Arrangement for effecting vector mode operation in multiprocessing systems

Abstract

Abstract A PROGRAM CONTROLLED TRANSISTION OF THE MODE OF OPERATION OF A MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEM, FROM THE NORMAL MULTIPROCESSING MODE (IDEPENDENT EXECUTION OF DISTINCT INSTRUCTION SEQUENCES OF TASKS BY A PLURALITY OF PROCESSORS) TO THE VECTOR MODE (SYNCHRONOUS EXECUTION OF IDENTICAL INSTRUCTION SEQUENCES OR TASK BY A PLURALITY OF PROCESSORS) IS EFFECTED BY THE EXECUTIION OF A SPECIAL INSTRUCTION BY ONE OF THE PROCESSORS ENGAGED IN A MULTIPROCESSING TASK, WHICH THEREBY BECOMES THE SO-CALLED ORIGINATING PROCESSOR OF A VECTOR TASK. IN EXECUTING THIS SPECIAL INSTRUCTION, THE ORIGINATING PROCESSOR ACQUIRES CONTROL OVER A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF THE OTHER PROCESSORS THAT HAVE SO FAR BEEN EXECUTING INDEPENDENT TASK, CAUSING THEM TO INTERRUPT THE TASKS THEY ARE ENGAGED IN, AND THEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INCIPIENT VECTOR TASK. IN A SET OF PROCESSORS PARTICIPATING IN VECTOR TASK, THE ORIGINATING PROCESSOR ALONE FETCHES INSTRUCTIONS FROM STORAGE, DISTRIBUTING THEM TO THE OTHER PARTICIPATING PROCESSORS. THE INSTRUCTION SEQUENCING MECHANISM OF EACH ONE OF THE OTHER PARTICIPATING PROCESSORS, WHILE REQUIRED IN THE NORMAL MULTIPROCESSING MODE, IS DISABLED FOR AS LONG AS THAT PROCESSOR CONTINUES IN THE VECTOR MODE. THE ADDRESSING AND INDEXING MECHANISMS OF ALL PARTICIPATING PROCESSORS REMAIN EFFECTIVE IN THE VECTOR MODE, SO THAT EACH OF THE PROCESSORS CAN FETCH DATA WORDS FROM STORAGE FOR ITS OWN USE. HOWEVER, DATA FETCHING BY ALL PARTICIPATING PROCESSORS IS CYNCHRONIZED BY THE ORIGINATING PROCESSOR. IN ADDITION, SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS INTENDED FOR USE IN VECTOR TASKS ONLY ENABLE THE ORIGINATING PROCESSOR TO FETCH INDIVIDUAL DATA WORDS, COPIES OF WHICH THEN BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ALL PARTICIPATING PROCESSORS. ANOTHER SPECIAL INSTRUCTION IN THE VECTOR TASKS EFFECTS THE TERMINATION OF THE VECTOR MODE OF OPERATION, CAUSING THE ORIGINATING PROCESSOR TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OVER THE OTHER PARTICIPATING PROCESSORS, WHICH THEREBY BECOME AVAILABLE FOR REASSIGNMENT TO INDEPENDENT TASKS AS MAY CURRENTLY BE ON RECORD ON THE TASK QUE. THEREAFTER, THE ORIGINATING PROCESSOR CONTINUES THE EXECUTION OF ITS PROGRAM IN THE NORMAL MODE OF OPERATION.

Inventors

• 👤 Henry A Ernst
• 👤 Meir M Lehman
• 👤 Jack L Rosenfeld
• 👤 Hans P Schlaeppi

Bibliographic Details