Lock circuit for extended buffer memory

Background of the Invention:

0001This invention relates to an information processing system which is applicable to a super computer or the like.

0002An information processing system, such as a super computer, has been used to solve a complexed problem which requires a large scale or amount of scientific and technical calculation. For this purpose, a plurality of processors are included in the information processing system in addition to a main memory device so as to concurrently execute or process jobs. Such concurrent processing enables a high speed calculation. The processors may comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a plurality of arithmetic processing units, and an input/output processing unit.

0003It is a recent trend that such a problem to be solved becomes complexed more and more and results in a requirement of a very large scale or amount of calculation. Such a very large scale or amount of calculation makes it difficult to memorize all data for the complexed calculation in the main memory device. Under the circumstances, an extended buffer memory of a large memory capacity is usually used in the information processing system to memorize the data. Therefore, an extended memory data transfer operation is carried out between the main memory device and the extended buffer memory in response to a transfer request which is issued from a selected one of the processors and which may be called an extended memory transfer request. During such an extended memory data transfer operation, the extended buffer memory must be locked so as to avoid collision among extended buffer memory transfer requests issued from the other processors. Such a lock operation will be referred to as a communication lock operation.

0004It is to be noted that lock information is memorized in the main memory device and is accessed by each processor on carrying out the communication lock operation.

0005In the meanwhile, each of the arithmetic processing units may execute a vector instruction which needs a main memory data transfer operation of vector data to the main memory device to store the data into the main memory. In addition, another main memory data transfer operation may be carried out between the main memory device and the input/output processor. During such main memory data transfer operations between the main memory device and each arithmetic processing unit and between the main memory device and the input/output processor, the main memory device can not be used by the other processors. This shows that the main memory device is not always available by the processors when the extended memory data transfer request is issued to carry out the extended memory data transfer operation between the main memory device and the extended buffer memory. In other words, the main memory device is often put into a busy state.

0006The extended memory data transfer request might be issued from one of the processors during the busy state of the main memory device. In this event, the extended memory data transfer request is inevitably halted without execution until the busy state is released in the main memory device. This shows that the lock information can be neither read out of the main memory device nor released to put the extended buffer memory into an unlocked state until the main memory device is released after completion of the main memory data transfer operation. This gives rise to a reduction of throughput of the information processing system.

0007In United States Patent Application Serial No. 290,623 filed December 24, 1987, by Akira Jippo and assigned to the present assignee, proposal has been offered as regards an information processing system which comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a plurality of arithmetic processors, an input/output processor, and a system controller and which can deal with transfer requests simultaneously produced from the CPU, the arithmetic processors, and the input/output processor. To this end, a transfer controlling arrangement is included in the system controller. However, no consideration is made about processing carried out when the main memory device is put into a busy state. Other relevant documents are GB-A-2 184 580 and WO-A-83/04117.

Summary of the Invention:

0008The invention is defined by appended claim 1.

0009It is an object of this invention to provide an information processing system which can improve throughput even when a main memory device is put into a busy state.

0010It is another object of this invention to provide an information processing system which can immediately monitor lock information by detecting a state of an extended buffer memory regardless of a state of the main memory device.

0011An information processing system to which this invention is applicable comprises main memory means for memorizing data, a plurality of processors for processing the data read out of the main memory means, an extended buffer memory operable to carry out a data transfer operation to and from the main memory means, and a system processing device intermediate between the processors and the main memory means and operable in cooperation with the extended buffer memory. Each of the processors delivers, to the system processing device, a data transfer request indicative of the data transfer operation between the main memory means and the extended buffer memory. The extended buffer memory is kept during the data transfer operation into a locked state of inhibiting an access operation to the extended buffer memory. Each of the processors produces, prior to production of the data transfer request, a lock instruction of locking the extended buffer memory into the locked state. According to this invention, the system processing device comprises state signal producing means responsive to the lock instruction issued from each of the processors for producing a locked state signal representative of the locked state when the extended buffer memory is previously kept into the locked state and, otherwise, for producing an available state signal representing that the extended buffer memory is available and supplying means for supplying each of the locked and the available state signals to each of the processors.

Brief Description of the Drawing:

0012<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing system according to a preferred embodiment of this invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a communication lock circuit used in the information processing system illustrated in Fig. 1; and</li><li>Fig. 3 is a time chart for use in describing operation of the information processing system illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.</li></ul>

Description of the Preferred Embodiments:

0013Referring to Fig. 1, an information processing system according to a preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a main memory device 11, a processor section 12, and a system controller 13 intermediate between the main memory device 11 and the processor section 12. In addition, an extended buffer memory 15 is coupled to the system controller 13 to carry out a data transfer operation to and from the main memory device 11 in a manner to be described later.

0014More specifically, the illustrated processor section 12 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 121, an input/output (I/O) processor 122, and first through third arithmetic processors which are depicted at 123, 124, and 125, respectively. The input/output processor 122 is connected to an external memory device specified by a magnetic disk device 21 in Fig. 1. The central processing unit 121 controls a whole of the illustrated information processing system in accordance with control programs while each of the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125 executes user programs. In the example being illustrated, each arithmetic processor 123 to 125 is assumed to mainly carry out vector calculations. The arithmetic processors may be equal in number to unity.

0015On the other hand, the main memory device 11 comprises first and second main memories 111 and 112 which may be called controlling and calculating main memories, respectively. The first main memory 111 is controlled by the control programs to be used by the central processing unit 121. The second main memory 112 stores vector data for the vector calculations and the user programs for the arithmetic processors 123 to 125 and is therefore used by the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125. In this connection, the second main memory 112 has a large memory capacity and is operable at a very high speed.

0016The system controller 13 is located between the main memory device 11 and the processor section 12 and comprises a first transfer control circuit 131 for controlling a data transfer between either the first or the second main memory 111 or 112 and whichever of the central processing unit 121, the input/output processor 122, and the second main memory 112. A second transfer control circuit 132 is for controlling a data transfer between either one of the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125 and either the second or the first main memory 112 or 111.

0017In addition, the system controller 13 comprises an extended memory data transfer controlling circuit 133 connected to the first and the second transfer control circuits 131 and 132 and the extended buffer memory 15. The extended memory data transfer controlling circuit 133 is for controlling a data transfer between the extended buffer memory 15 and the first main memory 111 and between the extended buffer memory 15 and the second main memory 112. Moreover, the illustrated system controller 13 comprises a communication lock circuit 135 which is coupled through both the first and the second transfer control circuits 131 and 132 to all the central processing unit 121, the input/output processor 122, and the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125. The communication lock circuit 135 is operable in a manner to be described later. For the time being, it may be understood that the communication lock circuit 135 may serve to receive a lock instruction or a lock release instruction issued from each of the central processing unit 121, the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125, and the input/output processor 122.

0018Referring to Fig. 2 together with Fig. 1, the communication lock circuit 135 is operable in cooperation with both the first and the second transfer control circuits 131 and 132 only one of which is illustrated in Fig. 2 and which may be recognized as the first or the second transfer control circuit 131 or 132. The illustrated transfer control circuit may be therefore depicted at 13i and comprises an input section 137 and an output section 138. The input section 137 of the transfer control circuit 13i is specified by first and second decoders 26 and 27 and a signal generator 28 which are all connected to all of the central processing unit 121, the input/output processor 122, and the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125, although not shown in this figure for simplicity of illustration. The first decoder 26 is operable in response to the lock instruction given from each of the central processing unit 121, the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125 and the input/output processor 122 (which will simply be called processor) to produce the lock reception signal LR of a logic "1" level while the second decoder 27 is operable in response to the lock release instruction sent from each processor to produce a lock release signal RE of the logic "1" level. In addition, the signal generator 28 is enabled to produce a preselected signal PR in response to a specific signal delivered from each processor in a manner to be described later.

0019On the other hand, the output section 138 of the transfer control circuit 13i is represented by first and second signal transfer units 31 and 32 which are connected to all of the central processing unit 121, the input/output processor 122, and the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125.

