Method and system for data driven information processing

A data processing system having input/output prescription table group memory means containing a plurality of input/output prescription tables, queue memory means, processing program module group memory means containing a plurality of processing program modules, execution control program memory means containing an execution control program, and sequential execution processing means, wherein:

• said input/output prescription tables each corresponding to a respective one of said processing program modules, and each input/output prescription table includes input data source information, input data preparation situation indicating information, output notice destination information, and ann output data storage area;
• said queue memory means includes means for holding address information for accessing a queue of said input/output prescription tables in said input/output prescription table group memory means in a first-in-first-out fashion;
• and
• said processing means includes means for executing said processing program modules and said execution control program, alternatively;
• each of said processing program modules controlling said processing means to process input data designated by the input data source information in the corresponding input/output prescription table and to store resultant output data into the output data area in said corresponding input/output prescription table;
• and
• said execution control program controlling said processing means to update said input data preparation situation indicating information in a different input/output prescription table designated by the output notice destination information in the input/output prescription table corresponding to an executed processing program module so as to indicate that the corresponding input data is prepared, to add to said queue an input/output prescription table whose input data preparation situation indicating information indicates that all input data necessary to perform the corresponding processing program module is prepared, to fetch said input/output prescription table from said queue, and to start the processing program module corresponding to the input/output prescription table that is fetched from said queue.

A data processing system having at least one processing subsystem comprising an input/output prescription table group memory unit, a queue memory unit and a processing unit which are interconnected, an execution control unit, and interface means for transmitting and receiving control information between said processing unit and said execution control unit, wherein:

• said input/output prescription table group memory unit including means for holding a plurality of input/output prescription tables, each of which corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of processing program modules that are to be executed, and includes input data source information, input data preparation situation indicating information, output notice destination information, and an output data storage area;
• said queue memory unit including means for holding address information as a queue for accessing input/output prescription tables in a first-in-first-out fashion;
• said processing unit includes processing program module group memory means for holding said plurality of processing program modules, and a first sequential execution processor which executes said processing program modules and informs said execution control unit via said interface means for completion of the execution of each processing program module, each of said processing program modules controlling said first sequential execution processor to process input data designated by the input data source information in a corresponding input/output prescription table and to store resultant output data into the output data storage area in said corresponding input/output prescription table;
• and
• said execution control unit includes execution control program memory means and a second sequential execution processor which executes said execution control program, said execution control program controlling said second sequential execution processor to update the input data preparation situation indicating information in an input/output prescription table designated by the output notice destination information in an input/output prescription table corresponding to an executed processing program module so as to indicate that the corresponding input data is prepared, to add and fetch said input/output prescription tables to and from said queue, and to command via said interface means said processing unit to start executing the processing program module corresponding to the input/output prescription table that is fetched from said queue.