Parallel processing system virtual connection method and apparatus with protection and flow control

• US 5,446,915 A
• Filed: 05/25/1993
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Pierce, Paul R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US08/066,579
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/375, 395/650, 395/500, 395/400, 395/425, 395/600, 395/775, 395/725, 395/325, 395/200, 395/250, 395/275, 395/575, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 712/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17337 Direct connection machines, e.g. completely connected computers, point to point communication networks coupling between buses G06F13/4004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00

Abstract

A parallel processing system virtual connection method and apparatus with protection and flow control is described. In accordance with the present invention, virtual connections between processor nodes are maintained through the use of connection tables. Each connection table is comprised of a plurality of connection table entries with each entry defining one end of a virtual connection between two processor nodes. Each connection table entry, in turn, comprises a data structure which stores data used to define the virtual connection. The passage of messages or data is accomplished through the use of the data structures within each connection entry in conjunction with message passing hardware in the node. User processes in the processor nodes interact directly with the message passing hardware, without the need to call the operating systems.

Claims

1. In a parallel processing system including a first processor node including a first operating system, a first user process, and message passing circuitry, a second processor node including a second operating system, and second message passing circuitry, and routing means coupled to said first message passing circuitry and said second message passing circuitry, a method for providing and utilizing a virtual connection between said second processor node and said first processor node, said method comprising the steps of:

said first and second operating systems establishing in said first processor node a first connection table including a first connection entry comprising a first data structure;

said first and second operating systems establishing in said second processor node a second connection table including a second connection entry comprising a second data structure;

wherein said first connection entry defines a first end of said virtual connection and said second connection entry defines a second end of said virtual connection;

wherein the following steps are accomplished without accessing said first and second operating systems;

said first user process coupling a first signal to said first message passing circuitry;

said first message passing circuit responsive to said first signal utilizing said first data structure to couple a flow control message to said routing means;

said routing means responsively coupling said flow control message to said second message routing circuitry in said second processor node;

said second message routing circuitry responsive to said flow control message, utilizing said second data structure to couple a data message to said routing means;

said routing means responsively coupling said data message to said first message passing circuitry;

said first message passing circuit responsively coupling said data message to said first user process.

2. The method for providing and utilizing a virtual connection as provided in claim 1, wherein said first signal includes a receive request byte count, said first data structure stores said receive request byte count, said second data structure includes a send request byte count, and said receive request byte count and said send request byte count are utilized by said first message passing circuit and said second message passing circuit to control the flow of data in said data message.

3. In a parallel processing system including a first processor node including a first operating system, a first user process, and message passing circuitry, a second processor node including a second operating system, and second message passing circuitry, and routing means coupled to said first message passing circuitry and said second message passing circuitry, an apparatus for providing and utilizing a virtual connection between said second processor node and said first processor node comprising:

first connection table means for said first and second operating systems to establish in said first processor node a first connection table including a first connection entry comprising a first data structure;

second connection table means for said first and second operating systems to establish in said second processor node a second connection table including a second connection entry comprising a second data structure;

wherein said first connection entry defines a first end of said virtual connection and said second connection entry defines a second end of said virtual connection;

means for said first user process to couple a first signal to said first message passing circuitry without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said first message passing circuit responsive to said first signal to utilize said first data structure to couple a flow control message to said routing means without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said routing means to responsively couple said flow control message to said second message routing circuitry in said second processor node without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said second message routing circuitry responsive to said flow control message, to utilize said second data structure to couple a data message to said routing means without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said routing means to responsively couple said data message to said first message passing circuitry without accessing said first and second operating systems; and

means for said first message passing circuit to responsively couple said data message to said first user process without accessing said first and second operating systems.

4. The apparatus for providing and utilizing a virtual connection as provided in claim 3,

wherein said first;

signal includes a receive request byte count, said first data structure stores said receive request byte count, said second data structure includes a send request byte count, and said receive request byte count and said send request byte count are utilized by said first message passing circuit and said second message passing circuit to control the flow of data in said data message.

5. A parallel processing system comprising:

a first processor node including a first operating system, a first user process, and message passing circuitry

a second processor node including a second operating system, and second message passing circuitry;

routing means coupled to said first message passing circuitry of said first processor node and said second message passing circuitry of said second processor node; and

an apparatus for providing and utilizing a virtual connection between said second processor node and said first processor node comprising;

first connection table means for said first and second operating systems to establish in said first processor node a first connection table including a first connection entry comprising a first data structure;

second connection table means for said first and second operating systems to establish in said second processor node a second connection table including a second connection entry comprising a second data structure;

wherein said first connection entry defines a first end of said virtual connection and said second connection entry defines a second end of said virtual connection;

means for said first user process to couple a first signal to said first message passing circuitry without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said first message passing circuit responsive to said first signal to utilize said first data structure to couple a flow control message to said routing means without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said routing means to responsively couple said flow control message to said second message routing circuitry in said second processor node without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said second message routing circuitry responsive to said flow control message, to utilize said second data structure to couple a data message to said routing means without accessing said first and second operating systems;

means for said routing means to responsively couple said data message to said first message passing circuitry without accessing said first and second operating systems; and

means for said first message passing circuit to responsively couple said data message to said first user process without accessing said first and second operating systems.

6. The parallel processing system as provided in claim 5, wherein, said first signal includes a receive request byte count, said first data structure stores said receive request byte count, said second data structure includes a send request byte count, and said receive request byte count and said send request byte count are utilized by said first message passing circuit and said second message passing circuit to control the flow of data in said data message.