Network interface module with minimized data paths
First Claim
1. A method of locating processes in a distributed data processing system, said system comprising a plurality of individual cells and at least two processes resident on different ones of said cells, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a request by a first process in a first one of said cells to find the location of a second process not resident on said first cell;
(b) transmitting said request to a different one of said cells;
(c) determining whether said second process is resident on said different cell; and
(d) if said second process is resident on said different cell, informing said first cell of the location of said different cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-processor, multi-tasking virtual machine comprises processes, messages, and contexts. Processes communicate only through messages. Contexts are groups of related processes. The virtual machine is implemented in a distributed data processing system comprising a plurality of individual cells coupled by a local area network (LAN). Each cell may comprise one or more processes and/or contexts.
A network interface module (NIM) provides the interface between any individual cell and the LAN. To facilitate message transmission between processes resident on different cells, each NIM is provided with tables identifying the locations of resident and non-resident processes, respectively. Cells may be added to or deleted from the LAN without disrupting the LAN operations.
109 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of locating processes in a distributed data processing system, said system comprising a plurality of individual cells and at least two processes resident on different ones of said cells, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a request by a first process in a first one of said cells to find the location of a second process not resident on said first cell; (b) transmitting said request to a different one of said cells; (c) determining whether said second process is resident on said different cell; and (d) if said second process is resident on said different cell, informing said first cell of the location of said different cell. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of locating processes in a distributed data processing system, said system comprising a plurality of individual cells and at least two processes resident on different ones of said cells, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing in at least one of said cells a table of non-resident processes; (b) generating a request by a first process in said one cell to find the location of a second process identified only by name, said second process not resident on said first cell; (c) transmitting said request to a different one of said cells; (d) determining whether said second process is resident on said different cell; and (e) if said second process is resident on said different cell, storing the location of said different cell in said table. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A method of communicating between processes in a distributed data processing system, said system comprising a plurality of individual cells and at least two processes resident on different ones of said cells, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing in at least a first one of said cells a table of non-resident processes; (b) generating a request by a first process in said first cell to transmit a message to a second process identified only by name, said second process not resident on said first cell; (c) looking up the location of said second process in said table in said first cell; and (d) transmitting said message to the cell containing said second process. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of communicating between processes in a distributed data processing system, said system comprising a plurality of individual cells and at least two processes resident on different ones of said cells, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing in at least a first one of said cells a table of non-resident processes, each entry in said table comprising a first portion indicating the name of a process and a second portion indicating the location of a cell where said process is resident; (b) generating a request by a first process in said first cell to transmit a message to a second process identified only by name, said second process not resident on said first cell; (c) looking up the location of said second process in said table in said first cell and finding the location of the cell where said second process is resident; and (d) transmitting said message to the cell containing said second process. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification