Data processing system with synchronization coprocessor for multiple threads

摘要

PCT No. PCT/US92/06150 Sec. 371 Date May 31, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date May 31, 1994 PCT Filed Jul. 21, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO93/02414 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 1993A multiprocessor system comprises a plurality of processing nodes, each node processing multiple threads of computation. Each node includes a data processor which sequentially processes blocks of code, each block defining a thread of computation. The code includes instructions to send start messages with data values to start new threads of computation. Each node also includes a synchronization coprocessor for processing start messages from the same and other nodes of the system. The coprocessor processes the messages from a message queue to store values as operands for threads of computation, to determine when all operands required for a thread of computation have been received and to provide in a continuation queue an indication to the data processor that a thread of computation may be initiated. The data processor subsequently nonsynchronously initiates the thread of computation. Alternatively, a single processor may perform the continuation and message processing functions in an interleaved sequence. The data processor creates messages to remote nodes using a global virtual address which is translated before transmission to a node designation and a local virtual address at the remote node.