Distributed data processing system
First Claim
1. A distributed data processing system comprising a general communications network and a plurality of local systems, wherein the network is passive with respect to the self-contained operation of the respective local systems, and wherein each local system comprises at least one central processing unit, associated memory, at least one peripheral device and at least one residential process, local monitor means and a monitor extension module (42), wherein the control of the data processing in a local system is distributively effected by the local system itself, wherein each local system is interfaced to the network via its monitor extension module by means of a systems intercommunication processing means, the set of systems intercommunication processing means constituting a distributed coordination, communication, control, initialization and simulation means for the data processing system as a whole, each system intercommunication processing means being attached to the network via a communication module, the set of communication modules constituting a distributed control means for controlling communication protocols on the network for the data processing system as a whole, each communication module having sequencing means for controlling, in the communication protocols in a first sequence of steps, an addressed logical link from a source local system to a single destination local system and controlling in a second sequence of steps a broadcast logical link from a source local system to one or more destination local systems, said first and second sequences comprising conditionally executable logical link establishing steps, logical link maintaining steps and logical link terminating steps, said communication modules furthermore comprising information flow rate controlling means, presenting means for presenting the same general order of selected events at each local system, and error control means for detecting and thereupon recovering data communication errors, each communication module being plugged into the physical network by means of a transmission module, the set of transmission modules in combination with the physical network and a looping unit constituting a physical transport layer means, the physical network being a looped optical bus which is looped by said looping unit, wherein each transmission module comprises first control means for controlling parity errors, second control means for controlling synchronization between the transmission module itself and the transfer on the optical bus as presented, and bidirectional conversion means between electrical and optical signals, and wherein the looping unit has a first converting means for converting optical signals received from the bus to electrical signals, processing means for processing said electrical signals, and second converting means for converting processed electrical signals to optical signals for insertion into said optical bus, said processing means having encoding/decoding means for each transmission line of said bus, initializing means for initializing the transmission synchronization on the optical bus, and frame control means for controlling transmission and reception of data in a frame of a cycle of frames, the frame in question being allocated to one local system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed data processing system having several local systems (LS) between which communication is provided via clearly defined functional layers. A functional coordination layer managed by systems intercommunication processors (SIP) is responsible for the functions of coordination, communication, control, initialization and simulation relative to the LSs. A functional communication layer managed by communication modules (CM) is responsible for the communication protocols between the LSs. A functional transport layer including transmission modules (TM), a looped optical bus and a looping unit (LIG) element. A description of each LS is contained in its SIP in the form of descriptive tables facilitating the use of the resources of the global system by any LS via parameter translations, local to global to local, each communication between LSs being performed in the form of a transaction having separate interrogation, auto-selection, presentation, processing and result return phases.
181 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A distributed data processing system comprising a general communications network and a plurality of local systems, wherein the network is passive with respect to the self-contained operation of the respective local systems, and wherein each local system comprises at least one central processing unit, associated memory, at least one peripheral device and at least one residential process, local monitor means and a monitor extension module (42), wherein the control of the data processing in a local system is distributively effected by the local system itself, wherein each local system is interfaced to the network via its monitor extension module by means of a systems intercommunication processing means, the set of systems intercommunication processing means constituting a distributed coordination, communication, control, initialization and simulation means for the data processing system as a whole, each system intercommunication processing means being attached to the network via a communication module, the set of communication modules constituting a distributed control means for controlling communication protocols on the network for the data processing system as a whole, each communication module having sequencing means for controlling, in the communication protocols in a first sequence of steps, an addressed logical link from a source local system to a single destination local system and controlling in a second sequence of steps a broadcast logical link from a source local system to one or more destination local systems, said first and second sequences comprising conditionally executable logical link establishing steps, logical link maintaining steps and logical link terminating steps, said communication modules furthermore comprising information flow rate controlling means, presenting means for presenting the same general order of selected events at each local system, and error control means for detecting and thereupon recovering data communication errors, each communication module being plugged into the physical network by means of a transmission module, the set of transmission modules in combination with the physical network and a looping unit constituting a physical transport layer means, the physical network being a looped optical bus which is looped by said looping unit, wherein each transmission module comprises first control means for controlling parity errors, second control means for controlling synchronization between the transmission module itself and the transfer on the optical bus as presented, and bidirectional conversion means between electrical and optical signals, and wherein the looping unit has a first converting means for converting optical signals received from the bus to electrical signals, processing means for processing said electrical signals, and second converting means for converting processed electrical signals to optical signals for insertion into said optical bus, said processing means having encoding/decoding means for each transmission line of said bus, initializing means for initializing the transmission synchronization on the optical bus, and frame control means for controlling transmission and reception of data in a frame of a cycle of frames, the frame in question being allocated to one local system.
Specification