Method and data processing system for microprocessor communication in a cluster-based multi-processor network

In a multiprocessor data processing system, having a first processor and a plurality of snooping components interconnected via a system bus, a method for enabling efficient transfer of synchronization data to each of the first processor and the plurality of snooping components, said method comprising:

• at the first processor, modifying an address operation to include synchronization data required by said first processor and at least one of said plurality of snooping components;
• issuing a broadcast of said modified address operation as an address tenure on the system bus, wherein said modified address operation is snooped by each of said first processor and said one snooping component;
• and
• extracting said synchronization data from within said modified address operation, wherein said synchronization data is transmitted on the system within an address tenure.

A multi-processor data processing system comprising:

• a first processor and a second processors, each having a processor communication register (PCRs) for sharing synchronization data;
• and
• a system bus interconnecting said first processor and said second processor;
• wherein said first processor includes processor logic for enabling efficient exchange of data between respective PCR, said processor logic including:
• means for storing updated data within a modified address operation generated at the first processor;
• means for broadcasting the modified address operation to each PCR within said MP via said system bus, wherein a copy of said updated data is automatically placed within a corresponding register location within each of said respective PCR.