Accessing remote data objects in a distributed memory environment using parallel address locations at each local memory to reference a same data object
First Claim
1. A composite mechanism for accessing remote data objects in a distributed memory environment having a plurality of parallel processors remote from each other, each processor having a local memory with parallel address locations, wherein for each data object having a storage location in the local memory of a first processor, the mechanism comprises:
- a first variable storage repository at a first address location in the local memory of the first processor pointing to said object'"'"'s storage location in the memory of the first processor; and
a second variable storage repository at the first address location in the local memory of at least one remote parallel processor pointing to the first processor, whereby the first address location in the local memory of the first processor and the first address location in the local memory of the at least one remote parallel processor have a same corresponding address location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism and method for accessing remote data objects in a distributed memory environment is disclosed. In the distributed memory environment, a number of parallel processors are remote from each other and each has memory storage capacity with parallel address locations. For each data object stored in the local memory of a processor, that processor stores a variable at a specific location pointing to the address of the data object in its local memory. At the same (parallel) location in the local memories of all remote parallel processors, a variable pointing to the home processor for the data object is stored. In order to access the data object, it is only necessary to locate the identifier variable in the processor processing a program pointing to the processor having the data object in storage. Because of the parallel address space, the location will automatically point directly to the same address location in the home storage processor, and this address location contains the address pointing to the actual location of the data object in the local storage of that processor. Alternate means for updating the variable information on data object storage is also provided. In one system, changes are broadcast throughout the parallel processor environment while in the other system, changes are merely retained on the home processor or the home processor and one remote parallel processor responsible for recording changes in that region of the distributed memory environment. When accessed by another remote parallel processor, the change information will be transmitted.
45 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A composite mechanism for accessing remote data objects in a distributed memory environment having a plurality of parallel processors remote from each other, each processor having a local memory with parallel address locations, wherein for each data object having a storage location in the local memory of a first processor, the mechanism comprises:
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a first variable storage repository at a first address location in the local memory of the first processor pointing to said object'"'"'s storage location in the memory of the first processor; and a second variable storage repository at the first address location in the local memory of at least one remote parallel processor pointing to the first processor, whereby the first address location in the local memory of the first processor and the first address location in the local memory of the at least one remote parallel processor have a same corresponding address location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A mechanism for accessing remote data objects in a distributed memory environment having a plurality of parallel processors remote from each other, each processor having a local memory with parallel address locations and each processor adapted to be a home processor storing data objects in said local memory, comprising:
for each home processor; a first repository storage segment in the local memory of the home processor at an address location, said first repository storage segment being adapted to contain variables pointing to the data objects concurrently stored in the local memory of said home processor; a second repository storage segment in the local memory of all remote parallel processors at the address location, said second repository storage segment being adapted to contain identifiers for the data objects concurrently stored in the local memory of said home processor, whereby the address location in the local memory of the home processor and the address location in the local memory of the remote parallel processors have a same corresponding location; and relay means for changing said first and second repository segments in response to a change in data object storage in said local memory of the home processor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of accessing remote data objects in a distributed memory environment between remote parallel processors, each parallel processor having a local memory and being adapted to be a home processor storing at least one data object in said local memory, comprising the computer implemented steps of:
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storing an address variable for a data object at a location in the local memory of the home processor; storing an identifier variable for the data object at the location in the local memory of at least one remote parallel processor, whereby the location in the local memory of the home processor and the location in the local memory of the at least one remote parallel processor have a same corresponding location; locating said identifier variable for accessing said address variable; and locating said address variable for accessing said data object in the local memory of the home processor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification