# US 5,710,923 A · Methods and apparatus for exchanging active messages in a parallel processing computer system

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- Number: US 5,710,923 A
- Document ID: US5710923A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/428,684
- Filed: 1995-04-25
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1995-04-25
- Assignees: Unisys Corporation
- Inventors: Andrew T. Jennings; Timothy N. Fender; Duane J. McCrory; Craig R. Church
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710923A

## CPC

- G06F 9/546: {Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A method for communicating active messages among nodes of a parallel processing computer system is disclosed. The active messages are defined by .mu.threads, and the method comprises the steps of: (a) generating a .mu.thread comprising an instruction pointer, frame pointer, and Local Parameters pointer from a first node to a second node; and (b) performing a procedure on a data structure in accordance with the .mu.thread. The instruction pointer points to an application specific procedure in system memory, and the frame pointer points to an application specific data structure in system memory. The Local Parameters pointer points to one or more words of additional data or parameters stored in memory mapped device registers or system memory.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for communicating active messages among nodes of a parallel processing computer system, said active messages being defined by .mu.threads, comprising the steps of:
(a) generating a .mu.thread descriptor comprising an instruction pointer (.mu.IP) and flame pointer (.mu.FP);
(b) generating a Local Parameters pointer (.mu.LP) after said node receives said active message, wherein said Local Parameters pointer (.mu.LP) identifies where additional parameters have been stored and is included as part of said .mu.thread descriptor; and
(c) performing a procedure identified by said instruction pointer (.mu.IP) on a data structure identified by said frame pointer (.mu.FP) in accordance with said .mu.thread;
wherein said procedure uses said Local Parameters pointer (.mu.LP) to locate additional parameters associated with said procedure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional parameters are stored in memory mapped device registers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional parameters are stored in system memory.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional parameters are stored in dedicated frame memory.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional parameters are stored in dynamically allocated frame memory.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said additional parameters are stored in global heap memory.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method is carried out by an off-the-shelf processor not designed with active messaging instructions.