Bus oriented,modular,multiprocessing computer

Claim 2

In a data processing apparatus including a data bus, and a plurality of data processing modules, the improvement comprising a module control unit for each data processing module, each module control unit connecting a data processing module to the data bus and comprising: multilevel priority means for establishing a high and a low request queue for determining the priority of access to the data bus by each data processing module, the high request queue having priority over the low request queue and each data processing module being assigned a separate priority on each queue; open loop transmission means connected to said multilevel priority means for determining whether data is being transmitted to the data processing module to which the module control unit is connected, for determining which data processing module data is being transmitted from, and for signaling to another data processing module that data is being transmitted thereto; module operations means for controlling the operation of other data processing modules by the data processing module to which the module control unit is connected, data bus access means connected to the multilevel priority means, the open loop transmission means and the module operation means for controlling access of the data processing module, the open loop transmission means and the module operation means to the data bus in response to the multilevel priority means.

Claim 3

In a data processing apparatus including a plurality of memory modules, each module containing an integral number of addressable storage locations, said integral number being equal to a multiple of a power of 2, each memory module having a module identification number and a data bus for carrying module identification address information, the improvement comprising: memory mapping means for mapping a selected number of the most significant bits of a memory storage location address into a module identification number to identify a module to which data is to be sent; and a plurality of interleaving means each of interchanging selected bits of memory storage location addresses for placing adjacent addresses in separate memory modules whereby memory locations in each memory module are filled with data sequentially and the storage location addresses of such information are interleaved among memory modules, there being an interleaving means connected between the data bus and the memory mapping means and between each memory module and the data bus.

Claim 4

In a data processing apparatus including a plurality of memory modules, each module containing an integral number of addressable storage locations, said integral number being equal to a multiple of a power of 2, each memory module having a module identification number and a data bus for carrying module identification address information, the improvement comprising: memory mapping means for mapping a selected number of the most significant bits of a memory storage location address into a module identification number to identify a module to which data is to be sent; and a plurality of interleaving means each of interchanging selected bits of memory storage location addresses for placing adjacent addresses in separate memory modules whereby memory locations in each memory module are filled with data sequentially and the storage location addresses of such information are interleaved among memory modules, there being an interleaving means connected between the data bus and the memory mapping means and between each memory module and the data bus.

Claim 5

Data processing apparatus including a memory means having a plurality of memory registers for storing logical words, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of data processing modules for operation on a common set of said plurality of memory registers, each of the data processing modules being responsive to a predetermined logical word contained in a memory register for altering the (CPU) operation of the data processing module on said plurality of memory registers; means operatively connected with the memory means for selectively reading out and setting in the contents of a selected one of the plurality of memory registers; circuit means coupling a selected one of the data processing modules to said means for reading out the contents of a selected one of the plurality of memory registers and for setting into the same one of said registers said predetermined logical word for causing another one of the plurality of data processing modules which accesses said selected one of the memory registers subsequently to it being accessed by said one of the data processing modules to read said predetermined logical word and alter the operation of said another one of the plurality of data processing modules on said plurality of memory registers.

Claim 6

Data processing apparatus including a memory means having a plurality of memory registers for storing logical words, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of data processing modules for operation on a common set of said plurality of memory registers, each of the data processing modules being responsive to a predetermined logical word contained in a memory register for altering the (CPU) operation of the data processing module on said plurality of memory registers; means operatively connected with the memory means for selectively reading out and setting in the contents of a selected one of the plurality of memory registers; circuit means coupling a selected one of the data processing modules to said means for reading out the contents of a selected one of the plurality of memory registers and for setting into the same one of said registers said predetermined logical word for causing another one of the plurality of data processing modules which accesses said selected one of the memory registers subsequently to it being accessed by said one of the data processing modules to read said predetermined logical word and alter the operation of said another one of the plurality of data processing modules on said plurality of memory registers.

Claim 7

Data processing apparatus as in claim 3 wherein: said means includes logic means selectively coupled to said selected one of the memory registers for simultaneously setting in said predetermined logic word in said selected one of the memory registers as the contents thereof are read by said one of the data processing modules.

Claim 8

Data processing apparatus as in claim 4 wherein: each of said plurality of memory registers includes a plurality of bit storage elements operable in either one of two logic states; and said means in reading the contents of said selected one memory register sets the plurality of bit storage elements thereof to the same one logic state as said predetermined logical word.

