Unisys Corporation

Richard A Cowgill

Theodore C White

Jayesh V Sheth

Paul B Ricci

Dan T Tran

Kha Nguyen

James Albert Fontana

Anthony Reginald Pitchford

Craig Weaver Harris

Chung W Wong

Chris R Cummings

Jefferson F Talbott

A multi-module network having dual system busses using a common bus protocol which supports processor modules using a store-through cache memory and processor modules using a non-store-through cache memory which includes interface modules including a spy unit for maintaining cache coherency and arbiter modules so that any particular module is not starved out. A maintenance processor organizes the network as a joined system where both the store-through and non-store through processor units can utilize either one of the dual system busses or a split system where one bus is dedicated to the store-through processor units and one bus is dedicated to the non-store through processor units.

Dual bus system with multiple processors having data coherency

A network of digital modules having store-through and non-store-through cache memories, is provided with intercommunication capability by means of two sets of system busses each of which are replicates of each other. The system busses provide a higher throughput by both being available to each of the digital modules so that a requesting digital module can alternately use a second system bus if the first system bus happens to be busy. Failure of one system bus will allocate transmission service to the second operating system bus thus providing redundancy. Alternatively, each of the system busses can be isolated for partitioning the digital modules into two different operating systems which are independent of each other.

Configurable network using dual system busses with common protocol

An Input/Output Module (IOM) interfacing multiple computers attached to a dual system bus. The IOM provides an interbus module which interfaces the dual system bus to a sub-requestor bus connecting multiple sub-requestor modules. The sub-requestor modules control a plurality of interface adaptors permitting data transfers to/from a variety of peripherals using different data protocols and clock rates. The requirements for the main host processors and memories in a computer system would be unduly burdensome were it not for the relief from these overhead operations by the input/output module which provides the tailoring of data transfer capability to and from a multiplicity of peripherals having many different types of protocols and clock rates.

Dual bus communication system connecting multiple processors to multiple

A personal computer (PC) desktop workstation using a first operating system is enhanced with a single PC bus extension card (SCAMP Board) within its base housing which connects a second computer system (A-Series) having a large memory, control logic and a 2-inch.times.2-inch IC chip module holding a CPU and control store. The first operating system is organized to act as the I/O and peripheral subsystem for the second computer system so that peripheral connectivity, operational and maintenance interfaces can function with a PC keyboard, screen and peripheral devices. The workstation base housing has a footprint of less than three square feet and six inches height while providing memory and processing ability comparable to mainframe computers which are normally several volumes larger in size.

Multiple cooperating and concurrently operating processors using

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Lake Forest, CA, United States of America

Richard A Cowgill