×

Method and apparatus for dynamic detection and routing of non-uniform traffic in parallel buffered multistage interconnection networks

  • US 5,274,782 A
  • Filed: 08/27/1990
  • Issued: 12/28/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Apparatus for mounting processor-memory traffic in a shared-memory multiprocessor computer system of the type comprising a plurality of processing elements and a plurality of memory modules, comprising:

  • an interconnection system having at least two multistage switching networks, said at least two multistage switching networks each interconnecting said plurality of processing elements and said plurality of memory modules;

    means for detecting traffic non-uniformities in each memory module, said detecting means counting a number of requests to a memory module during a predetermined number of cycles and comparing a count to first and second predetermined thresholds; and

    feedback means to notifying said plurality of processing elements as to a status of each memory module; and

    means within each processing element responsive to said feedback means for selecting one of said at least two networks for routing a request based on two different routing methods, a first of said routing methods suited to uniform traffic conditions and a second of said routing methods suited to non-uniform traffic conditions, said means for selecting comprising;

    a memory-status table addressed by a memory address from one of said processing elements, said memory-status table providing a first output indicating a status of an addressed memory module;

    a selector circuit responsive to said first output of said memory-status table and generating a select output;

    packet router means responsive to said select output for routing a memory request from said one of said processing elements to one of said switching networks; and

    counter means responsive to said feedback means for maintaining a count of memory modules having a non-uniform traffic status.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×