Claim 9

Data processing apparatus for performing logic operations on data under control of instruction, the apparatus comprising: data processing module for performing logic operations on applied data signals in response to instructions; source means of instructions to be executed by the data processing module; first addressable memory device for storing at addressable locations therein logic manifestations for controlling operation of the data processing module to execute the instructions from said source means; second addressable memory device for storing at addressable locations therein manifestations of addresses in said first addressable memory device; address generator means coupled to the second addressable memory device for selecting an addressable location therein in response to the combination of a logic control signal and an instruction from said source means for extracting from the second addressable memory device a manifestation of an address location in said first addressable memory device; means coupling said first addressable memory device and said data processing module for rendering the same operative to perform the logic operation on data signals applied thereto as specified by the instruction manifestation extracted from the location in the first addressable memory device selected in response to the address manifestation from the second memory device; and circuit means coupled to the address generator means for applying selected logic control signals thereto which are representative of corresponding operating conditions of the data processing apparatus for actuating the address generator means to select addressable locations different from the locations in the second addressable memory device which correspond to given instructions from said source means.

Claim 10

Data processing apparatus for performing logic operations on data under control of instruction, the apparatus comprising: data processing module for performing logic operations on applied data signals in response to instructions; source means of instructions to be executed by the data processing module; first addressable memory device for storing at addressable locations therein logic manifestations for controlling operation of the data processing module to execute the instructions from said source means; second addressable memory device for storing at addressable locations therein manifestations of addresses in said first addressable memory device; address generator means coupled to the second addressable memory device for selecting an addressable location therein in response to the combination of a logic control signal and an instruction from said source means for extracting from the second addressable memory device a manifestation of an address location in said first addressable memory device; means coupling said first addressable memory device and said data processing module for rendering the same operative to perform the logic operation on data signals applied thereto as specified by the instruction manifestation extracted from the location in the first addressable memory device selected in response to the address manifestation from the second memory device; and circuit means coupled to the address generator means for applying selected logic control signals thereto which are representative of corresponding operating conditions of the data processing apparatus for actuating the address generator means to select addressable locations different from the locations in the second addressable memory device which correspond to given instructions from said source means.

Claim 11

Data processing apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said circuit means includes logic circuitry coupled to said address generator means for applying a logic control signal thereto to select an addressable location different from said one location in said second addressable memory device for a given instruction from said source means in response to operation of said data processing module on a selected instruction manifestation from said first addressable memory device.

Claim 12

Data processing apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said circuit means includes logic circuitry coupled to said address generator means for applying a logic control signal thereto in response to a selected address manifestation extracted from the second addressable memory device for actuating the address generator means to select a different addressable location from the second addressable memory device for a given instruction from said source means.

Claim 13

A data processing system for processing information stored at addressed memory locations in response to instructions, said data processing system comprising: a plurality of base registers; a source of instructions including a portion which specifies a base register mode and which has a variable number of bits depending on the mode, an address displacement portion which has a variable number of bits depending on tHe mode designated, and including an index register selection code including at least an index bit and an indirect bit; at least one index register in addition to said plurality of base registers; an arithmetic logic unit; a transfer control unit for coupling to selected ones of said base registers to apply the contents thereof to the arithmetic logic unit; address mode decoder means for selecting one of said plurality of base registers in response to the mode portion of an instruction and for selecting an index register in response to the appearance of selected combinations of said index and indirect bits in the instruction; circuit means coupled to an index register and to the arithmetic logic unit for selectively altering logic signals applied thereto in response to the contents of the index register selected by the address mode decoder means; and displacement bit selector means responsive to the mode and address displacement portions of an instruction for applying to the arithmetic logic unit via said circuit means a logic signal which is representative of the address displacement portion of the instruction and which has a constant word length independent of the number of bits in the address displacement portion of the instruction, the arithmetic logic unit processing said logic signal and the contents of the selected base register to produce the address of a selected memory location.

