Input/output system for a massively parallel, single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) computer providing for the simultaneous transfer of data between a host computer input/output system and all SIMD memory devices
First Claim
1. An input/output (I/O) system for a massively parallel, single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) computer providing bi-directional, two-dimensional data transfer between a host computer and said SIMD computer, wherein the data transfer is two-dimensional because data comprising N words each word up to n-bits in length is simultaneously transferred one N-bit plane at a time between the host computer I/O system and all SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer, said SIMD computer comprising a parallel array processor comprising N a parallel linked processors, with each processor being coupled to an associated one of N SIMD memory devices, each of said N SIMD memory devices organized as D memory planes each comprising N bits, said input/output system comprising:
- (a) a temporary storage means coupled between said host computer and said N SIMD memory devices for the bi-directional, two-dimensional transfer of data between said host computer and said SIMD computer, wherein said temporary storage means includes N corner turning buffers, each one of said plurality of corner turning buffers being coupled with one of said N SIMD memory devices;
(b) an input/output processing means, controlled by a system clock which generates clock cycles, for controlling the flow of data between said host computer and said N corner turning buffers, and for controlling the flow of data between said N corner turning buffers and said N SIMD memory devices, said input/output processing means distributing the N words of up to n-bits length each of data from the host computer to said N corner turning buffers and arranging said data therein as n memory planes each comprising N bits therein, each of said n memory planes corresponding to an associated one of said D memory planes of said SIMD memory, and further distributing said N words of up to n-bits length each to said corresponding SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer one N-bit plane at a time in a single system clock cycle.
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Abstract
A two-dimensional input/output system for a massively parallel SIMD computer system providing an interface for the two-way transfer of data between a host computer and the SIMD computer. A plurality of buffers equal in number, and distributed with the individual processing elements of the SIMD computer are used to provide a temporary storage area which allows data in different formats to be mapped in a format suitable for transfer to the host computer or for transfer to the SIMD processing elements. The temporary storage is controlled in such a way as to transfer entire blocks of data in a single SIMD system clock cycle thereby achieving an input/output data rate of N bits/cycle for a SIMD computer consisting of N processors. The system is capable of handling irregular as well as regular data structures. The system also emphasizes a distributed approach in having the input/output system divided into N pieces and distributed to each processor to reduce the wiring complexity while maintaining the I/O rate.
183 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An input/output (I/O) system for a massively parallel, single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) computer providing bi-directional, two-dimensional data transfer between a host computer and said SIMD computer, wherein the data transfer is two-dimensional because data comprising N words each word up to n-bits in length is simultaneously transferred one N-bit plane at a time between the host computer I/O system and all SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer, said SIMD computer comprising a parallel array processor comprising N a parallel linked processors, with each processor being coupled to an associated one of N SIMD memory devices, each of said N SIMD memory devices organized as D memory planes each comprising N bits, said input/output system comprising:
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(a) a temporary storage means coupled between said host computer and said N SIMD memory devices for the bi-directional, two-dimensional transfer of data between said host computer and said SIMD computer, wherein said temporary storage means includes N corner turning buffers, each one of said plurality of corner turning buffers being coupled with one of said N SIMD memory devices; (b) an input/output processing means, controlled by a system clock which generates clock cycles, for controlling the flow of data between said host computer and said N corner turning buffers, and for controlling the flow of data between said N corner turning buffers and said N SIMD memory devices, said input/output processing means distributing the N words of up to n-bits length each of data from the host computer to said N corner turning buffers and arranging said data therein as n memory planes each comprising N bits therein, each of said n memory planes corresponding to an associated one of said D memory planes of said SIMD memory, and further distributing said N words of up to n-bits length each to said corresponding SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer one N-bit plane at a time in a single system clock cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An input/output (I/O) system for a massively parallel, single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) computer providing two-dimensional data transfer between a host computer and said SIMD computer, wherein the data transfer is two-dimensional because data comprising N words each word up to n-bits in length is simultaneously transferred one N-bit plane at a time between the host computer I/O system and all SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer, said SIMD computer having a parallel array processor comprising N parallel linked processors, with each processor being coupled to an associated one of N SIMD memory devices, each of said N SIMD memory devices organized as D memory planes each comprising N bits, said input/output system comprising:
