recover synchronization request by a second one of the processors, and (ii) completion of the data transfer into or out of the local memory. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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23. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
a local memory operatively coupled to a first of the processors such that data may be transferred between the shared memory and the local memory for execution of one or more programs therein; and
a processor interface circuit coupled to the first processor and the local memory thereof and operable to separately;
(i) facilitate data transfers into and out of the local memory, and (ii) facilitate communication between the other processors and the first processor,wherein the processor interface circuit is operable to produce a synchronization signal indicating that a plurality of data transfers into or out of the local memory have been completed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
a local memory operatively coupled to a first of the processors such that data may be transferred between the shared memory and the local memory for execution of one or more programs therein; and
a processor interface circuit coupled to the first processor and the local memory thereof and operable to;
(i) facilitate data transfers into and out of the local memory, (ii) facilitate communication between the other processors and the first processor, (iii) produce a synchronization signal indicating that a data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed in response to;
(a) a recover synchronization request by at least one of the first processor and a second one of the processors, and (b) completion of the data transfer into or out of the local memory,wherein the at least one of the first and second processors is operable to issue the recover synchronization request in response to initiation of the data transfer to the local memory by an external device in operative communication with the apparatus through a communication network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method, comprising:
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receiving a request from an initiating device to initiate a data transfer into or out of a local memory for execution of one or more programs therein, the local memory being operatively coupled to a first of a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
facilitating the data transfer into or out of the local memory; and
producing a synchronization signal indicating that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method, comprising:
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receiving a request from an initiating device to initiate a data transfer into or out of a local memory for execution of one or more programs therein, the local memory being operatively coupled to a first of a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
facilitating the data transfer into or out of the local memory;
receiving a notification signal at a second one of the plurality of processors from the initiating device indicating that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been initiated; and
issuing a recover synchronization request from the second processor for a synchronization signal such that the second processor may receive notification that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed; and
producing the synchronization signal when the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A method, comprising:
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receiving a request from an external device to initiate a data transfer into or out of a local memory for execution of one or more programs therein, the local memory being operatively coupled to a first of a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory, the external device being in operative communication with the parallel processors through a communication network;
receiving a notification signal at one of the first processor and a second one of the plurality of processors from the external device indicating that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been initiated;
issuing a recover synchronization request from one of the first and second processors for a synchronization signal such that the one of the first and second processors may receive notification that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed; and
producing the synchronization signal when the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A method, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of requests from one or more initiating devices, each request initiating a data transfer into or out of a local memory for execution of one or more programs therein, the local memory being operatively coupled to a first of a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory; and
producing a synchronization signal indicating that at least a group of the data transfers into or out of the local memory has been completed.
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48. A storage medium containing a software program, the software program being operable to cause a processor to execute actions including:
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receiving a request from an initiating device to initiate a data transfer into or out of a local memory for execution of one or more programs therein, the local memory being operatively coupled to a first of a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory;
facilitating the data transfer into or out of the local memory; and
producing a synchronization signal indicating that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed.
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49. A storage medium containing a software program, the software program being operable to cause a processor to execute actions including:
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receiving a request from an external device to initiate a data transfer into or out of a local memory for execution of one or more programs therein, the local memory being operatively coupled to a first of a plurality of parallel processors capable of operative communication with a shared memory, the external device being in operative communication with the parallel processors through a communication network;
receiving a notification signal at one of the first processor and a second one of the plurality of processors from the external device indicating that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been initiated;
issuing a recover synchronization request from one of the first and second processors for a synchronization signal such that the one of the first and second processors may receive notification that the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed; and
producing the synchronization signal when the data transfer into or out of the local memory has been completed.
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Specification