Claim 14

A data processing system for processing information stored at addressed memory locations in response to instructions, said data processing system comprising: a plurality of base registers; a source of instructions including a portion which specifies a base register mode and which has a variable number of bits depending on the mode, an address displacement portion which has a variable number of bits depending on tHe mode designated, and including an index register selection code including at least an index bit and an indirect bit; at least one index register in addition to said plurality of base registers; an arithmetic logic unit; a transfer control unit for coupling to selected ones of said base registers to apply the contents thereof to the arithmetic logic unit; address mode decoder means for selecting one of said plurality of base registers in response to the mode portion of an instruction and for selecting an index register in response to the appearance of selected combinations of said index and indirect bits in the instruction; circuit means coupled to an index register and to the arithmetic logic unit for selectively altering logic signals applied thereto in response to the contents of the index register selected by the address mode decoder means; and displacement bit selector means responsive to the mode and address displacement portions of an instruction for applying to the arithmetic logic unit via said circuit means a logic signal which is representative of the address displacement portion of the instruction and which has a constant word length independent of the number of bits in the address displacement portion of the instruction, the arithmetic logic unit processing said logic signal and the contents of the selected base register to produce the address of a selected memory location.

Claim 15

A data processing system as in claim 9 wherein: the source produces an instruction including an operation code portion; said circuit means includes a preadder connected to apply the output of said displacement bit selector means to said arithmetic logic unit, and includes signal multiplying means coupled to apply to the preadder the contents of the selected index register altered by a predetermined factor; and an operation code decoder responds to the operation code portion of an instruction for controlling the predetermined factor by which said signal multiplying means alters the contents of the selected index register which are applied to the preadder.

Claim 16

A data processing system as in claim 10 comprising means coupling the operation code decoder to the address mode decoder means to alter the selection of one of said plurality of registers corresponding to a given set of bits in the mode portion of an instruction to select therefor another one of said plurality of registers in response to appearance of a selected operation code in the operation code portion of said instruction.

Claim 17

Data processing apparatus including a plural number of data processing registers coupled for selectively transferring data manifestations from one to another in succession at a selected clock rate in response to control signals which are provided at substantially the same rate at which the data manifestations are transferred, the apparatus comprising: source means of instructions for controlling transfers of data manifestations between data processing registers; memory means for storing at a plurality of addressable locations therein logic signals which are representative of said instructions received from said source means for controlling the transfers of data manifestations; a number of control registers not less than the plural number of successive data processing registers, said number of control registers being coupled to receive logic signals from said memory means and to transfer substantially the entire logic signals at a selected clock rate from one control register to another in sequence; first circuit means responsive to a first portion of the logic signal in a first one of the sequence of control registers for controlling the transfer of data manifestations to a first one of the plural number of successive data processing registers; second circuit means responsive to a second portion of the logic signal in a second one of the succession of control registers for controlling the transfer of data manifestations from The first one to a subsequent one of the plural number of data processing registers; and third circuit means responsive to a third portion of the logic signal in the last one of the sequence of control registers for activating the source means of instructions to select an addressable location in said memory means to provide logic signals for controlling subsequent transfers at the selected clock rate of data manifestations between data processing registers.

Claim 18

Data processing apparatus including a plural number of data processing registers coupled for selectively transferring data manifestations from one to another in succession at a selected clock rate in response to control signals which are provided at substantially the same rate at which the data manifestations are transferred, the apparatus comprising: source means of instructions for controlling transfers of data manifestations between data processing registers; memory means for storing at a plurality of addressable locations therein logic signals which are representative of said instructions received from said source means for controlling the transfers of data manifestations; a number of control registers not less than the plural number of successive data processing registers, said number of control registers being coupled to receive logic signals from said memory means and to transfer substantially the entire logic signals at a selected clock rate from one control register to another in sequence; first circuit means responsive to a first portion of the logic signal in a first one of the sequence of control registers for controlling the transfer of data manifestations to a first one of the plural number of successive data processing registers; second circuit means responsive to a second portion of the logic signal in a second one of the succession of control registers for controlling the transfer of data manifestations from The first one to a subsequent one of the plural number of data processing registers; and third circuit means responsive to a third portion of the logic signal in the last one of the sequence of control registers for activating the source means of instructions to select an addressable location in said memory means to provide logic signals for controlling subsequent transfers at the selected clock rate of data manifestations between data processing registers.

