Multiple machine architecture with overhead reduction

• US 20070101080A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waratek Limited (Waratek Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Waratek Pty Limited
• Inventors: Holt, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2038 with a single idle spare processing component
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores

Abstract

A multiple computer environment is disclosed in which an application program executes simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, M2, . . . Mn) interconnected by a communications network (53) and in which the local memory of each computer is not maintained substantially the same by updating in due course. An address table mechanism is provided to permit access to an asset, object, or structure (ie memory location) for the purpose of updating, for example. Since not all computers have the same memory, it is not necessary for all computers to be updated and so the volume of traffic on the communications network (53) is reduced.

Claims

1. In a multiple computer environment in which a different portion of an application program written to execute on only a single computer executes substantially simultaneously on a corresponding one of a plurality of computers, each having an independent local memory and each being interconnected via a communications network, and in which some memory locations are able to be referred to by a first plurality of said computers and in which other memory locations are able to be referred to by a second, and different, plurality of said computers, and after each occasion at which any one of said memory locations has its contents written to, or re-written, with a new content, or otherwise manipulated, any corresponding memory locations in said computers are in due course updated or manipulated via said communications network, the further improvement comprising the steps of:

(i) maintaining a record of which memory locations are present on which computers, and

(ii) only in due course updating or manipulating those memory locations which correspond in said maintained record to an initially updated or manipulated memory location, thereby reducing the volume of updating or manipulating instructions passing over said communications network.

2. The improved method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the step of:

(iii) maintaining said record as a listing of computers corresponding to each said memory location.

3. The improved method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the step of:

(iv) maintaining said record as a listing of memory locations present in each said computer.

4. The improved method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the step of:

(v) maintaining said record as a tabulation of all computers and all memory locations.

5. The improved method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said some said memory locations and said other memory locations include common memory locations.

6. The improved method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first plurality of computers and said second plurality of computers include common computers.

13. A plurality of computers interconnected via a communications network and operable to ensure carrying out of the method as claimed in claim 1.

14. A computer program product comprising a set of program instructions stored in a storage medium and operable to permit a plurality of computers to carry out the method as claimed in claim 1.

15. A single computer adapted to co-operate with at least one other computer in order to carry out the method as claimed in claim 1 or form the computer system as claimed in claim 7.

7. A computer system comprising a plurality of computers each having an independent local memory and each being interconnected via a communications network wherein a different portion of an application program written to execute on only a single computer executes substantially simultaneously on a corresponding one of said plurality of computers, some memory locations being referable to by a first plurality of said computers and other memory locations being referable to by a second, and different plurality of said computers, said system further comprising updating means associated with each said computer to in due course update each said memory location via said communications network after each occasion at which each said memory location has its content written to, or re-written, with a new content, or otherwise manipulated, wherein said updating means includes a record means of which memory locations are present on which computers, and said updating means only in due course updating, or manipulating, those memory locations which correspond in said record means to an initially updated or manipulated memory location,

thereby reducing the volume of updating or manipulating instructions passing over said communications network.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said record means is a listing of computers corresponding to each said memory location.

9. The computer system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said record means is a listing of memory locations present in each said computer.

10. The computer system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said record means is a tabulation of all computers and all memory locations.

11. The computer system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said some said memory locations and said other memory locations include common memory locations.

12. The computer system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first plurality of computers and said second plurality of computers include common computers.