Multiple cell computer systems and methods
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMark Shaw, Russ Herrell, Stuart Berke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an embodiment, a multi-processor computer system includes multiple cells, where a cell may include one or more processors and memory resources. The system may further include a global crossbar network and multiple cell-to-global-crossbar connectors, to connect the multiple cells with the global crossbar network. In an embodiment, the system further includes at least one cell-to-cell connector, to directly connect at least one pair of the multiple cells. In another embodiment, the system further includes one or more local crossbar networks, multiple cell-to-local-crossbar connectors, and local input/output backplanes connected to the one or more local crossbar networks.
Claims23
A multi-processor computer system comprising:
- multiple cells, wherein a cell of the multiple cells includes one or more processors and memory resources;
- a global crossbar network;
- multiple cell-to-global-crossbar connectors, to connect the multiple cells with the global crossbar network;
- and
- at least one cell-to-cell connector, to directly connect at least one pair of the multiple cells.
A multi-processor computer system comprising:
- multiple cells, wherein a cell of the multiple cells includes one or more processors and memory resources;
- a global crossbar network;
- multiple cell-to-global-crossbar connectors, to connect the multiple cells with the global crossbar network;
- a first local crossbar network;
- multiple first cell-to-local-crossbar connectors to connect a first subset of the multiple cells with the first local crossbar network;
- and
- a first set of local input/output backplanes connected to the first local crossbar network.
A multi-processor computer system comprising:
- multiple cells, wherein selected ones of the multiple cells include one or more processors and memory resources;
- a global crossbar network;
- multiple cell-to-global-crossbar connectors, to connect the multiple cells with the global crossbar network;
- at least one cell-to-cell connector, to directly connect at least one pair of the multiple cells;
- a first local crossbar network;
- multiple first cell-to-local-crossbar connectors to connect a first subset of the multiple cells with the first local crossbar network;
- a first set of local input/output backplanes connected to the first local crossbar network;
- a second local crossbar network;
- multiple second cell-to-local-crossbar connectors to connect a second subset of the multiple cells with the second local crossbar network;
- a second set of local input/output backplanes connected to the second local crossbar network;
- and
- a local-to-local crossbar connector, to connect the first local crossbar network and the second local crossbar network.
A multi-processor computer system comprising:
- multiple means for processing and storing data;
- means for interconnecting the multiple means for processing and storing data through a crossbar network;
- and
- at least one means for directly connecting at least one pair of the multiple means for processing and storing data.
A cell of a multi-processor computer system, comprising:
- two or more processors;
- two or more agents;
- memory resources;
- a first crossbar connector, to enable a connection between the cell and a global crossbar network;
- a second crossbar connector, to enable a connection between the cell and a local crossbar network;
- and
- a cell-to-cell connector, to enable a cell-to-cell connection between the cell and one or more other cells.
A method comprising:
- a first cell of a multi-processor system identifying a destination of a message;
- the first cell routing information within the message through a cell-to-cell link when the destination is located on a second cell having a cell-to-cell connection with the first cell;
- and
- the first cell routing information within the message through a crossbar network when the destination is located on a third cell that is not connected with the first cell through the cell-to-cell connection.
A method comprising:
- a first cell of a multi-processor system identifying a destination of a message;
- the first cell routing information within the message through a global crossbar network, connected to the first cell, when the destination is located on a second cell that is connected to the global crossbar network;
- the first cell routing the information within the message through the global crossbar network when the destination is an input/output backplane that is connected to the global crossbar network;
- and
- the first cell routing the information within the message through a local crossbar network, connected to the first cell, when the destination is an input/output backplane that is connected to the local crossbar network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.