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(a) an input/output channel for the transfer of data between said SIMD computer and said host computer; (b) a temporary storage means connected between said input/output channel and said N SIMD memory devices for the bi-directional, two-dimensional transfer of data between said host computer and said SIMD computer said temporary storage means comprising; (i) N corner turning buffers, each one of said N corner turning buffers being coupled with one of said N SIMD memory devices, and (ii) a control circuit means for providing timing and selection signals for the transfer of data between said host computer and said N corner turning buffers and for the transfer of data between said N corner turning buffers and said N SIMD memory devices; and (c) an input/output processing means, controlled by a system clock which generates clock cycles, for controlling the flow of data between said host computer and said N corner turning buffers, and for controlling the flow of data between said N corner turning buffers and said N SIMD memory devices, said input/output processing means distributing the N words of up to n-bits length each of data from said host computer to said N corner turning buffers and arranging said data therein as n memory planes each comprising N bits therein, each of said n memory planes corresponding to an associated one of said D memory planes of said SIMD memory, and further distributing N words of up to n-bits length each to said corresponding SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer one N-bit plane at a time in a single system clock cycle. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A single instruction multiple data (SIMD) processor comprising:
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(a) a parallel array processor comprising N parallel linked processors, with each being coupled to an associated one of N SIMD memory devices; (b) an array control unit for controlling said N parallel linked processors; and (c) an input/output system, controlled by a system clock which generates clock cycles, for said single instruction multiple data processor providing two-dimensional data transfer between a host computer and said plurality of parallel linked processors, wherein the data transfer is two-dimensional because data comprising N words each word up to n-bits in length is simultaneously transferred one N-bit plane at a time between the host computer I/O system and all SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer, said input/output system comprising; (i) an input/output channel for the transfer of data between said SIMD computer and said host computer; (ii) a temporary storage means connected between said input/output channel and said N SIMD memory devices for the bi-directional, two-dimensional transfer of data between said host computer and said SIMD computer, said temporary storage means comprising N corner turning buffers each one of said N corner turning buffers being directly coupled with one of said [plurality of said N SIMD memory devices, and a control circuit means for providing timing and selection signals for the transfer of data between said host computer and said N corner turning buffers and also between said N corner turning buffers and said N SIMD memory devices; and (iii) an input/output processing means, controlled by a system clock which generates clock cycles, for controlling the flow of data between said host computer and said N corner turning buffers, and for controlling the flow of data between said N corner turning buffers and said N SIMD memory devices. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A single instruction multiple data (SIMD) processor comprising:
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(a) a parallel array processor comprising parallel linked processors, with each processor being coupled to an associated one of N SIMD memory devices; (b) an array control unit for controlling said N parallel linked processors; and (c) an input/output (I/O) system for said single instruction multiple data processor providing two-dimensional data transfer between a host computer and said plurality of N parallel linked processors wherein the data transfer is two-dimensional because data comprising N words each word up to n-bits in length is simultaneously transferred one N-bit plane at a time between the host computer I/O system and all SIMD memory devices of the SIMD computer, said input/output system comprising; (i) a temporary storage means coupled between said host computer and said N SIMD memory devices for the bi-directional, two-dimensional transfer of data between said host computer and said SIMD computer, wherein said temporary storage means includes N corner turning buffers, each one of said N corner turning buffers being coupled with one of said N SIMD memory devices; and (ii) an input/output processing means, controlled by a system clock which generates clock cycles, for controlling the flow of data between said host computer and said N corner turning buffers, and for controlling the flow of data between said N corner turning buffers and said N SIMD memory devices. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A method for providing bi-directional, two-dimensional inputting and outputting of data between a host computer and a massively parallel, single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) computer having a parallel array processor comprising N parallel linked processors with each processor being coupled to an associated one of N SIMD memory devices, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) when inputting data to said SIMD computer, first transferring data under the control of a system clock which generates clock cycles, between said host computer and a temporary storage means of said SIMD computer, said temporary storage means including N corner turning buffers, each one of said N corner turning buffers being coupled with one of said N SIMD memory devices, wherein each said data transfer is a two-dimensional transfer in a single system clock cycle because data comprising N words each word up to n-bits in length is simultaneously distributed one N-bit plane at a time between the host computer and all N corner turning buffers of the SIMD computer and arranged therein as n memory planes each comprising N bits; and
further(b) transferring N words of up to n-bits each between said temporary storage means and said plurality of N SIMD memory devices one N-bit plane at a time in each system clock cycle; and (c) when outputting data to said host computer from said SIMD computer, first transferring N words of up to n-bits each between said plurality of SIMD memory devices and said N corner turning buffers of said temporary storage means one N-bit plane at a time in each system clock cycle; and
further(d) distributing data from said N corner turning buffers to a predetermined area of host computer memory in each system clock cycle. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification