Distributed processing system and method

• US 8,255,919 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm Atheros Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beverly, Harlan T., Gala, Kumar, Musta, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sough, S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOANG, PHUONG N
• Application Number:
  US12/018,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20080235713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 718/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services

Abstract

A method is disclosed that receives a function call at an application program interface. The method selects a first processor of a plurality of processors to execute the function call. The method further executes a first transmit function associated with a bus coupled to the first processor. The first transmit function includes a function parameter associated with the function call.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a function call at an application program interface;

selecting a first processor of a plurality of processors to execute the function call;

executing a first transmit function associated with a bus coupled to the first processor, the first transmit function including a function parameter associated with the function call, the first transmit function of a function type associated with transmitting data to the first processor for a function other than execution of the function call;

receiving first information from the first processor based on a second transmit function associated with the bus;

determining that the first information is representative of returned values associated with the first function call; and

communicating the first information to the application program interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmit function of the function type associated with transmitting data to the first processor comprises the first transmit function of the function type associated with said transmitting data to the first processor of a network interface device for communication via a network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second transmit function is of a function type associated with transmitting data received from a network to a second processor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the function call comprises receiving the function call at the application program interface executing at a second processor of the plurality of processors.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first processor comprises selecting the first processor based on a relative processor load of the plurality of processors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first processor comprises selecting the first processor based on the function type of the function call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first processor comprises selecting the first processor based on a type of the first processor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first processor comprises selecting the first processor based on an availability of the bus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first processor comprises selecting the first processor based on a latency associated with execution of the function call at the first processor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first processor comprises selecting the first processor based on a bandwidth associated with execution of the function call at the first processor.

11. One or more computer readable storage media having instructions stored therein, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

receiving a function call at an application program interface;

selecting a first processor of a plurality of processors to execute the function call;

executing a first transmit function associated with a bus coupled to the first processor, the first transmit function including a function parameter associated with the function call, the transmit function of a function type associated with transmitting data to the first processor for a function other than execution of the function call;

receiving first information from the first processor based on a second transmit function associated with the bus;

determining that the first information is representative of returned values associated with the first function call; and

communicating the first information to the application program interface.

12. The computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the transmit function of the function type associated with said transmitting data to the first processor of a network interface device for communication via a network.

13. The computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the second transmit function is of a function type associated with transmitting data received from a network to a second processor.

14. The computer readable storage media of claim 11, wherein receiving the function call comprises receiving the function call at the application program interface executing at a second processor of the plurality of processors.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a first processor; and

a second processor coupled with the first processor via a bus, the second processor operable to execute an application program interface, the second processor further operable to;

receive a function call at the application program interface;

select the first processor to execute the function call;

execute a first transmit function associated with the bus coupled to the first processor, the first transmit function including a function parameter associated with the function call, the first transmit function of a function type associated with transmitting data to the first processor for a function other than execution of the function call;

receive first information from the first processor based on a second transmit function associated with the bus;

determine that the first information is representative of returned values associated with the first function call; and

communicate the first information to the application program interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor operable to execute the first transmit function of the function type associated with transmitting data to the first processor comprises the second processor operable to execute the first transmit function of the function type associated with said transmitting data to the first processor of a network interface device for communication via a network.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second transmit function is of a function type associated with transmitting data received from a network to the second processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor operable to select the first processor comprises the second processor operable to select the first processor from a plurality of processors based on a relative processor load of the plurality of processors.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor operable to select the first processor comprises the second processor operable to select the first processor from a plurality of processors based on the function type of the function call.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor operable to select the first processor comprises the second processor operable to select the first processor from a plurality of processors based on a type of the first processor.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor operable to select the first processor comprises the second processor operable to select the first processor from a plurality of processors based on an availability of the bus.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor operable to select the first processor comprises the second processor operable to select the first processor from a plurality of processors based on a latency associated with execution of the function call at the first processor.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor operable to select the first processor comprises the second processor operable to select the first processor from a plurality of processors based on a bandwidth associated with execution of the function call at the first processor.