Thinking Machines Corporation

Other

T. M. Patents, L.p.

Carl R Feynman

W Daniel Hillis

Charles E Leiserson

Bradley C Kuszmaul

Shaw-Wen Yang

David C Douglas

David S Wells

Thomas F Knight, Jr

David Monroe Chapman

Brewster A Kahle

Bruce J Walker

Alan Bawden

Cynthia J Spiller

David P Christman

Cliff A Lasser

Brewster L Kahle

A digital computer includes a plurality of processing elements, a command processor, a diagnostic processor and a communications network. The processing elements each performs data processing and data communications operations in connection with commands. The processing elements also performing diagnostic operations in response to diagnostic operation requests and providing diagnostic results in response thereto. The command processor generates commands for the processing elements, and also performs diagnostic operations in response to diagnostic operation requests and providing diagnostic results in response thereto. The diagnostic processor generates diagnostic requests. The communication network includes three elements, including a data router, a control network and a diagnostic network. The data router is connected to the processing elements for facilitating the transfer of data among them during a data communications operation. The control network is connected to the processing elements and the command processor for transferring commands from the command processor to the processing elements. The diagnostic network connected to the processing elements, the command processor and the diagnostic processor for transferring diagnostic requests from the diagnostic processor to the processing elements and the command processor and for transferring diagnostic results from the processing elements and the command processor to the diagnostic processor.

Digital computer for determining a combined tag value from tag values

A digital computer comprising a plurality of message generating nodes interconnected by a routing network. The routing network transfers messages among the message generating elements in accordance with address information identifying a destination message generating element. Each message generating node includes a message data generator and a network interface. The message data generator generates message data items each including an address data portion comprising a destination identifier. The network interface includes a message generator and an address translation table, the table including a plurality of entries identifying, for at least one destination identifier, a translated destination identifier. The message generator, in response to the receipt of a message data item from the message data generator, generates a message for transmission to the routing network. In generating the message, the message generator performs an address translation operation in connection with the address data and the contents of the address translation table to generate updated address data which it uses data in connection with generating address information for the message.

Router for parallel computer including arrangement for redirecting

A computer including a processor array and a routing network. Processors in the processor array generate messages for transfer to over the routing network, each message including a path identifier portion identifying a path from a source, message processor to a destination processor. The routing network comprises a plurality of interconnected router nodes, at least some of said router nodes being connected to the processors to receive messages therefrom and transmit messages thereto. Each router node operates in a plurality of modes. In a first mode, the router nodes couple received messages to a router node connected thereto in accordance with the path identifier portion to thereby transfer each respective message along the path identified in its path identifier portion. In a second mode, the router node couple received messages to predetermined ones of the router nodes or processors connected thereto, the predetermined ones of said router nodes or processors being selected to facilitate transfer of a message to a nearby processor to facilitate the rapid emptying of the routing network of messages. A control element controls the router nodes to enable them to operate in the first mode or second mode generally contemporaneously.

Parallel computer system including arrangement for quickly draining

A parallel processing circuit is disclosed for use as the processor/memory in a highly parallel processor. The circuit comprises an instruction decoder that generates tables of outputs in response to instructions received at the decoder and a plurality of processor/memories each of which comprises a read/write memory and a processor for producing an output depending at least in part on data read from the memory and instruction information received at the instruction decoder. In addition, the circuit provides means for simultaneously addressing at least one cell in each read/write memory to write data thereto or read data therefrom and means for providing to each processor an output table from the decoder, the particular output table depending on instruction information received at the decoder. Further the processing circuit comprises means for selecting from the output table a particular output depending on data input to the processor. Advantageously, each processor/memory also comprises a flag controller for controlling the reading of a plurality of flags and means for simultaneously addressing each flag controller to read a flag for input into the processor associated therewith. Preferably, each processor is a bit-serial processor with three inputs, two from the read/write memory and one from the flag controller, and two outputs, one to the read/write memory and one to the flag controller; and the decoder and the plurality of processor/memories and formed on a single, integrated circuit chip.

Parallel processor/memory circuit

Growing community of inventors

Acton, MA, United States of America

Carl R Feynman