Data-flow processing system having an input packet limiting section for preventing packet input based upon a threshold value indicative of an optimum pipeline processing capacity

摘要

A data-driven type computer system including an input limiting section for monitoring a current number of packets existing in the circular pipeline of the system while being processed. The input limiting section is adapted to control packets from being inputted from the external unit when the current number of packets exceeds a specified threshold value which is greater than a minimum packet number existing in the circular pipeline and which allows the attainment of the highest possible throughput of the system. The input limiting section further includes a predictive control unit to preliminarily analyze a current data flow graph to be processed in the system and also to take order in rank a possible rate of increase in the quantity of packets generated by a copying operation as well as a possible rate of reduction in the prior processing by the system. While being stored once for buffering by an input buffer, variation in the current quantity of deposited packets is predicted by the predictive control unit every time when packets are entered from an external source or from the output section, so that they are prevented from being entered by the input limiting section when the current quantity of deposited packets is in excess of the preset limit of the hardware.