Synchronous processing method and apparatus for a plurality of processors executing a plurality of programs in parallel

A synchronous processing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of processing elements which execute processes for a plurality of programs, a group of said plurality of processing elements executing processes in one of said programs in parallel and in synchronism;
• and
• a communication device through which data is transferred between said plurality of processing elements,
• each of said processing elements including:
• synchronization combination storage means for storing synchronization combination information, indicating a combination of a group of said plurality of processing elements to execute processes in one of said programs in parallel and in synchronism, to a first register having a same number of bits as a number of said plurality of processing elements in said group and to a second register having a minimum number of bits necessary to distinguish each of said groups of processing elements from each other, such that a total number of bits of said first and second registers is less than a total number of said plurality of processors;
• synchronous status storing means for storing synchronous status information indicating that a synchronization waiting status is reached when said processing element completes one of said processes in said program corresponding to said group;
• storage control means for controlling said synchronous status storing means to store said synchronous status information and for simultaneously transmitting said stored synchronous status information to said group of said plurality of processing elements;
• synchronous receiving means for receiving said transmitted synchronous status information;
• synchronous judging means for judging whether said group of processing elements are in synchronism based on said received synchronous status information transmitted from said group of said processing elements and said stored synchronization combination information;
• and
• shifting means for shifting, when said synchronous judging means judges that said group of processing elements are in synchronism, said group of processing elements to execute a successive process in said corresponding program, said group of processing elements thereby executing processes in said program in parallel and in synchronism.

A synchronous processing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of processing elements which execute processes for a plurality of programs, a group of said plurality of processing elements executing processes in one of said programs in parallel and in synchronism;
• and
• a communication device through which data is transferred between said plurality of processing elements,
• each of said plurality of processing elements including:
• a plurality of synchronous status storage means, respectively corresponding to a plurality of programs to reduce a number of said plurality of processing elements by processing said plurality of programs in parallel, for storing synchronous status information indicating that a synchronization waiting status is reached when said processing element completes one of said processes in said program corresponding to said group;
• storage control means for controlling said plurality of synchronous status storage means to store said synchronous status information and for simultaneously transmitting said stored synchronous status information to said group of said plurality of processing elements;
• a plurality of synchronous judging means, respectively corresponding to said plurality of synchronous status storage means to reduce said number of said plurality of processing elements by processing said plurality of programs in parallel, for each judging whether said group of processing elements corresponding to one program are in synchronism;
• and
• shifting means for shifting, when any one of said plurality of synchronous judging means judges that said processing elements are in synchronism, said group of processing elements to execute a successive process of said corresponding program, said group of processing elements thereby executing processes in said program in parallel and in synchronism.