JPH0291755A - Message communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the communication effect between processors by providing a switch table in which switch information corresponding to a kind of a message is registered on each switch, and setting the switch in accordance with the contents of this table. CONSTITUTION:Information related to a path of a message determined by analyzing in advance a message communicated between processors is stored as connecting information of its message in a switch table 13 provided on each switch. Also, in each switch, an input buffer 10 and an output control part 11 are provided on every port. In this state, the message inputted to the switch through the input buffer 10 is delivered to a multi-output arbitrating part 12, switching information corresponding to its discrimination number is retrieved from the switch table 13, and by delivering a result to the output control part 11, switching is controlled. In such a way, it will suffice that only the discrimination number is given to the message, and the switching control can also be executed easily by referring to the switch table 13, therefore, a message communication speed can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a message communication method between processors in a parallel processing system, and particularly relates to a message communication method when transmitting the same message to multiple processors. Message communication method.

(Prior Art) Advances in LSI technology have made it possible to realize parallel processing systems composed of a large number of processors. In such a system, processing proceeds by exchanging messages between each processor. This type of parallel processing system can be applied to a variety of applications, and is considered not only for regular applications such as image processing and signal processing, but also for applications with irregular structures such as simini-region and artificial intelligence. has been done.

2. Description of the Related Art As one of the methods for implementing a parallel processing system, a method is known in which processors are connected using switches. When building an application system with an irregular structure using a coupling method using switches like this, the sending processor adds address information indicating the destination processor number to the message itself. A method of transmitting data is used.

FIG. 4 shows four parallel processing systems connected by 4×4 crossbar switches. In this system, processor P1 sends a message to processor P4 by opening the gate corresponding to PL-P4 of the crossbar switch.

That is, the crossbar switch controls the opening and closing of this gate by resolving the destination information contained within the message.

FIG. 5 shows a parallel processing system of 16 units connected using two stages of 4×4 crossbar switches.

In this system, processor PO sends a message to processor P9 by opening the corresponding gates of the two crossbar switches, as shown by dotted lines in FIG.

When transmitting the same message to multiple processors in a system that transmits messages using such a communication method, a conventional method has been used in which the message is individually transmitted to each of the multiple processors that have different destinations. For example, in FIG. 5, processor PO is processor P2. P6. If you want to send the same message to P8 and P9, you need to send it four times. Therefore, there was a problem in that the communication speed decreased and the efficiency of the entire system decreased.

(Issue 8 to be solved by the invention) In this way, when communicating in a parallel processing system composed of a large number of processors, a method is adopted in which the processor number of the destination is added to the message, and the destination is In the case of multiple processors, there is a problem in that communication is more difficult than efficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a message communication method that allows efficient communication even when the destination is a plurality of processors.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention adds an identification number indicating the type of the message instead of a destination address to a message communicated between processors in a parallel processing system. A switch that connects between the two is equipped with a switch table in which connection information corresponding to the message is registered, and each switch refers to the corresponding connection information in the switch table from the identification number of the received message, and based on the contents, communicates the message. I'm trying to control it.

(Operation) According to the present invention, information regarding the route of a message determined by analyzing messages communicated between processors in advance is stored in a switch table provided in each switch as connection information for the message. At this time, even if the destination is a plurality of processors, the switch table can be set so that the message is output to a plurality of ports at the same time.

When each processor sends a message, it adds an identification number that indicates the type of message and sends it, and the switch that interrupts the message searches for the corresponding connection information in its own switch table from the identification number of the received message. . This makes it easy to determine which direction the port should be output to.

According to the present invention, only an identification number needs to be assigned to a message, and switching control can be easily performed by referring to a switch table, so that the speed of message communication can be improved.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the two-stage lossbar coupling parallel processing system shown in FIG. 5 will be described below.

Each switch is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, each switch is provided with an input buffer 10 and an output control section 11 for each port.

The message input to the switch via the input buffer IO is passed to the multi-output arbitration unit 12, which searches the switch table 13 for switching information corresponding to the identification number, and passes the result to the output control unit 11 to perform switching. Control. As shown in FIG. 2, from processor PO to processor P2. P6. P8. The case where the same information is sent to P9 will be explained. That is, the communication path is set as shown by the dotted line in FIG. At this time, the relevant switches SL, S5. The contents of the switch table in S8 and 87 are shown in FIG. In the figure, the identification number is a field that indicates the type of message, and the switch information is a field that corresponds to the destination boat. If it is '1', the message will be sent to that boat, and if it is '0', it will not be sent. This kind of transmission information is prepared for each type of message.

In the above configuration, when the message with the identification number "15" is sent from the processor PO as shown in FIG. 2, the switch S1 reads the information corresponding to the identification number "15" from the switch table, and the switch information "1110" ”, the output control unit 0.1.2 and input buffer O are connected and the message is output to boats O, 1, and 2. Further, the switch S5 outputs a message to the boat 2 according to the switch information "0010", and as a result, the message reaches P6. Switch S7 has switch information “1100”
A message is output to boats 0 and 1 according to P8. The message arrives at P9.

In this way, each switch can control switching by reading the switch memory, so even when the same message is sent to multiple processors, it is only necessary to assign an identification number, making it possible to realize efficient message communication. can.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the above embodiment, a two-stage switch coupling method has been described, but it is also applicable to a method combining switches and other means.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a switch table is provided in which switch information is registered according to the type of each Sui/Maru message, and the switch settings are made according to the contents of this table. , it is only necessary to add to the message a job number that specifies the type of message, and the effectiveness of communication between processors can be greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a switch according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a message flow for sending the same message to multiple processors, and FIG. 3 is a switch in the example of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the table, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connection using a conventional crossbar switch, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a connection using a conventional two-stage crossbar switch. 10... Input buffer, 11... Output control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a parallel processing system where multiple processors are connected by switches, a switch that assigns an identification number indicating the type of message to messages communicated between processors, and also registers connection information for each type of message in each switch. A message communication system comprising a table, each switch referring to corresponding connection information in the switch table based on the identification number of an input message, and controlling message communication based on the contents.