Bull Hn Information Systems, Inc.

David A Wurz

Thomas S Hirsch

John L Curley

Theodore R Staplin, Jr

John C Penney

Ileana S Reisch

A data processing system is disclosed in which a plurality of central processing units have access to all the system resources, i.e., have a peer relationship. During initialization of the data processing system, all the system resources are allocated to the individual central processing units according to a preselected distribution procedure, the identification of available resources thereafter being stored in the files of the individual central processing units. During the operation of the data processing system, the resources can be reallocated by a predetermined procedure. The central processing units entering such a relationship are required to include apparatus and/or software procedures that prevent access to system resources not assigned thereto. A mail box procedure, using locations in the main memory unit permit communication between the central processing units and are used in the dynamic allocation of resources.

Apparatus and method for a data processing system having a peer

In a data processing system having a plurality of non-homogeneous central processing units, apparatus is disclosed that permits a central processing unit not having mechanisms for protection of the allocation of resources to be coupled to the data processing system while preserving a peer relationship among the central processing units. The protection apparatus is interposed between the coupled central processing unit and the system bus and reviews each access to data processing system resources to insure that the accessed system resource is available to the associated data processing system. In addition, the apparatus permits initialization procedures without interprocessor conflict, provides status information from the coupled central processing unit to a requesting central processing unit and permits selected control signals to be applied to the coupled central processing unit.

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Winchester, MA, United States of America

David A Wurz