Address generation unit using end point patterns to scan multi-dimensional data structures

A method for operating a data system component comprising:

• a data memory providing a multi-dimensional data structure;
• providing an address generation unit configured to calculate real addresses in order to access the multi-dimensional data structure in a desired pattern;
• configuring the address generation unit to calculate the real addresses by moving across the multi-dimensional data structure between pairs of end points, wherein the pairs of end points are pre-programmed into the address generation unit prior to accessing the multi-dimensional data structure, and accessing the data structure at the real addresses calculated by the address generation unit;
• wherein said address generation unit comprises a buffer descriptor memory and a port descriptor memory;
• programming said address generation unit by management processors;
• using said address generation unit to generate real addresses in response to read/write requests from either a vector processor unit controller or a connection manager communicating with a bus whose primary responsibility is to transfer data;
• wherein said vector processor unit controller makes read or write requests to a connection as opposed to specifying the real address in said data memory where the read or write is to occur;
• wherein said connection is identified by a connection identification composed of a buffer identification and a port identification;
• wherein said port descriptor memory stores a port descriptor table containing port records indexed by port identification and port type;
• wherein said data memory has a buffer capable of storing vectors, said port records additionally comprise attributes of the ports they describe;
• wherein said attributes include the end points to move between when scanning the vectors in a buffer, and the step size between the end points;
• and
• wherein the number of elements in said vector is equal to the number of processing elements in a vector processing unit array (VPU array) that operates on the multi-dimensional data structure.