System and method for generating sequences and global interrupts in a cluster of nodes

1. A system for generating global interrupts from any node in a cluster of nodes comprising:

a sender node designated from the cluster of nodes;

one or more receiver nodes designated from the cluster of nodes;

a synchronization signal generator associated with said sender node;

a plurality of device drivers for handling exchanged interrupts between said sender node and said one or more receiver nodes;

a timing signal provider for propagating a time synchronization signal to said one or more receiver nodes from said synchronization signal generator;

a plurality of graphics processors associated with at least two or more nodes, wherein display activity generated by the plurality of graphic processors is synchronized based on the time synchronization signal; and

a communications link connecting said sender node to each of said one or more receiver nodes to provide simultaneous communication of said interrupts to each of said one or more receiver nodes.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said device drivers are comprised of:

a line enable register; and

an interrupt enable register.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said time synchronization signal is a pulse stream signal.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said pulse stream signal is a clock signal.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein said pulse stream signal is a video signal.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a connector for transmitting an electrical signal between said timing signal provider and at least one graphics processor associated with said sender node and said receiver nodes.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said timing signal provider is an integrated circuit board.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein said timing signal provider is a fanout box having signal amplifiers.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said communications link is a multidrop cable.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said communications link is a daisy chain.

11. A system for generating global interrupts from any node in a cluster of nodes comprising:

a sender node designated from the cluster of nodes;

a plurality of device drivers for handling exchanged interrupts between said sender node and one or more receiver nodes;

a plurality of graphic processors associated with at least two or more nodes, wherein display activity generated by the plurality of graphic processors is synchronized based on the time synchronization signal; and

a communications link connecting said sender node to each of said one or more receiver nodes, wherein said communications link provides simultaneous communication of said interrupts to each of said one or more receiver nodes.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said device drivers are comprised of:

a line enable register; and

an interrupt enable register for receiving said interrupts.

13. A system for generating sequences of triggered events in a cluster of nodes, comprising:

a sender node designated from the cluster of nodes;

a plurality of graphic processors associated with at least two or more nodes, wherein display activity generated by the plurality of graphic processors is synchronized based on the time synchronization signal; and

a plurality of device drivers for handling exchanged interrupts between said sender node and one or more receiver nodes, said plurality of device drivers are comprised of:

a counter register,

a counter trigger register that generates said interrupts when said counter register equals a trigger value,

a reset register that clears said counter register and said counter trigger register,

an interrupt handler that generates control instructions in response to receiving said generated interrupts, and

an interrupt enable register,

wherein said counter trigger value for each one of said plurality of device drivers is set to a different value such that a sequence of triggered events is generated.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a synchronization signal generator that generates a common clock signal that is sent to said sender node and said plurality of receiver nodes.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a communications link connecting said sender node and said plurality of receiver nodes, wherein said counter trigger value for each one of said plurality of device drivers is communicated over said communications link.

16. A method for generating sequences of triggered events in a cluster of nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a desired sequence order for a triggered event to occur in a plurality of receiver nodes;

determining respective trigger values for the plurality of receiver nodes based on a desired sequence order;

sending said determined trigger values to said respective receiver nodes;

sending a common clock signal to said respective receiver nodes;

sending a clear counter register signal to said respective receiver nodes; and

at each of said respective receiver nodes:

clearing a counter register in response to receiving said clear counter register signal;

incrementing said counter register in response to each received clock signal; and

generating an interrupt when said counter register equals said determined trigger value,

wherein said determined trigger values for said respective receiver nodes represent a point in a timing cycle when said respective receiver nodes are to perform the triggered event.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of storing said determined trigger values in a counter trigger register at said respective receiver nodes.