摘要:
A method is provided to allow virtual devices that use a plurality of processors in a multiprocessor systems, such as the BE environment. Using this method, a synergistic processing unit (SPU) can either be dedicated to performing a particular function (i.e., audio, video, etc.) or a single SPU can be programmed to perform several functions on behalf of the other processors in the system. The application, preferably running in one of the primary (PU) processors, issues IOCTL commands through device drivers that correspond to SPUs. The kernel managing the primary processors responds by sending an appropriate message to the SPU that is performing the dedicated function. Using this method, an SPU can be virtualized for swapping multiple tasks or dedicated to performing a particular task.
摘要:
Asynchronously traversing a disjoint linked data structure is presented. A synergistic processing unit (SPU) includes a handler that works in conjunction with a memory flow controller (MFC) to traverse a disjoint linked data structure. The handler compares a search value with a node value, and provides the MFC with an effective address of the next node to traverse based upon the comparison. In turn, the MFC retrieves the corresponding node data from system memory and stores the node data in the SPU's local storage area. The MFC stalls processing and sends an asynchronous event interrupt to the SPU which, as a result, instructs the handler to retrieve and compare the latest node data in the local storage area with the search value. The traversal continues until the handler matches the search value with a node value or until the handler determines a failed search.
摘要:
The present invention provides a method of storing data transferred from an I/O device, a network, or a disk into a portion of a cache or other fast memory, without also writing it to main memory. Further, the data is “locked” into the cache or other fast memory until it is loaded for use. Data remains in the locking cache until it is specifically overwritten under software control. In an embodiment of the invention, a processor can write data to the cache or other fast memory without also writing it to main memory. The portion of the cache or other fast memory can be used as additional system memory.
摘要:
A system and method is provided to deliver messages to processors operating in a multi-processing environment. In a multi-processor environment, interrupts are managed by storing events in a queue that correspond to a particular support processor. A main processor decodes an interrupt and determines which support processor generated the interrupt. The main processor then determines whether a kernel or an application should process the interrupt. Interrupts such as page faults, segment faults, and alignment errors are handled by the kernel, while “informational” signals, such as stop and signal requests, halt requests, mailbox requests, and DMC tag complete requests are handled by the application. In addition, multiple identical events are maintained, and event data may be included in the interrupt using the invention described herein.
摘要:
A system and method for using a handler to detect asynchronous lock line reservation lost events, and switching tasks based upon whether a condition is true or a mutex lock is acquired is presented. A synergistic processing unit (SPU) invokes a first thread and, during execution, the first thread requests external data that is shared with other threads or processors in the system. This shared data may be protected with a mutex lock or other shared memory synchronization constructs. When requested data is not available, the SPU switches to a second thread and monitors lock line reservation lost events in order to check when the data is available. When the data is available, the SPU switches back to the first thread and processes the first thread's request.
摘要:
A method of delivering data in an on-time manner across a communicating environment, such as multimedia data in a network or broadcast environment. The data is transmitted from a data pump at a revised transmission time which is a function of a base transmission time and a delay value. The delay value is calibrated by monitoring one or more processes between the data pump and an associated controller which receives requests from clients. The controller may include an application server which handles the requests, and a control server which processes commands from the application server and provides corresponding control functions to the data pump.
摘要:
In order to increase the number of datastreams provided by a multimedia system, a cluster of clusters of multimedia A/V server subsystems is provided. Each cluster in turn is comprised of a plurality of A/V servers, a shared loop architecture plurality of data storage devices interconnected to the A/V servers whereby any storage device is substantially equally accessible by any of the servers in the cluster; and a highly available control server subsystem interconnected to the A/V servers and the data storage devices for controlling the A/V servers and the data storage devices. Each of the clusters is interconnected to a high speed switch for delivery of datastreams from the cluster to the end user. One of the control server subsystems also serves as a master control server assigning a request for a datastream to one of the clusters.