Multi-cluster parallel processing computer system

• US 5,890,007 A
• Filed: 02/26/1996
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Zinguuzi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TZENG, FRED
• Application Number:
  US08/607,013
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 395/406, 395/800, 395/412, 711/202
• US Class Current: 712/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/17375 One dimensional, e.g. linear array, ring

Abstract

A multi-cluster computer system includes a plurality of clusters and a crossbar network for connecting the clusters. Each cluster includes processors, a shared memory, local network, data holding memory, shared memory access mechanism, data transfer mechanism. The data holding memory stores data to be broadcasted. The shared memory access mechanism transfers broadcast data from the shared memory to the data holding memory when one of the processors requests a broadcast. The data transfer mechanism transfers the broadcast data from the data holding mechanism to a plurality of destination clusters one after another. Each cluster may include parameter holding memory. The parameter holding memory stores parameters for each of the destination clusters. Each parameter includes information indicative of a corresponding destination cluster and an address at which the broadcast data is stored. The data transfer mechanism transfers the broadcast data to a destination cluster along with corresponding one of the parameters.

Claims

1. A multi-cluster computer system including a plurality of clusters and inter-cluster connection means for connecting said plurality of clusters, each of said plurality of clusters comprising:

a plurality of processors, each of said plurality of processors having means for generating a broadcast request, said broadcast request identifying a broadcast data to be broadcast and identifying a plurality of destination clusters from said plurality of clusters;

a shared memory for storing data and for outputting the broadcast data in response to said broadcast request;

intra-cluster connection means for connecting each of said plurality of processors to said shared memory;

data holding means for receiving and holding the broadcast data output by the shared memory for successive repeated broadcast to said destination clusters;

shared memory access means for transferring the broadcast data from said shared memory to said data holding means in response to one of said plurality of processors generating said broadcast request; and

data transfer means for transferring the broadcast data from said data holding means through said inter-cluster connection means, to said plurality of destination clusters identified by said broadcast request, one after another for a single access to said shared memory in response to said broadcast reguest.

2. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 1, each of said clusters further comprising:

data storage means for receiving the broadcast data from another of said clusters through said inter-cluster connection means and for storing the received broadcast data in said shared memory.

3. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 1, each of said plurality of clusters further comprising parameter holding means for storing parameters for each of the destination clusters, each of said parameters including information indicative of a corresponding destination cluster and an address in said shared memory at which the broadcast data is stored, and

wherein said data transfer means transfers the broadcast data to a destination cluster along with a corresponding one of the parameters.

4. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 1, wherein said data transfer means divides the broadcast data into a plurality of data blocks and transfers the data blocks to the destination clusters, and

wherein each of said plurality of clusters comprises parameter generating means for generating parameters for the data blocks by repeatedly adding the length of the data blocks to the address in the parameters stored in said parameter holding means.

5. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of clusters posts reception of the broadcast data when the broadcast data is received therein, and

wherein each of said plurality of clusters comprises broadcast end monitoring means for determining whether all of the destination clusters post reception of the broadcast data.

6. A multi-cluster computer system including:

a plurality of clusters, each said cluster comprising;

a shared memory

a processor having means for generating a broadcast request, said broadcast request identifying data in said shared memory for broadcasting to a plurality of destination clusters and identifying said plurality of destination clusters,

means for retrieving and transmitting broadcast data from said shared memory corresponding to said broadcast request; and

inter-cluster connection means for connecting said plurality of clusters, said inter-cluster connection means comprising;

data holding means for receiving and storing said broadcast data received from one of said plurality of clusters, and

data transfer means for transferring the stored broadcast data from said data holding means to said plurality of destination clusters for a single transfer of said stored broadcast data in response to said broadcast request.

7. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 6,

wherein said inter-cluster connection means further comprises parameter holding means for storing parameters for each of the destination clusters, each of said parameters including information indicative of a corresponding destination cluster and a destination address in said shared memory at which the broadcast data is stored, and

wherein said data transfer means transfers the broadcast data to a destination cluster along with corresponding one of the parameters.

8. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 6, wherein said data transfer means divides the broadcast data into a plurality of data blocks and transfers the data blocks to the destination clusters, and

wherein said data transfer means comprises parameter generating means for generating a parameter for each of the data blocks by repeatedly adding the length of the data blocks to the address in the parameter stored in said parameter holding means.

9. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of clusters posts reception of the broadcast data when the broadcast data is received therein, and

wherein said data transfer means comprises broadcast end monitoring means for determining whether all of the destination clusters post reception of the broadcast data.

10. A multi-cluster computer system according to claim 6, said inter-cluster connection means comprises arbitration means for arbitrating data transfer via said inter-cluster connection means.