US5999734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compiler-oriented apparatus for parallel compilation, simulation and execution of computer programs and hardware models
Assignee: FTL Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1997-10-21
•
Granted: 1999-12-07
•
Expires: 2017-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A distributed, compiler-oriented database is disclosed with operating modes including parallel compilation, parallel simulation and parallel execution of computer programs and hardware models. The invention utilizes a hardware apparatus consisting of shared memory multiprocessors, optionally augmented by processors with re-configurable logic execution pipelines or independently scheduled re-configurable logic blocks and a software database apparatus, manifest in the hardware apparatus, in order to efficiently support parallel database clients such as a source code analyzer, an elaborator, an optimizer, mapping and scheduling, code generation, linking/loading, execution/simulation, debugging, profiling, user interface and a file interface.
Inventors
- 👤 John Christopher Willis
- 👤 Robert Neill Newshutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/30; G06F9/38; G06F9/3877; G06F15/00; G06F15/76; G06F15/78; G06F15/7867; G06F30/00; G06F30/20; G06F30/30; G06F30/32; G06F30/33; G06F30/3308; G06F30/331; G06F8/00; G06F8/10; G06F8/30; G06F9/3885; G06F9/3893; G06F9/3895; G06F9/3897; G06F2117/00; G06F2117/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A parallel processor system with at least one node programmed to execute a distributed, compiler-oriented database, the parallel processor system including compilation, simulation and/or software execution operating modes, and comprising: at least two processors; memory operationally connected to at least one processor wherein the memory is either local memory or shared memory; interconnection mechanisms for connecting the at least two processors and the memory; and re-configurable logic elements, wherein the programmed node is augmented to include a plurality of clients which may perform one or more of the following functions on the distributed, compiler-oriented database selected from a group of: incremental analysis of source code into the database; incremental elaboration and/or in-lining of previously analyzed information into the database to yield new or revised database entries; incremental optimization which transform database contents to yield more efficient simulation, more efficient execution or more observable execution; incremental code generation, assembly and linking which transform database contents to yield representations directly executable on a combination of programmable processors and reconfigurable logic elements; runtime, I/O and file systems operations which provide for scheduling, communication and callbacks within and among directly executable simulations/executions; debugging which provide for interactively starting, stopping and probing the state of simulation/execution; profiling or event logging of simulation/execution in order to make simulation/execution result accessible to external tools or users; and graphical interactive user interface transfers wherein the database may coherently cache information having utility on said at least one node.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A parallel processor system with at least one node programmed to execute a distributed, compiler-oriented database, the parallel processor system including compilation, simulation and/or software execution operating modes, and comprising: at least two processors; memory operationally connected to at least one processor wherein the memory is either local memory or shared memory; interconnection mechanisms for connecting the at least two processors and the memory; and re-configurable logic elements, wherein the programmed node is augmented to include a plurality of clients which may perform one or more of the following functions on the distributed, compiler-oriented database selected from a group of: incremental analysis of source code into the database; incremental elaboration and/or in-lining of previously analyzed information into the database to yield new or revised database entries; incremental optimization which transform database contents to yield more efficient simulation, more efficient execution or more observable execution; incremental code generation, assembly and linking which transform database contents to yield representations directly executable on a combination of programmable processors and reconfigurable logic elements; runtime, I/O and file systems operations which provide for scheduling, communication and callbacks within and among directly executable simulations/executions; debugging which provide for interactively starting, stopping and probing the state of simulation/execution; profiling or event logging of simulation/execution in order to make simulation/execution result accessible to external tools or users; and graphical interactive user interface transfers wherein the database may coherently cache information having utility on said at least one node.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The parallel processor system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two processors is augmented with re-configurable logic execution pipelines dispatched by action of a register to register instruction from an instruction stream of at least one of the at least two processors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The parallel processor system of claim 1 wherein the client operates between at least two communicating operating system processors so as to provide additional addressable memory, software protection and to emulate a target software execution environment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The parallel processor system of claim 2 wherein the client operates between at least two communicating operating system processes so as to provide additional addressable memory, software protection and to emulate a target software execution environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The parallel processor system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of clients incrementally change source code through incremental and coherent changes in the database to achieve incrementally altered and repartitioned simulation/execution between processors and re-configurable logic devices, the changes in source code preserve