System and method for terminating lock-step sequences in a multiprocessor system
First Claim
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1. For use in a processing system containing a plurality of processors coupled to a main memory by a first common bus, a control circuit for breaking a lock-step sequence of memory requests received from said processors, said control circuit comprising:
- a memory request generator coupled to said first common bus for generating a first additional memory request independent of the memory requests of the lock-step sequence, the first additional memory request having higher service priority than the memory requests of the lock-step sequence to disturb a timing of the lock-step sequence of the memory requests;
wherein a duration of the first additional memory request is generated pseudo-randomly.
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Abstract
There is provided, for use in a processing system containing a plurality of processors coupled to a main memory, a control circuit for perturbing a lock-step sequence of memory requests received from the processors. The control circuit comprises a memory request generator for generating at least one memory request operable to terminate the lock-step sequence of memory requests.
61 Citations
20 Claims
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1. For use in a processing system containing a plurality of processors coupled to a main memory by a first common bus, a control circuit for breaking a lock-step sequence of memory requests received from said processors, said control circuit comprising:
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a memory request generator coupled to said first common bus for generating a first additional memory request independent of the memory requests of the lock-step sequence, the first additional memory request having higher service priority than the memory requests of the lock-step sequence to disturb a timing of the lock-step sequence of the memory requests;
wherein a duration of the first additional memory request is generated pseudo-randomly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A processing system comprising:
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A plurality of processors;
a main memory;
a memory control device coupled to said plurality of processors by a first common bus and to said main memory to receive memory request from said plurality of processors and to transfer data between said plurality of processors and said main memory; and
a control circuit to break a lock-step sequence of memory requests received from said processors, said control circuit comprising a memory request generator coupled to said first common bus for generating a first additional memory request independent of the memory requests of the lock-step sequence, the first additional memory request having a higher service priority than the memory requests of the lock-step sequence to perturb a timing of the lock-step sequence memory requests;
wherein a duration of the first additional memory request is generated pseudo-randomly. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a processing system containing a plurality of processors coupled to a main memory by a first common bus, a method for perturbing a lock-step sequence of memory requests received from the processors, the method comprising:
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generating a first additional memory request independent of the memory requests of the lock-step sequence on the first common bus, the first additional memory request having a higher service priority than the memory requests of the lock-step sequence to perturb a timing of the lock-step sequence of memory requests;
wherein a duration of the first additional memory request is generated pseudo-randomly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
generating a second additional memory request on the second common bus, the second additional memory request on the second bus operable to terminate a second lock-step sequence of memory requests received from the I/O devices, and the second additional memory request having a higher service priority than the memory requests of the second lock-step sequence.
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20. The method set forth in claim 17, wherein the first additional memory request is generated independent of whether the lock-step sequence of memory requests exists.
Specification