Methods and apparatus for extended packet communications between multiprocessor clusters
First Claim
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1. A computer system, comprising:
- a request cluster including a first plurality of processors and a request cluster interconnection controller, the first plurality of processors and the request cluster interconnection controller in communication using a point-to-point architecture;
a home cluster including a second plurality of processors and a home cluster interconnection controller, the second plurality of processors and the home cluster interconnection controller in communication using a point-to-point architecture, wherein the home cluster interconnection controller is configured to receive a probe request associated with a memory line from the request cluster interconnection controller, wherein the probe request includes protocol extension information and link layer extension information.
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Abstract
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of communications between multiprocessor clusters. Mechanisms for improving the accuracy of information available to an interconnection controller are implemented in order to allow the interconnection controller to increase reliability and reduce latency in a multiple cluster system. Protocol extensions and link layer extensions are provided with packets to convey information between interconnection controllers of separate multiprocessor clusters.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a request cluster including a first plurality of processors and a request cluster interconnection controller, the first plurality of processors and the request cluster interconnection controller in communication using a point-to-point architecture; a home cluster including a second plurality of processors and a home cluster interconnection controller, the second plurality of processors and the home cluster interconnection controller in communication using a point-to-point architecture, wherein the home cluster interconnection controller is configured to receive a probe request associated with a memory line from the request cluster interconnection controller, wherein the probe request includes protocol extension information and link layer extension information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for transmitting information between multiple processor clusters, the method comprising:
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receiving a probe request associated with a memory line from a request cluster interconnection controller; and extracting protocol extension information and link layer extension information from the probe request at an interconnection controller in a home cluster interconnection controller in a home cluster, the home cluster including a plurality of processors connected using a point-to-point architecture. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for transmitting information between multiple processor clusters, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a probe request associated with a memory line from a request cluster interconnection controller; and means for extracting protocol extension information and link layer extension information from the probe request at a home cluster interconnection controller in a home cluster, the home cluster including a processors connected using a point-to-point architecture. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification