Processor, processing system, data sharing processing method, and integrated circuit for data sharing processing

A processing system having a plurality of processing devices being connected via a common bus for sharing data with one another via the common bus, wherein

• each processing device includes:
• a processor;
• a shared data storage unit operable to store, respectively in one or more storage areas thereof, one or more data blocks to be shared with one or more different processing devices;
• an output unit operable, when the processor makes an access request to write data in a part of one of the data blocks, to output, to the common bus, (a) a block identifier identifying the one of the data blocks, and (b) the data pertaining to the access request, the block identifier outputted from the output unit being unrelated to a device identifier identifying the one of the external processing devices as an output destination and an address identifying one of the external processing devices as an output destination;
• an input unit operable to judge based on a block identifier outputted from a different processing device, whether to share external data outputted, to the common bus, the block identifier outputted from the different processing device being unrelated to a device identifier identifying the processing device as an output destination and an address identifying the processing device as an output destination from the different processing device, and when judging affirmatively, to cause the shared data storage unit to store the external data;
• and
• a management information storage unit operable to store therein, block identifiers of the data blocks stored in the storage areas,
• wherein when one of the block identifiers stored in the management information storage unit is identical to the block identifier outputted from the one of the external processing devices, the input unit judges affirmatively, and
• the common bus transfers data between processing devices based only on the block identifier stored in the management information storage unit being identical to the block identifier outputted from the external processing device, which are unrelated to a device identifier identifying a processing device as a transfer destination and an address identifying a processing device as a transfer destination.

A data sharing processing method used by a processing device that processes data with use of one or more data blocks shared with a plurality of external processing devices via a common bus, wherein

• the processing device includes:
• a processor;
• and
• a shared data storage unit operable to store, respectively in one or more storage areas thereof, one or more data blocks to be shared with one or more external processing devices,
• the data sharing processing method includes steps of:
• outputting, when the processor makes an access request to write data in a part of one of the data blocks, (a) a block identifier identifying the one of the data blocks, and (b) the data pertaining to the access request, the block identifier outputted based on the access request being unrelated to a device identifier identifying one of the external processing devices as an output destination and an address identifying one of the external processing devices as an output destination;
• judging, based on a block identifier outputted from one of the external processing devices, whether to share external data outputted, the block identifier outputted from the external processing device being unrelated to a device identifier identifying the processing device as an output destination and an address identifying the processing device as an output destination from the one of the external processing devices, when judging affirmatively, causing the shared data storage unit to store the external data;
• and
• storing block identifiers of the data blocks stored in the storage areas,
• wherein when one of the block identifiers stored is identical to the block identifier outputted from the one of the external processing devices, the judging is affirmative, and
• the common bus transfers data between the external processing devices based only on the block identifier stored being identical to the block identifier outputted from the external processing device, which are unrelated to a device identifier identifying a processing device as a transfer destination and an address identifying a processing device as a transfer destination.

An integrated circuit that processes data with use of one or more data blocks shared with a plurality of external processing devices via a common bus, comprising:

• a processor;
• a shared data storage unit operable to store, respectively in one or more storage areas thereof, one or more data blocks to be shared with one or more external processing devices;
• an output unit operable, when the processor makes an access request to write data in a part of one of the data blocks, to output (a) a block identifier identifying the one of the data blocks, and (b) the data pertaining to the access request, the block identifier outputted by the output unit being unrelated to a device identifier identifying one of the external processing devices as an output destination and an address identifying one of the external processing devices as an output destination;
• an input unit operable to judge, based on a block identifier outputted from the one of the external processing devices, whether to share external data outputted, the block identifier outputted from the external processing device being unrelated to a device identifier identifying the processing device as an output destination and an address identifying the processing device as an output destination from the one of the external processing devices, and when judging affirmatively, to cause the shared data storage unit to store the external data;
• and
• a management information storage unit operable to store therein, block identifiers of the data blocks stored in the storage areas,
• wherein when one of the block identifiers stored in the management information storage unit is identical to the block identifier outputted from the one of the external processing devices, the input unit judges affirmatively, and
• the common bus transfers data between the external processing devices based only on the block identifier stored in the management information storage unit being identical to the block identifier outputted from the external processing device, which are unrelated to a device identifier identifying a processing device as a transfer destination and an address identifying a processing device as a transfer destination.