0020At any rate, the communication lock circuit 135 is accessed to indicate whether or not the extended buffer memory 15 is locked before each of the central processing unit 121, the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125, and the input/output processor 122 produces a data transfer request of requesting a data transfer operation between the extended buffer memory 15 and each of the first and the second main memories 111 and 112. Such a data transfer request and a data transfer operation may be referred to as an extended buffer memory transfer request and an extended buffer memory data transfer operation, respectively. Herein, the extended buffer memory 15 is put into a locked state during the extended buffer memory data transfer operation and is, otherwise, put into an available or unlocked state.

0021It is to be noted that the communication lock circuit 135 is located within the system processor 13 to selectively indicate the locked state and the unlocked state of the extended buffer memory 15. To this end, the communication lock circuit 135 comprises a lock detection circuit 36 connected to the first decoder 26 of the input section 137, a lock flag circuit 37 connected to the second decoder 27, and a dead lock detection circuit 38 connected to the signal generator 28.

0022Now, the lock flag circuit 37 produces a logic "0" level signal as an available signal when the extended buffer memory 15 is kept at the unlocked state while no extended buffer memory data transfer operation is carried out in the extended buffer memory 15. Otherwise, a logic "1" level signal is produced as a locked state signal representative of the locked state. Thus, the available signal and the locked state signal will be collectively called a state signal or a state fiag depicted at SS in Fig. 2 and are selectively sent to the first transfer circuit 31 to be produced through the first transfer unit 31 as a reply signal.

0023It is assumed that the illustrated lock flag circuit 37 produces the available signal of the logic "0" level. The available signal is delivered from the lock flag circuit 37 to the lock detection circuit 36 which is connected to the first decoder 26. Under the circumstances, it is also assumed that the first decoder 26 is supplied with the lock instruction from a selected one of the central processing unit 121, the first through third arithmetic processors 123 to 125, and the input/output processor 122 that may be called a processor in question. In this event, the first decoder 26 delivers the lock reception signal LR of the logic "1" level to the lock detection circuit 36.

0024The lock detection circuit 36 comprises a first AND gate 361, a second AND gate 362, and an inverter 363. The lock reception signal LR is supplied from the first decoder 26 to both the first and the second AND gates 361 and 362 while the state signal SS is delivered from the lock flag circuit 37 to the inverter 363 and the second AND gate 362 connected to the dead lock detection circuit 38 operable in a manner to be described later. With this structure, the first AND gate 361 is opened trough the inverter 363 to produce an internal reception signal IR of the logic "1" level when the state signal SS and the lock reception signal LR take the logic "0" level and the logic "1" level, respectively.

0025The lock flag circuit 37 comprises an inverter 371 connected to the second decoder 27, a pair of AND gates 372 and 373 connected to the inverter 371, an OR gate 374 connected to the AND gates 372 and 373, and a flip-flop 375 connected to the OR gate 374. An output signal of the flip-flop 375 is sent as the state signal SS to the first transfer circuit 131 and returned back to the AND gate 372 while the internal reception signal IR is supplied to the AND gate 373. Responsive to the internal reception signal IR, the flip-flop 375 is put into a set state as long as the flip-flop 375 is previously put into a reset state without reception of the lock release signal RE from the second decoder 27. As a result, the state signal SS is changed from the logic "0" level to the logic "1" level. During production of the available signal of the logic "0" level, the first transfer unit 131 delivers the reply signal to the processor in question. Such delivery of the reply signal shows that the extended buffer memory 15 is successfully locked in response to the lock instruction issued by the processor in question. Thereafter, the logic "1" level is sent as the locked state signal from the flip-flop 375 and is delivered to another processor to indicate a locked state of the extended buffer memory 15 when another processor issues a following lock instruction.

0026It is mentioned here that each processor illustrated in Fig. 1 produces the specific signal simultaneously with the lock instruction. Such a specific signal is given to the signal generator 28 illustrated in Fig. 2. Supplied with the specific signal, the signal generator 28 sends the preselected signal PR of m bits to the dead lock detection circuit 38. Such a preselected signal may be directly given from each processor to the dead lock detection circuit 38. In this case, the signal generator 28 may be a register circuit. At any rate, all of m bits of the preselected signals take the logic "1" levels, respectively, and are produced in parallel from the signal generator 28, although a single line alone is illustrated in Fig. 2.

