Method and apparatus for using port communications to switch processor modes
First Claim
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1. A computer array comprising:
- a plurality of processors; and
whereineach processor is connected to at least two adjoining processors by a plurality of links, each said link being connected to only two of said processors;
said plurality of processors includesa plurality of edge processors located at the edge of said array, each said edge processor having three links connecting said edge processor to three adjacent processors,four corner processors, each said corner processor located at a corner of said array and having two of said links connecting said corner processor to two of said edge processors, anda plurality of hybrid processors, each of said hybrid processors connected by four links to four processors, the link of said edge processor not connected to another one of said edge processors or one of said corner processors being connected to a single said hybrid processor;
said hybrid processors selectively switch between a rest mode, a routing mode, and a processing mode; and
when one of said hybrid processors receives an instruction on one of said links connected to said one of said hybrid processors, said one of said hybrid processors switches between said rest mode and at least one of said routing mode and said processing mode.
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Abstract
A computer array 100 including a field of processors 101-124 each processor having a separate memory. The processors 101-124 are connected to their immediate neighbors with links 200. Several configurations of the links are described including differing types of data lines 210 and control lines 215. Along lines 215 Process Command Words (PCW) to initiate processing tasks and Routing Connection Words (RCW) to initiate routing tasks pass between the processors 101-124 to provide a method for altering the mode of hybrid processors 107-118 in the array.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A computer array comprising:
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a plurality of processors; and
whereineach processor is connected to at least two adjoining processors by a plurality of links, each said link being connected to only two of said processors; said plurality of processors includes a plurality of edge processors located at the edge of said array, each said edge processor having three links connecting said edge processor to three adjacent processors, four corner processors, each said corner processor located at a corner of said array and having two of said links connecting said corner processor to two of said edge processors, and a plurality of hybrid processors, each of said hybrid processors connected by four links to four processors, the link of said edge processor not connected to another one of said edge processors or one of said corner processors being connected to a single said hybrid processor; said hybrid processors selectively switch between a rest mode, a routing mode, and a processing mode; and when one of said hybrid processors receives an instruction on one of said links connected to said one of said hybrid processors, said one of said hybrid processors switches between said rest mode and at least one of said routing mode and said processing mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A processor for use in a computer array, said processor comprising:
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a central processing unit coupled to at least two links, each of said links connecting said processor to an immediately adjacent processor; and a memory unit connected to said central processing unit; and
whereinsaid central processing unit has three modes including an idle mode for conserving power, a routing mode for performing routing tasks, and a processing mode for performing processing tasks; and receipt of an instruction on either of said links causes said central processing unit to shift from said idle mode to at least one of said routing mode and said processing mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for operating a multi processor array, said method comprising:
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designating some of the processors in said array as multimode processors having at least an idle mode for conserving power, a routing mode for performing a routing task, and a processing mode performing a processing task; switching one of said multimode processors from said idle mode into at least one of said processing mode and said routing mode upon receipt of a command word with said one of said multimode processors; performing one of said routing task and said processing task with said one of said multimode processors upon receipt of said command word; and switching said one of said multimode processors back to said idle mode upon completion of said performed task. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification