Signal processor instruction for non-blocking communication between data processing units

Claim 2

In a data processing system including a controlling unit and a controlled unit, the latter unit subject to pre-emptive interruption and subject to cooperative connection with said controlling unit for control initiation, said controlling unit having plural registers subject to direct specification by program instructions, the method of controlling input/output signal traffic between said controlling and controlled units which comprises: enabling said controlling and controlled units to cooperate under control of a single control initiating instruction (SIGP) executable by the controlling unit to effect transfer of program specifiable control initiating order code information from the controlling unit to the controlled unit and responsive transfer of either acceptance indication or specific plural bit exception status indications from the controlled unit to the controlling unit such that further status sensing communication between said controlling and controlled units is never required after execution of said instruction; and enabling said controlling unit to store said responsively transferred exception status indications in accordance with information specified by said instrUction, all within the time required to execute said instruction in the controlling unit.

Claim 3

Input/output control method for a data processing system in accordance with claim 1, which includes the step of storing the returned exception status information by transferring it to one of said plural registers.

Claim 4

conditional upon establishment of said connection, said one unit producing and transferring control initiating order information to said select other unit; said order information represented by the sum of said second and fourth operand factors;

Claim 5

conditional upon establishment of said connection, said one unit producing and transferring control initiating order information to said select other unit; said order information represented by the sum of said second and fourth operand factors;

Claim 6

conditional upon its being available said select other unit interpreting said transferred order information and transferring a responsive indication of either a first or second kind to said one unit; said indication of first kind representing non-exception status and said indication of second kind representing exception status of the other unit and including information identifying a specific one of a plurality of possible exception status circumstances;

Claim 7

conditional upon its being available said select other unit interpreting said transferred order information and transferring a responsive indication of either a first or second kind to said one unit; said indication of first kind representing non-exception status and said indication of second kind representing exception status of the other unit and including information identifying a specific one of a plurality of possible exception status circumstances;

Claim 8

Input/output control for a data processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control initiating order code information is a representation of a select one of a plurality of predetermined order codes, which includes the step of operating said controlled unit conditionally in response to said order code information to perform a select one of a plurality of distinct operations associated with said codes.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 3, which includes the step of operating said controlling unit to produce said order code representation by arithmetically manipulating information contained in the immediate code field of said instruction.

Claim 10

conditional upon its receiving indication of said second kind said one unit entering said specific exception status information into said fourth register of the one unit;

Claim 11

conditional upon its receiving indication of said second kind said one unit entering said specific exception status information into said fourth register of the one unit;

Claim 12

said one unit ultimately setting a condition code Internally to indicate concluding status of the foregoing control initiating transfer transaction.

Claim 13

said one unit ultimately setting a condition code Internally to indicate concluding status of the foregoing control initiating transfer transaction.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of adding first and second digital information representations to produce a result constituting said order code information; the first information representation being derived by direct reference to the information field of said instruction and the second representation being obtained by reference to a working register which is one of said plural registers of said controlling unit specified by register designating intelligence in said instruction information field.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of enabling said controlling and controlled units to cooperate comprises operating said controlling unit to transfer an ancillary information parameter to said controlled unit in addition to said control initiating order code information during execution of said instruction.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 6, which includes the steps of preparing said ancillary information parameter in a specific one of said plural registers prior to execution of said instruction and transferring said parameter from said specific one of said plural registers to said controlled unit during said execution; said specific one of said plural registers being designated by information in said instruction.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 7, which includes the step of operating said controlling unit to interpret the information designating said specific one of said registers as an integer representation which is either odd or even and if odd causing said controlling unit to interpret it as the locating designation of the register containing the said ancillary information parameter and if even causing said controlling unit to increase the value thereof by a unit increment and interpret said increased value as the locating designation of said register containing the ancillary information.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 7, wherein said ancillary information comprises an address representation of a storage space in a storage facility associated with an operation to be performed by said controlled unit and and including the step of causing said controlled unit to effect access to said space by means of said ancillary information.

Claim 19

In a multiprocessing system including a plurality of data processing units a method of controlling communication of information between said units comprising arranging each unit to be capable of initiating control of the other units by executing a control initiating program instruction SIGP of predetermined form, said instruction containing information designating a specific one of said other units and a control initiating order code representation of predetermined form, said instruction causing said order code information to be transferred on certain conditions to said designated one of said other units, said order code information designating an operation to be performed by the said one of said other units and operating as a command subject to causing said one of said other units to conditionally perform said operation; said instruCtion information also designating two registers of the unit executing the instruction, one register subject to being prepared with information designating the said one of the other units and the other register designated during execution of the instruction to conditionally receive and retain specific exception status information of the said one of the other units in the event that the other unit is unable to perform the operation designated by said order code after receiving said order code.

Claim 20

In a multiprocessing system including a plurality of data processing units a method of controlling communication of information between said units comprising arranging each unit to be capable of initiating control of the other units by executing a control initiating program instruction SIGP of predetermined form, said instruction containing information designating a specific one of said other units and a control initiating order code representation of predetermined form, said instruction causing said order code information to be transferred on certain conditions to said designated one of said other units, said order code information designating an operation to be performed by the said one of said other units and operating as a command subject to causing said one of said other units to conditionally perform said operation; said instruCtion information also designating two registers of the unit executing the instruction, one register subject to being prepared with information designating the said one of the other units and the other register designated during execution of the instruction to conditionally receive and retain specific exception status information of the said one of the other units in the event that the other unit is unable to perform the operation designated by said order code after receiving said order code.

Claim 21

In a multiprocessing system a method according to claim 10 of controlling inter-unit communications comprising conditioning each said unit which is designated as a said specific one of said other units to be able to produce and conditionally transfer indication of said specific exception status information thereof to said unit executing said instruction during the execution of said instruction whereby said communicating units are subject to pre-emptive interruption virtually immediately after execution of said instruction without need for further communication to effect transfer handling of said specific exception status information; said exception status information of the other unit being subject to handling by said unit executing said instruction, after execution of said instruction, as ordinary program status information of the executing unit.

Claim 22

In a data handling system including multi-accessible signal conveyance means and multiple data processing units adapted for signal intercommunication via said conveyance means, the method of controlling inter-unit communication comprising: arranging at least one of said units to be able to operate as a controlling unit by executing a control initiating instruction of predetermined form specifying: a particular other one of said units to be selectively called by the controlling unit, a particular order code intended to represent a select one of a plurality of functions performable by the specified other unit and a particular internal register of the said controlling unit representing a buffer entry position reserved for specific exception status information furnishable by the specified other unit in the eventuality that said other unit should be available and operational but have exception to the other code; causing said controlling unit to execute said instruction by performing in succession: a calling operation seeking to establish connection to said called unit through said conveyance means, a conditional transfer operation seeking to effect transfer of said order code to said specified other unit if said other unit and a signal path thereto in said conveyance means are available for communication, conditional response operation seeking to effect solicitation and acquisition of said specific exception status information of the other unit and entry thereof in said buffer entry register of said controlling unit, said acquisition and entry conditional upon said other unit having exception status relative to said order code, and setting operation to effect setting of a condition code in said controlling unit indicative of the status of completion of said calling operation and of the operation designated by said order code; said controlling unit and other unit being free to accept program interruption upon completion of the said condition code setting even when said other unit has exception status.

Claim 23

In a data handling system including multi-accessible signal conveyance means and multiple data processing units adapted for signal intercommunication via said conveyance means, the method of controlling inter-unit communication comprising: arranging at least one of said units to be able to operate as a controlling unit by executing a control initiating instruction of predetermined form specifying: a particular other one of said units to be selectively called by the controlling unit, a particular order code intended to represent a select one of a plurality of functions performable by the specified other unit and a particular internal register of the said controlling unit representing a buffer entry position reserved for specific exception status information furnishable by the specified other unit in the eventuality that said other unit should be available and operational but have exception to the other code; causing said controlling unit to execute said instruction by performing in succession: a calling operation seeking to establish connection to said called unit through said conveyance means, a conditional transfer operation seeking to effect transfer of said order code to said specified other unit if said other unit and a signal path thereto in said conveyance means are available for communication, conditional response operation seeking to effect solicitation and acquisition of said specific exception status information of the other unit and entry thereof in said buffer entry register of said controlling unit, said acquisition and entry conditional upon said other unit having exception status relative to said order code, and setting operation to effect setting of a condition code in said controlling unit indicative of the status of completion of said calling operation and of the operation designated by said order code; said controlling unit and other unit being free to accept program interruption upon completion of the said condition code setting even when said other unit has exception status.

Claim 24

For a data processing system including an instruction executing unit subject to control initiating signal exchange connection with a plurality of respondent data handling elements the method of effecting control initiation comprising organizing the executing unit to execute control initiating instructions SIGP designating one of said respondent elements, each execution of SIGP comprising a sequence of control initiating operations encompassing in succession: a connection establishing operation seeking to establish temporary selective connection of the executing unit to the designated respondent data handling element, followed by A condition code setting operation in the executing unit, followed by severance of the temporary connection if established, said condition code subject to representing any one of the following conditions: Condition Code 0: Connection completed, no exception status in the respondent element. Condition Code 1: Connection completed, exception status in the respondent element. Condition Code 2: Connection incomplete; respondent element or means to effect connection therewith in busy condition of operation. Condition Code 3: Connection incomplete; respondent element or means to effect connections therewith not operational; manifestation of conditions giving rise to either said 0 or 1 condition code setting causing said executing unit to operate to transfer order code intelligence designated by the instruction from the executing unit to the respondent element intermediate said calling and condition code setting operations; presentation of said order code by the executing unit causing said respondent element to operate conditionally to manifest specific exception status information to said executing unit the form of which is conditional upon interpretation of said transferred order code intelligence by said respondent element; manifestation of said exception status causing said executing unit to enter said specific status into a register of the executing unit designated by the said instruction; thereby permitting said specific status to be saved subject to process handling as if it were internal status of the executing unit after severance of said connection.

Claim 25

For a data processing system including an instruction executing unit subject to control initiating signal exchange connection with a plurality of respondent data handling elements the method of effecting control initiation comprising organizing the executing unit to execute control initiating instructions SIGP designating one of said respondent elements, each execution of SIGP comprising a sequence of control initiating operations encompassing in succession: a connection establishing operation seeking to establish temporary selective connection of the executing unit to the designated respondent data handling element, followed by A condition code setting operation in the executing unit, followed by severance of the temporary connection if established, said condition code subject to representing any one of the following conditions: Condition Code 0: Connection completed, no exception status in the respondent element. Condition Code 1: Connection completed, exception status in the respondent element. Condition Code 2: Connection incomplete; respondent element or means to effect connection therewith in busy condition of operation. Condition Code 3: Connection incomplete; respondent element or means to effect connections therewith not operational; manifestation of conditions giving rise to either said 0 or 1 condition code setting causing said executing unit to operate to transfer order code intelligence designated by the instruction from the executing unit to the respondent element intermediate said calling and condition code setting operations; presentation of said order code by the executing unit causing said respondent element to operate conditionally to manifest specific exception status information to said executing unit the form of which is conditional upon interpretation of said transferred order code intelligence by said respondent element; manifestation of said exception status causing said executing unit to enter said specific status into a register of the executing unit designated by the said instruction; thereby permitting said specific status to be saved subject to process handling as if it were internal status of the executing unit after severance of said connection.

Claim 26

In a data processing system including multiplex signal conveying means and at least two processing units subject to dynamic interconnection via said means, one of said units having capability to execute control initiating instructions relative to other units and having multiple general registers available for designation by and use in effecting execution of said instruction; others of said units having execution capability in respect to order operations represented by order code functions transferrable from said one unit to said other units through operation of said initiating instructions; the method of controlling communication between said one and other units comprising: enabling said one unit to execute a particular control initiating instruction SIGP designating: a. identities of first, second and third registers of the one unit containing by convention pre-loaded first, second and third operand factors; b. a fourth operand factor associated with the second operand factor; and c. a fourth register of the one unit subject to storage of exception status; the instruction operation encompassing:

Claim 27

In a data processing system including multiplex signal conveying means and at least two processing units subject to dynamic interconnection via said means, one of said units having capability to execute control initiating instructions relative to other units and having multiple general registers available for designation by and use in effecting execution of said instruction; others of said units having execution capability in respect to order operations represented by order code functions transferrable from said one unit to said other units through operation of said initiating instructions; the method of controlling communication between said one and other units comprising: enabling said one unit to execute a particular control initiating instruction SIGP designating: a. identities of first, second and third registers of the one unit containing by convention pre-loaded first, second and third operand factors; b. a fourth operand factor associated with the second operand factor; and c. a fourth register of the one unit subject to storage of exception status; the instruction operation encompassing:

Claim 28

A method according to claim 14, wherein said control initiating transaction of said instruction operation includes an additional step of said one unit conditionally transferring ancillary output information from said first register of the one unit to the select other unit conditioned upon said other unit being available and operational.

Claim 29

Method according to claim 15, including the step of establishing the location of said first register by reference to an integer representation in the immediate field of the control initiating instruction, said first register location being said integer representation if the value of said representation is odd if the value of said integer representation is even establishing said location by incrementing the value of said integer representation by a fixed odd amount and using the result value to represent said location.

Claim 30

Method according to claim 15 including the step of providing addressable storage means subject to shared access by both the one unit and the designatable other units and wherein said method includes causing said other unit to use said ancillary information to effect access to an associated address in said storage means either during or after execution of said initiating instruction.