Real-time distributed data-base management system

Claim 2

In a system having a main processor, processing nodes each having a processor and a local memory connected to the processor, a communications channel interconnecting the main processor and the processing nodes, and a data base of variables distributed over the local memories of the processing nodes, a method of operating the system as a Distributed Data Base Management System (DDBMS) for the purposes of (1) minimizing the size of each local memory by storing therein only those variables originated by and referenced by the associated processor and (2) minimizing communications on the communications channel of variables referenced by a processor by satisfying such references from the processor's local memory, and periodically or conditionally updating locally stored variables across the communications channel in response to processor execution of an update procedure; the method of operating the DDBMS having prerequisite steps performed at compile time preceding run time, and steps performed at run time; the method of operating the DDBMS comprising: a. executing in the main processor at compile time a Block Builder procedure comprising the steps of: i. generating a variable symbol table in the main processor which lists for all variables used throughout the DDBMS (1) a variable name, and (2) an absolute address of the variable, which absolute address contains the identity of the single processing node which originates the variables and the location within the local memory of the originating processing node wherein the variable will be stored; ii. allocating storage for each variable in the local memory of (1) the processing node which originates the variable, and (2) all other processing nodes which reference the variable, for all variables used throughout the DDBMS; iii. causing each of the processing nodes which reference each variable to make a Requesting Task Request to the processing node which originates the variable in order that the variable becomes stored in the local memory of each referencing processing node; b. executing in each processing node at run time a Real Time Data Management (RTDM) procedure for updating variables, the RTDM procedure comprising the steps of: i. responsive to a program executed in the processor making reference to a variable, requesting the variable at its absolute address, ii. if the referencing processor is within the processing node which originates the variable, then supplying the variable to the referencing processor from its associated local memory; iii. otherwise, supplying the variable to the referencing processor from the local memory of the processing node which originates the variable by communicating the variable across the communications channel to the referencing processor.

Claim 3

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 1 wherein within the RTDM procedure, the step of requesting a variable further comprises conditioning such requesting upon the occurrence of a designated condition in a designated one of any of the processing nodes, occurrence of the designated condition being determined (1) internally within the referencing processor if the referencing processor is within the designated processing node, (2) otherwise by communication between the referencing processor and the designated processing node accross the communications channel

Claim 4

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 1, wherein within the RTDM procedure, the step of requesting a variable further comprises: a. requesting the variable to be supplied at a designated rate; and b. supplying the variable at the designated rate.

Claim 5

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 1, wherein, as a step following supplying the requested variable, the RTDM procedure comprises the further step of time stamping the variable at the referencing processor when the variable is received.

Claim 6

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 1, wherein, as, as a step following supplying the requested variable, the RTDM procedure comprises the further step of acknowledging the receipt of the variable to a designated notification processor.

Claim 7

In a system having a main processor, processing nodes each having a processor and a local memory connected to the processor, a communications channel interconnecting the main processor and the processing nodes, and a data base of variables distributed over the local memories of the processing nodes, a method of operating the system as a Distributed Data Base Management System (DDBMS) for the purposes of (1) minimizing the size of each local memory by storing therein only those variables originated by and referenced by the associated processor, and (2) minimizing communications on the communications channel of variables referenced by a processor by satisfying such references from the processor's local memory, and periodically or conditionally updating locally stored variables across the communications channel in response to processor execution of an update procedure; the method of operating the DDBMS having prerequisite steps performed at compile time preceding run time, and steps performed at run time; the method of operating the DDBMS comprising: a. executing in the main processor at compile time a Block Builder procedure comprising the steps of: i. generating a variable symbol table in the main processor which lists for all variables used throughout the DDBMS (1) a variable name, and (2) an absolute address of the variable, which absolute address contains the identity of the single processing node which originates the variable and the location within the local memory of the originating processing node wherein the variable will be stored; ii. allocating storage for each variable in the local memory (1) the processing node which originates the variable, and (2) all other processing nodes which reference the variable, for all variables used throughout the DDBMS; iii. causing each of the processing nodes which reference each variable to make a Requesting Task Request to the processing node which originates the variable in order that the variable becomes stored in the local memory of each referencing processing node; b. executing in each processing node at run time a Real Time Data Management (RTDM) procedure for updating variables, the RTDM procedure comprising the steps of: i. responsive to a program executed in the processor making reference to a variable, requesting the variable at its absolute address and designating that the variable be communincated to a destination processor in a designated one of any of the processing nodes; ii. if the referencing processor is within the processing node which originates the variable, then supplying the variable to the destination processor, across the communications channel if the destination processor is not identical to the referencing processor; iii. otherwise if the referencing processor is not within that processing node which originates the variable, then (1) communicating the request for the variable across the communications channel to the processing node which originates the variable and (2) supplying, from the local memory of the originating processing node, the variable to the destination processor, across the communications channel if the destination processor is not identical to the originating processor.

Claim 8

In a system having a main processor, processing nodes each having a processor and a local memory connected to the processor, a communications channel interconnecting the main processor and the processing nodes, and a data base of variables distributed over the local memories of the processing nodes, a method of operating the system as a Distributed Data Base Management System (DDBMS) for the purposes of (1) minimizing the size of each local memory by storing therein only those variables originated by and referenced by the associated processor, and (2) minimizing communications on the communications channel of variables referenced by a processor by satisfying such references from the processor's local memory, and periodically or conditionally updating locally stored variables across the communications channel in response to processor execution of an update procedure; the method of operating the DDBMS having prerequisite steps performed at compile time preceding run time, and steps performed at run time; the method of operating the DDBMS comprising: a. executing in the main processor at compile time a Block Builder procedure comprising the steps of: i. generating a variable symbol table in the main processor which lists for all variables used throughout the DDBMS (1) a variable name, and (2) an absolute address of the variable, which absolute address contains the identity of the single processing node which originates the variable and the location within the local memory of the originating processing node wherein the variable will be stored; ii. allocating storage for each variable in the local memory (1) the processing node which originates the variable, and (2) all other processing nodes which reference the variable, for all variables used throughout the DDBMS; iii. causing each of the processing nodes which reference each variable to make a Requesting Task Request to the processing node which originates the variable in order that the variable becomes stored in the local memory of each referencing processing node; b. executing in each processing node at run time a Real Time Data Management (RTDM) procedure for updating variables, the RTDM procedure comprising the steps of: i. responsive to a program executed in the processor making reference to a variable, requesting the variable at its absolute address and designating that the variable be communincated to a destination processor in a designated one of any of the processing nodes; ii. if the referencing processor is within the processing node which originates the variable, then supplying the variable to the destination processor, across the communications channel if the destination processor is not identical to the referencing processor; iii. otherwise if the referencing processor is not within that processing node which originates the variable, then (1) communicating the request for the variable across the communications channel to the processing node which originates the variable and (2) supplying, from the local memory of the originating processing node, the variable to the destination processor, across the communications channel if the destination processor is not identical to the originating processor.

Claim 9

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 6 wherein, as a step following supplying the requested variable, the RTDM procedure comprises the further step of time stamping the variable at the referencing processor when the variable is received.

Claim 10

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 6 wherein within the RTDM procedure, the step of requesting a variable further comprises: a. requesting the variable to be supplied at a designated rate; and b. supplying the variable at the designated rate.

Claim 11

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 6 wherein within the RTDM procedure, the step of requesting a variable further comprises conditioning such requesting upon the occurrence of a designated condition in a designated one of any of the processing nodes, occurrence of the designated condition being determined (1) internally within the referencing processor if the referencing processor is within the designated processing node, (2) otherwise by communication between the referencing processor and the designated processing node across the communications channel.

Claim 12

The method of operating the DDBMS of claim 6 wherein, as a step following supplying the requested variable, the RTDM procedure comprises the further step of acknowledging the receipt of the variable to a designated notification processor.