Method for finding global extrema of a set of bytes distributed across an array of parallel processing elements

An n-dimensional array of processing elements, comprising:

• a plurality of processing elements interconnected to form an n-dimensional array, each processing element comprising:
• an arithmetic logic unit;
• condition logic responsive to said arithmetic logic unit;
• a plurality of registers connected to a bus and responsive to said arithmetic logic unit;
• a result pipeline responsive to said arithmetic logic unit;
• an interface;
• and
• register files connected between said interface and said result pipeline;
• said processing elements configured to:
• determine a local extrema;
• serially output, on each clock cycle, said local extrema to a neighboring processing element until every processing element in a first dimension has received all local extrema along said first dimension;
• determine a first dimensional extrema for said first dimension of said n-dimensional array, wherein said dimensional extrema is determined concurrently with the receipt of said local extrema from said processing elements in said first dimension;
• serially output, on each clock cycle, said first dimensional extrema to a neighboring processing element until every processing element in a next dimension has received all first dimensional extrema along said next dimension;
• determine a next dimensional extrema for a next dimension of said n-dimensional array, wherein said next dimensional extrema is determined concurrently with the receipt of said first dimensional extrema;
• repeat said serially outputting on each clock cycle and concurrently determining for each of said n-dimensions, wherein each of a next dimensional extrema is determined from a dimensional extrema from a previously selected dimension, until a global extrema is determined;
• and
• save said global extrema.