simulation/execution state in order to meet evolving requirements for interrupting simulation/execution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The parallel processor system of claim 1 wherein the interrupting of simulation/execution may include actions selected from the group of triggering callbacks, callbacks, substituting event-driven/cycle-driven/continuous-domain algorithms or generate intermediate simulation/execution state require for more detailed debug, display or profiling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The parallel processor system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of clients incrementally change source code through incremental and coherent in the database to achieve incrementally altered and repartitioned simulation/execution between processors and re-configurable logic devices, the changes in source code preserve simulation/execution state in order to meet evolving requirements for interrupting simulation/execution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The parallel processor system of claim 7 wherein the interrupting of simulation/execution may include actions selected from the group of triggering callbacks, callbacks, substituting event-driven/cycle-driven/continuous-domain algorithms or generate intermediate simulation/execution state required for more detailed debug, display or profiling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The parallel processor system of claim 1 wherein relation information contained on the database relating information resident on a node and information only present on a remote node is represented by a remote proxy record, wherein the remote proxy record may provide for coherent caching of the information on the remote node using memory availability and coherence to limit cached copy lifetime.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The parallel processor system of claim 2 wherein relation information contained on the database relating information resident on a node and information only present on a remote node is represented by a remote proxy record, wherein the remote proxy record may provide for coherent caching of the information on the remote node using memory availability and coherence to limit cached copy lifetime.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A parallel processor system of claim 1 wherein analysis, elaboration and runtime dependency relations between database information may trigger compilation, simulation or execution client activity on the same or other nodes such that the database couples the trigger and the related compilation, simulation or execution, independent of the location of information and clients on various nodes and components of the node.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A parallel processor system of claim 2 wherein analysis, elaboration and runtime dependency relations between database information may trigger compilation, simulation or execution client activity on the same or other nodes such that the database couples the trigger and the related compilation, simulation or execution, independent of the location of information and clients on various nodes and components of the node.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A parallel processor system of claim 1 wherein the elaborator client operation can produce elaborated database objects prior to code generation and wherein database objects resulting from elaborated re-use database objects resulting from operation of the analyzer client or objects generated by previous operation of the elaborator client.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A parallel processor system of claim 2 wherein elaborator client operation can produce elaborated database objects prior to code generation and wherein database objects resulting from elaboration re-use database objects resulting from operation of the analyzer client or objects generated by previous operation of the elaborator client.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
238 words
A parallel processor system with at least one node programmed to execute a distributed, complier-oriented database, the parallel processor system including compilation, simulation and/or software execution operating modes, and comprising: at least two processor; memory operationally connected to at least one processor wherein the memory is either local memory or shared memory; and interconnection mechanisms for connecting the at least two processors and the memory; wherein the programmed node is augmented to include a plurality of clients which may perform one or more of the following functions on the distributed, compiler-oriented database selected from a group of: incremental analysis of source code into the database; incremental elaboration and/or in-lining of previously analyzed information into the data base to yield new or revised database entries; incremental optimization which transform database contents to yield more efficient simulation, more efficient execution or more observable execution; incremental code generation, assembly and linking which transform database contents to yield representations directly executable on a combination of programmable processors and reconfigurable logic elements; runtime I/O and file systems operations which provide for scheduling communication and callbacks within and among directly executable simulations/executions; debugging which provide for interactively starting, stopping and probing the state of simulation/execution; profiling or event logging of simulation/execution in order to make simulation/execution results accessible to external tools or users; and graphical interactive user interface transfers wherein the database may coherently cache information having utility on said at least one node.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
238 words
