System and method for data synchronization for a computer architecture for broadband networks
A computer architecture and programming model for high speed processing over broadband networks are provided. The architecture employs a consistent modular structure, a common computing module and uniform software cells. The common computing module includes a control processor, a plurality of processing units, a plurality of local memories from which the processing units process programs, a direct memory access controller and a shared main memory. A synchronized system and method for the coordinated reading and writing of data to and from the shared main memory by the processing units also are provided. A processing system for processing computer tasks is also provided. A first processor is of a first processor type and a number of second processors are of a second processor type. One of the second processors manages process scheduling of computing tasks by providing tasks to at least one of the first and second processors.
1. A processing system for processing computing tasks, comprising:
a first processor of a first processor type; and
a plurality of second processors of a second processor type operatively connected to the first processor, a selected one of the second processors being configured to manage process scheduling of the computing tasks by assigning selected ones of the computing tasks to the first processor and one or more of the plurality of second processors;
wherein the computing tasks comprise one or more software cells, each of the software cells including data to be processed, a cell identifier and a previous cell identifier, the previous cell identifier relating to a group of software cells requiring sequential processing; and
wherein the selected second processor is configured to identify, from the previous cell identifier of a currently received software cell, a particular one of the second processors that is assigned to processing previously received software cells of the group of software cells and, on the basis of this identification, the selected second processor is further configured to assign the currently received software cell to the particular second processor.
2. The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the selected second processor is configured to assign the computing tasks based upon the cell identifier.
3. The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the selected second processor is configured to provide the selected computing tasks based upon a load balancing factor.
4. The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the computing tasks comprise processing the software cells, each of the software cells comprising data to be processed, and the selected second processor is configured to provide the selected computing tasks based upon information within the software cells.
5. The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the computing tasks comprise one or more data structures, each of the data structures comprising data to be processed, and the selected second processor is configured to receive at least one of the data structures and to assign the at least one data structure in accordance with an attribute of the at least one data structure.
6. A processing system for processing computing tasks, comprising:
a processing unit of a first processor type a first capable of processing the computing tasks; and
a plurality of attached processing units of a second processor type capable of processing the computing tasks, at least one of the attached processing units being operable to communicate with the processing unit, and a selected one of the attached processing units being operable to manage the computing tasks by assigning the computing tasks to the processing unit and one or more of the plurality of attached processing units;
wherein the computing tasks comprise one or more software cells, each of the software cells including data to be processed, a cell identifier and a previous cell identifier, the previous cell identifier relating to a group of software cells requiring sequential processing; and
wherein the selected attached processing unit is configured to identify, from the previous cell identifier of a currently received software cell, a particular one of the attached processing units that is assigned to processing previously received software cells of the group of software cells and, on the basis of this identification, the selected attached processing unit is further configured to assign the currently received software cell to the particular attached processing unit.
7. The processing system of claim 6 , wherein the selected attached processing unit is configured to provide the computing tasks based upon a load balancing factor.
8. The processing system of claim 6 , wherein the computing tasks comprise one or more data structures, each of the data structures comprising data to be processed, and the selected attached processing unit is configured to receive at least one of the data structures and to assign the at least one data structure in accordance with an attribute of the at least one data structure.
9. A processing system for processing computing tasks, comprising:
a plurality of computing devices capable of connecting to one another via a communications network, each of the computing devices comprising at least one processing element, the at least one processing element comprising:
a processing unit of a first processor type capable of processing the computing tasks; and
a plurality of sub-processing units of a second processor type capable of processing the computing tasks, at least one of the sub-processing units being operable to communicate with the processing unit, and a selected one of the sub-processing units being configured to manage the computing tasks by assigning the computing tasks to the processing unit and one or more of the plurality of sub-processing units;
wherein the computing tasks comprise one or more software cells, each of the software cells including data to be processed, a cell identifier and a previous cell identifier, the previous cell identifier relating to a group of software cells requiring sequential processing; and
wherein the selected sub-processing unit is configured to identify, from the previous cell identifier of a currently received software cell, a particular one of the sub-processing units that is assigned to processing previously received software cells of the group of software cells and, on the basis of this identification, the selected sub-processing unit is further configured to assign the currently received software cell to the particular sub-processing unit.
10. The processing system of claim 9 , wherein the selected sub-processing unit is configured to provide the computing tasks based upon a load balancing factor.
11. The processing system of claim 9 , wherein the computing tasks comprise one or more data structures, each of the data structures comprising data to be processed, and the selected sub-processing unit is configured to receive at least one of the data structures and to assign the at least one data structure in accordance with an attribute of the at least one data structure.