Data driven information processor generating multidimensional generation number identifying generation and additional attributes of data in data packet

A data driven information processor for processing a data packet including a multidimensional generation number, a destination number, instruction information, and data to be processed based on a data flow program, the processor comprising:

• data packet forming means for adding destination information to externally applied data to form a data packet;
• program storing means, responsive to the data packet forming means, for prestoring said data flow program, for applying a data packet to the data flow program to determine a storage position in the program storing means, for reading out instruction information and next destination information found in the storage position determined from destination information included in the applied data packet, for modifying the applied data packet by replacing instruction information and a destination number in the applied data packet with said readout instruction information and destination information, and for outputting the modified data packet;
• composite data generating means, connected to said program storing means so as to receive a data packet from said program storing means, for detecting instruction information for which all data required for execution of the instruction is available based on destination information and instruction information included in the received data packet, and for modifying the received data packet to include the instruction information, data required for execution of the instruction information, and destination information corresponding to the instruction information, and for outputting the modified data packet;
• operation processing means, responsive to the composite data generating means, for operating on the data included in the data packet according to the instruction information included therein, and for providing a data packet including an operation result and destination information;
• and
• output means, responsive to said operation processing means and said composite data generating means, for selectively outputting data packets to the outside of said program storing means or said data driven information processor based on destination information;
• wherein said data packet forming means includes
• destination number generating means, responsive to externally applied data, for generating a destination number in a predetermined manner and for generating a generation number update signal when the destination number satisfies a certain condition,
• generation number generating means, responsive to said generation number update signal, for updating a plurality of generation number components and for generating a multidimensional generation number using the updated generation number components, and
• data combining means for combining the externally applied data, the destination number provided from said destination number generating means, and the multidimensional generation number provided from said generation number generating means and for providing a combined result as a data packet;
• wherein the multidimensional number identifies at least two things, the first thing being a generation to which data contained in the data packet belongs, and the second thing being an additional attribute of the data contained in the data packet;
• wherein said multidimensional generation number includes a plurality of partial generation numbers;
• and
• wherein said generation number generating means includes
• increment trigger generating means, responsive to said generation number update signal, for generating a plurality of increment trigger signals in different cycles, and
• multidimensional generation number generating means, responsive to said plurality of increment trigger signals, for generating said plurality of partial generation numbers increasing in different cycles and with different increments, respectively, and for concatenating partial generation numbers to generate the multidimensional generation number.