A parallel processor system with at least one node programmed to execute a distributed, complier-oriented database, the parallel processor system including compilation, simulation and/or software execution operating modes, and comprising: at least two processor; memory operationally connected to at least one processor wherein the memory is either local memory or shared memory; and interconnection mechanisms for connecting the at least two processors and the memory; wherein the programmed node is augmented to include a plurality of clients which may perform one or more of the following functions on the distributed, compiler-oriented database selected from a group of: incremental analysis of source code into the database; incremental elaboration and/or in-lining of previously analyzed information into the data base to yield new or revised database entries; incremental optimization which transform database contents to yield more efficient simulation, more efficient execution or more observable execution; incremental code generation, assembly and linking which transform database contents to yield representations directly executable on a combination of programmable processors and reconfigurable logic elements; runtime I/O and file systems operations which provide for scheduling communication and callbacks within and among directly executable simulations/executions; debugging which provide for interactively starting, stopping and probing the state of simulation/execution; profiling or event logging of simulation/execution in order to make simulation/execution results accessible to external tools or users; and graphical interactive user interface transfers wherein the database may coherently cache information having utility on said at least one node.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The parallel processor system of claim 15 wherein the client operates between at least two communicating operating system processes so as to provide additional addressable memory, software protection and to emulate a target software execution environment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
The parallel processor system claim 15 wherein the plurality of clients incrementally change source code through incremental and coherent changes in the database to achieve incrementally altered and repartitioned simulation/execution between processors and re-configurable logic devices, the changes in source code preserve simulation/execution state in order to meet evolving requirements for interrupting simulation/execution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The parallel processor system of claim 17 wherein the interrupting of simulation/execution may include actions selected from the group of triggering callbacks, callbacks, substituting event-driven/cycle-driven/continuous-domain algorithms or generate intermediate simulation/execution state required for more detailed debug, display or profiling.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
The parallel processor system of claim 15 wherein relation information contained on the database relating information resident on a node and information only present on a remote node is represented by a remote proxy record, wherein the remote proxy record may provide for coherent caching of the information on the remote node using memory availability and coherence to limit cached copy lifetime.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
A parallel processor system of claim 15 wherein analysis, elaboration and runtime dependency relations between database information may trigger compilation, simulation or execution client activity on the same or other nodes such that the database couples the trigger and the related compilation, simulation or execution, independent of the location of information and clients on various nodes and components of the node.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
A parallel processor system of claim 15 wherein the elaborator client operation can produce elaborated database objects prior to code generation and wherein database objects resulting from elaboration re-use database objects resulting from operation of the analyzer client or objects generated by previous operation of the elaborator client.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The processor system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the at least two processors is augmented with re-configurable logic execution pipelines dispatched by action of register to register instruction from an instruction stream of at least one of the at least two processors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The parallel processor system of claim 22 wherein the client operates between at least two communicating operating system processors so as to provide additional addressable memory, software protection and to emulated a target software execution environment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
The parallel processor system of claim 22 wherein the plurality of clients incrementally change source code through incremental and coherent changes in the database to achieve incrementally altered and repartitioned simulation/execution between processors and re-configurable logic devices, the changes in source code preserve simulation/execution state in order to meet evolving requirements for interrupting simulation/execution.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The parallel processor system of claim 24 wherein the interrupting of simulation/execution may include actions selected from the group of triggering callbacks, callbacks, substituting event-driven/cycle-driven/continuous-domain algorithms or generate intermediate simulation/execution state required for more detailed debug, display or profiling.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
62 words
The parallel processor system of claim 22 wherein relation information contained on the database relating information resident on a node and information only present on a remote node is represented by a remote proxy record, wherein the remote proxy record may provide for coherent caching of the information on the remote node using memory availability and coherence to limit cached copy lifetime.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
61 words
A parallel processor system of claim 22 wherein analysis, elaboration and runtime dependency relations between database information may trigger compilation, simulation or execution client activity on the same or other nodes such that the database couples the trigger and the related compilation, simulation or execution, independent of the location of information and clients on various nodes and components of the node.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
