Data processing system, method and interconnect fabric for synchronized communication in a data processing system

• US 7,451,231 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Starke, William J., Stuecheli, Jeffrey A., Goodman, Benjiman L., Reddy, Praveen S., Guthrie, Guy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Hoang-Chuong Q
• Application Number:
  US11/055,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20060179337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/242, 370/503, 709238-244, 709/208, 709/213, 709/248, 710/240, 710/241, 710/52, 710/110, 710/107, 710/100, 710/244, 710/316, 712/32
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B

Abstract

A data processing system includes a plurality of processing units, including at least a local master and a local hub, which are coupled for communication via a communication link. The local master includes a master capable of initiating an operation, a snooper capable of receiving an operation, and interconnect logic coupled to a communication link coupling the local master to the local hub. The interconnect logic includes request logic that synchronizes internal transmission of a request of the master to the snooper with transmission, via the communication link, of the request to the local hub.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising:

a plurality of processing units coupled for communication, said plurality of processing units including at least a local master and a local hub, wherein said local master includes;

a master capable of initiating an operation;

a snooper capable of receiving an operation;

interconnect logic coupled to a communication link coupling the local master to the local hub, wherein said interconnect logic includes request logic that synchronizes internal transmission of a request of said master to said snooper with transmission, via the communication link, of the request to the local hub;

wherein said plurality of processing units further includes a third processing unit coupled to said local master by a communication link;

wherein said request logic includes a launch buffer including;

a first ordered data structure that orders requests generated by said master;

a second ordered data structure that orders requests received from said third processing unit;

an arbiter that selects requests for transmission to said local hub by reference to said first and second ordered data structures; and

map logic that routes requests from said master to said first ordered data structure and routes requests of said third processing unit to said second ordered data structure by reference to relative physical positions of said local master and said third processing unit;

wherein;

said local hub includes request logic comprising a launch buffer and arbiter; and

said arbiter at said local hub selects requests for transmission from said launch buffer of said local hub in accordance with selections of requests said arbiter at said local master.