0027In Fig. 2, the dead lock detection circuit 38 comprises a selector 381 connected to the second AND gate 362 of the lock detection circuit 36, a register counter 382 supplied with the lock reception signal LR from the first decoder 26, a subtractor 383 connected to the register counter 382, a zero detector 384 connected to the subtractor 383, and an interruption circuit 385 formed by an AND gate. The subtractor 383 is also connected to the selector 381 to supply a subtraction output signal to the selector 381. The selector 381 and the interruption circuit 385 are supplied from the second AND gate 362 with a control signal CO of the logic "1" level, when the lock reception signal LR of the logic "1" level coincides with the state signal SS of the logic "1" level sent from the lock flag circuit 37. This means that the control signal CO takes the logic "1" level when the locked state signal is produced as the state signal SS by the flip-flop 375. In other words, the control signal CO of the logic "1" level appears when the extended buffer memory 15 fails to be locked in response to the lock instruction and is therefore indicative of failure of lock operation of the extended buffer memory 15. The selector 381 selects the preselected signal PR and the subtractor output signal when the control signal CO takes the logic "0" and the logic "1" levels, respectively.

0028Referring to Fig. 3 in addition to Figs. 1 and 2, description will be made about operation of the information processing system illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Let the central processing unit 121 issue the lock instruction depicted at LI in Fig. 3 to indicate an extended buffer memory data transfer operation between the extended buffer memory 15 and the first main memory 111. In this connection, the lock instruction is issued from the central processing unit 121 together with the specific signal prior to production of an extended buffer memory data transfer request. The lock instruction LI is received by the first decoder 26 (Fig. 2) of the first transfer control circuit 131. Responsive to the lock instruction LI, the first decoder 26 delivers the lock reception signal LR of the logic "1" level to the lock detection circuit 36 (Fig. 2) of the communication lock circuit 135. When the extended buffer memory 15 is kept in the unlocked state, the state signal SS takes the logic "0" level to indicate the available state of the extended buffer memory 15. The state signal SS of the logic "0" level is sent through the first transfer unit 31 of the first transfer control circuit 131 to the central processing unit 121 as the reply signal depicted at RY in Fig. 3. Responsive to the reply signal RY, the central processing unit 121 recognizes the available or unlocked state of the extended buffer memory 15.

0029Under the circumstances, the first AND gate 361 is opened to produce the logic "1" level while the second AND gate 362 is closed to produce the control signal CO of the logic "0" level. Therefore, the internal reception signal IR is sent from the first AND gate 361 to the AND gate 373 of the lock flag circuit 37. Inasmuch as no lock release signal RE is produced from the second decoder 27 in the absence of the lock release instruction, the logic "1" level signal is given from the second decoder 27 to the AND gates 372 and 373 through the inverter 371. Consequently, the flip-flop 375 is set through the AND gate 373 and the OR gate 374 and produces the state signal SS of the logic "1" level to specify the locked state of the extended buffer memory 15. Such a locked state is transmitted to other processors in response to following ones of the lock instructions issued from the other processors. Thus, each processor can recognize the states of the extended buffer memory 15 without any access operation of each processor to the first and the second main memories 111 and 112. Therefore, the lock instruction LI can be quickly processed in each processor even when the first and the second main memories 111 and 112 are kept at busy states.

0030In addition, the preselected signal PR of m bits is delivered from the signal generator 28 to the register counter 382 through the selector 381 in response to the specific signal sent from the central processing unit 121 and is kept in the register counter 382 in synchronism with the lock reception signal LR. This is because the selector 381 is supplied with the control signal CO of the logic "0" level. Operation of the subtractor 383, the zero detector 384, and the interruption circuit 385 will be described in detail later.

0031In Fig. 3, the central processing unit 121 issues the extended buffer memory data transfer request which is followed by a start address and a block length related to the extended buffer memory data transfer operation. A combination of the above-mentioned request, the start address, and the block length may be collectively called a data transfer instruction DT.

0032The extended buffer memory data transfer instruction DT is delivered to the extended memory data transfer controlling circuit 133 through the first transfer control circuit L31 in a known manner. Subsequently, an extended buffer memory transfer operation is carried out between the first main memory 111 and the extended buffer memory 15, as shown at 40 in Fig. 3. When the data transfer operation 40 is completed between the first main memory 111 and the extended buffer memory 15, the extended memory data transfer controlling circuit 133 supplies the central processing unit 121 through the first transfer control circuit 131 with an end signal ED to indicate completion of the data transfer operation.

0033Responsive to the end signal ED, the central processing unit 121 issues the lock release instruction (depicted at RS) which is sent to the second decoder 27 (Fig. 2) of the first transfer control circuit 131. Given the lock release instruction RS, the second decoder 27 sends the lock release signal RE of the logic "l" level to the inverter 371 of the lock flag circuit 37 to reset the flip-flop 375. Thus, the state signal SS becomes the logic "0" level to indicate the available state of the extended buffer memory 15. The state signal SS of the logic "0" level is returned as the reply signal RY back to the central processing unit 121 through the first transfer unit 31.

0034The communication lock circuit 135 receives the lock release instruction RS or signal RE, like in reception of the lock instruction, even when the first main memory 111 is being carrying out a data transfer operation between the magnetic disk device 21 and the first main memory 111 under control of the input/output processor 122.

0035Similar operation can be carried out when the lock instruction LI or the lock release instruction RS is issued from each of the arithmetic processors 123 to 125 and the input/output processor 122 and is received by the communication lock circuit 135 even when the first and the second main memories 111 and 112 are being carrying out data transfer operation. This means that the lock instruction LI or the lock release instruction RS can be executed without an access operation to the first and the second main memories 111 and 112.

0036In Figs. 1 and 2, it is assumed that the lock instruction LI is issued from either one of the central processing unit 121, the arithmetic processors 123 to 125, and the input/output processor 122 that may be referred to as a request source processor when the locked state signal of the logic "1" level is produced as the state signal SS from the lock flag circuit 37. In this event, no internal reception signal IR is given from the lock detection circuit 36 to the lock flag circuit 37 while the control signal CO of the logic "1" level is delivered from the lock detection circuit 36 to the selector 381 and the interruption circuit 385 of the dead lock detection circuit 38. In this event, the register counter 382 is assumed to be loaded with the preselected signal PR of the m bits each of which takes the logic "1" level. Thus, the register counter 382 indicates a value of 2^m. Responsive to the lock reception signal LR, the register counter 382 sends the value of 2^m to the subtractor 383 which subtracts unity from the value given from the register counter 382. Such subtraction is successively carried out each time when the control signal CO of the logic "1" level is supplied from the lock detection circuit 36 to the selector 381. When the subtraction is carried out (2^m - l) times in response to the lock reception signal LR, the subtraction output signal becomes equal to zero with the register counter 382 kept at unity. The zero detector 384 detects a zero state of the subtractor 383 to produce a zero state signal of the logic "1" level. The zero state signal is sent to the AND gate of the interruption circuit 385 together with the control signal CO. Accordingly, the interruption circuit 385 delivers an interruption signal INT of the logic "1" level to the second transfer circuit 32 of the transfer control circuit 13i. The interruption signal INT is representative of a dead lock state in the extended buffer memory 15. Frcm this fact, it is readily understood that the interruption signal INT is sent back to the request source processor when the lock instruction LI is not received by the lock detection circuit 36 (2^m - 1) times.

0037Responsive to the interruption signal INT, the request source processor supplies the lock release instruction RS to the second decoder 27. As a result, the state signal SS is forcibly reset into the logic "0" level.

0038While this invention has thus far been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, the main memory device 11 may comprise a single main memory. The lock communication circuit 135 may control the lock instruction and the lock release instruction only among the arithmetic processors, regardless of the central processing unit. In any event, each processor can execute the lock instruction and the lock release instruction by locating the lock flag circuit 37 in the system controller 13 even when the main memory device is put into a busy state. This shows that it is possible to quickly recognize the state signal representative of the extended buffer memory 15.