A parallel processor system of claim 22 wherein the elaborator client operation can produce elaborated database objects prior to code generation and wherein database objects resulting from elaboration re-use database objects resulting from operation of the analyzer client or objects generated by previous operation of the elaborator client.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The processor system of claim 15 wherein at least one of the at least two processors is augmented with re-configurable logic execution pipelines dispatched by action of instruction mapped to a fixed address from the instruction stream of the at least two processors.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The parallel processor system of claim 29 wherein the client operates between at least two communicating operating system processes so as to provide additional addressable memory, software protection and to emulated a target software execution environment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
The parallel processor system of claim 29 wherein the plurality of clients incrementally change source code through incremental and coherent changes in the database to achieve incrementally altered and repartitioned simulation/execution between processors and re-configurable logic devices, the changes in source code preserve simulation/execution state in order to meet evolving requirements for interrupting simulation/execution.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The parallel processor system of claim 31 wherein the interrupting of simulation/execution may include actions selected from the group of triggering callbacks, callbacks, substituting event-driven/cycle-driven/continuous-domain algorithms or generate intermediate simulation/execution state required for more detailed debug, display or profiling.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
62 words
The parallel processor system of claim 29 wherein relation information contained on the database relating information resident on a node and information only present on a remote node is represented by a remote proxy record, wherein the remote proxy record may provide for coherent caching of the information on the remote node using memory availability and coherence to limit cached copy lifetime.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
61 words
A parallel processor system of claim 29 wherein analysis, elaboration and runtime dependency relations between database information may trigger compilation, simulation or execution client activity on the same or other nodes such that the database couples the trigger and the related compilation, simulation or execution, independent of the location of information and clients on various nodes and components of the node.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
48 words
A parallel processor system of claim 29 wherein the elaborator client operation can produce elaborated database objects prior to code generation and wherein database objects resulting from elaboration re-use database objects resulting from operation of the analyzer client or objects generated by previous operation of the elaborator client.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
The processor system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two processors is augmented with re-configurable logic execution pipelines dispatched by action of instructions mapped to a fixed address from the instruction stream of the at least two processors.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The parallel processor system of claim 36 wherein the client operates between at least two communicating operating system processors so as to provide additional addressable memory, software protection and to emulate a target software execution environment.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
54 words
The parallel processor system of claim 36 wherein the plurality of clients incrementally change source code through incremental and coherent changes in the database to achieve incrementally altered and repartitioned simulation/execution between processors and re-configurable logic devices, the changes in source code preserve simulation/execution state in order to meet evolving requirements for interrupting simulation/execution.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
The parallel processor system of claim 38 wherein the interrupting of simulation/execution may include actions selected from the group of triggering callbacks, callbacks, substituting event-driven/cycle-driven/continuous-domain algorithms or generate intermediate simulation/execution state required for more detailed debug, display or profiling.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
62 words
The parallel processor system of claim 36 wherein relation information contained on the database relating information resident on a node and information only present on a remote node is represented by a remote proxy record, wherein the remote proxy record may provide for coherent caching of the information on the remote node using memory availability and coherence to limit cached copy lifetime.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
61 words
A parallel processor system of claim 36 wherein analysis, elaboration and runtime dependency relations between database information may trigger compilation, simulation or execution client activity on the same or other nodes such that the database couples the trigger and the related compilation, simulation or execution, independent of the location of information and clients on various nodes and components of the node.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
47 words
A parallel processor system of claim 36 wherein the elaborator client operation can produce elaborated database objects prior to code generation and wherein database objects resulting from elaboration re-use database resulting from operation of the analyzer client or objects generated by previous operation of the elaborator client.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
The processor system of claim 1 wherein the at least two processors each support a configurable instruction set architecture and wherein at least one of the at least two processors is augmented with reconfigurable logic execution pipelines.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
37 words
The processor system of claim 15 wherein the at least two processors each support a reconfigurable instruction set architecture and wherein at least one of the at least two processors is augmented with reconfigurable logic execution pipelines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5088034A
Cited
US5111413A
Cited
US5339429A
Cited
US5506999A
Cited
US5361373A
Cited
US5418953A
Cited
US5784636A
Cited
US5841967A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |