Method for interconnecting components within a data processing system

• US 6,275,884 B1
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Voigt, Wendel Glenn, Craft, David John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Application Number:
  US09/276,383
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 710/104, 710/129, 710/126, 324/309, 324/312, 370/445, 370/462
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4256 using a clocked protocol

Abstract

A method for interconnecting components within a data processing system is disclosed. A number of components is connected to an uni-directional bus. The uni-directional bus is arranged in a loop configuration. Each component has at least one node identification. Communications among these components are provided in the form of messages via a respective node identification. Each message includes a node identification field and a content field.

Claims

1. A method for interconnecting components within a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a plurality of components on a uni-directional bus, wherein each of said components has at least one node identification;

providing communications among said plurality of components via messages to a respective node identification; and

transmitting a first message from a first node to a second node concurrent with transmitting a second message from a third node to a fourth node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said uni-directional bus is arranged in a loop configuration.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further includes a step of providing said plurality of components with a common clock.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of said messages includes a node identification field and a content field.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method further includes a step of providing a branch loop within each of said plurality of components.

6. A data processing system, comprising:

a plurality of components connected on a uni-directional bus, wherein each of said components has at least one node identification;

means for providing communications among said plurality of components via messages to a respective node identification; and

means for transmitting a first message from a first node to a second node concurrent with transmitting a second message from a third node to a fourth node.

7. The data processing system according to claim 6, wherein said uni-directional bus is arranged in a loop configuration.

8. The data processing system according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of components share a common clock.

9. The data processing system according to claim 6, wherein each of said messages includes a node identification field and a content field.

10. The data processing system according to claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of components further includes a branch loop.