Claim 19

Data processing apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said source means of instructions includes a register and said memory means includes a register, each of which registers delays the propagation of signals therethrough in accordance with the selected clock rate; said third circuit means includes a plurality of stages of delay means which are operable in selected logic states and which are coupled to provide successive delays of signals propagating through said stages in accordance with the selected clock rate; said first circuit means is responsive to operation of the first and a successive one of the plurality of said stages operating in a preselected combination of logic states to inhibit the transfer of data manifestations to a first one of the plural number of data processing registers.

Claim 20

Data processing apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said second circuit means is responsive to operation of the first and two successive ones of the plurality of said stages operating in a predetermined combination of logic states to inhibit the transfer of data manifestations from the first one to said subsequent one of the plural number of data processing registers.

Claim 21

Data processing apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said third circuit means includes first control means responsive to a preselected combination of the apparatus of selected data manifestations and a selected third portion of the logic signal in said last one of the sequences of control registers for introducing into one of said stages subsequent to the first of the plurality of said stages a signal to be delayed in propagating through said plurality of stages at the selected clock rate for reducing the total propagation delay through said stages.

Claim 22

Data processing apparatus as in claim 12 including an arithmetic logic unit for performing arithmetic operations on applied data manifestations, and wherein a pair of said plural number of data processing registers is coupled to selectively transfer data manifestations in parallel to the arithmetic logic unit, the apparatus comprising: said first circuit means connected to control the transfer of data manifestations substantially simultaneously in parallel to corresponding ones of the pair of data processing registers; and said second control means connected to control the manipulation through the arithmetic logic unit to a successive data processing register of the data manifestations applied substantially simultaneously in parallel to the arithmetic logic unit from a pair of data processing registers.

Claim 23

Data processing apparatus including an arithmetic processing unit and comprising: storage means including a plurality of multiple-address memory means, each including a first set of a plurality of address locations having logic entries therein for forming a segment transfer table and including a second set of address locations having logic entries therein for forming a set of instructions for controlling an operation of the arithmetic processing unit; a first one of said plurality of address locations of said first set including an entry representative of the number of selected locations contained in said segment transfer table of the first set; a second one of said plurality fo address locations of said first set containing a logic entry representative of the starting address among said second set of address locations of the start of a set of instructions; means coupled to the storage means for applying selected logic entries therein to the arithmetic processing unit; a code segment table comprising a plurality of addressed memory locations, one of said locations including logic entries therein representative of the number of addressed memory locations contained in said code segment table and others of said locations including logic entries therein representative of the beginning addresses in said storage means of each of said plurality of multiple-address memory means; and means responsive to the logic entries in selected addressed memory locations of said code segment table for accessing a selected address location in one of said plurality of multiple-address memory means.

Claim 24

Data processing apparatus including an arithmetic processing unit and comprising: storage means including a plurality of multiple-address memory means, each including a first set of a plurality of address locations having logic entries therein for forming a segment transfer table and including a second set of address locations having logic entries therein for forming a set of instructions for controlling an operation of the arithmetic processing unit; a first one of said plurality of address locations of said first set including an entry representative of the number of selected locations contained in said segment transfer table of the first set; a second one of said plurality fo address locations of said first set containing a logic entry representative of the starting address among said second set of address locations of the start of a set of instructions; means coupled to the storage means for applying selected logic entries therein to the arithmetic processing unit; a code segment table comprising a plurality of addressed memory locations, one of said locations including logic entries therein representative of the number of addressed memory locations contained in said code segment table and others of said locations including logic entries therein representative of the beginning addresses in said storage means of each of said plurality of multiple-address memory means; and means responsive to the logic entries in selected addressed memory locations of said code segment table for accessing a selected address location in one of said plurality of multiple-address memory means.

Claim 25

Data processing apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said code segment table comprises in other of the addressed memory locations therein a logic entry, a first portion of which is representative of said beginning address of a corresponding multiple-address memory means and a second portion of which is representative of the number of address locations in said first and second sets of said corresponding multiple-address memory means; and said first one of the plurality of address locations in the first set of said multiple-address memory means is located at the address represented by the corresponding said second portion of the logic entry in an address memory location in the code segment table.

Claim 26

Data processing apparatus as in claim 17 comprising a third one of said plurality of address locations of said first set of address locations in a selected multiple-address memory means including a logic entry therein, one portion of which represents the address of another selected multiple-address memory means in said storage means and another portion of which represents the address location of a selected entry in said first set of said other selected multiple-address memory means.