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Multiprocessor system statically dividing processors into groups allowing processor of selected group to send task requests only to processors of selected group

  • US 5,307,495 A
  • Filed: 07/29/1991
  • Issued: 04/26/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a multiprocessor system having a plurality of processors which are tightly coupled to each other and a main storage shared by the processors, a method for executing an instruction requiring synchronization among said processors, said method comprising the steps of:

  • statically providing to every one of the plurality of processors, regardless of tasks to be processed, group identification information for grouping the plurality of processors into a plurality of groups in accordance with a desired configuration condition, each of the groups of processors being provided with the same group identification information comprising at least one, wherein at least one of the groups comprises at least two processors processor;

    storing parameter information related to an instruction originally requiring synchronization among the plurality of processors in the main storage;

    sending request information for synchronous execution of the instruction from a processor of a particular group of said plurality of processors, serving as an instruction issuing processor, to receiving processors of said particular group of the plurality of processors when said particular group processes one of the tasks, said request information including group identification information of said particular group;

    comparing, in each of said receiving processors, the group identification information provided to each of said receiving processors to the group identification information included in the sent request information;

    reading out the parameter information from the main storage to execute the instruction in accordance with the read out parameter information in each processor of said particular group of said receiving processors, in which coincidence was found between group identification information provided to each of said receiving processors and group identification included in the sent request information according to said comparing step;

    invalidating the sent request information in each of said receiving processors except for processors included in said particular group of processors for which the instruction was intended;

    generating end information in each processor of said particular group of processors when the processor completes processing of the instruction; and

    waiting, in said instruction issuing processor, for the end information from each processor of said particular group having processed the instruction, except for said instruction issuing processor, to detect termination of the synchronous execution of the instruction.

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