Claims
- 1. A method for dynamically operating a networked array of multiple context processing elements (MCPEs), the method comprising:
selectively transmitting third signals over a level 3 network, wherein the level 3 network comprises a plurality of channels between pairs of MCPEs in the networked array; and selectively transmitting fourth signals over a broadcast network, wherein the fourth signals comprise configuration data for configuring the level 3 network.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the level 3 network comprises a level 3 switch structure, and the fourth signals comprise configuration data for configuring the level 3 switch structure.
- 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively transmitting first signals over a level 1 network between MCPEs, wherein the first signals comprise bit-oriented control signals.
- 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively transmitting second signals over a level 2 network between MCPEs, wherein the second signals comprise data, instructions, and addresses of MCPEs within a local group.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third signals comprise configuration data for configuration of MCPEs, instructions and addresses of MCPEs.
- 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively transmitting a sideband bit with the third signals, wherein the sideband bit indicates a direction in which the third signals are driven.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth signals further comprise configuration data for configuring MCPEs.
- 8. The method of claim 6, wherein a first sideband bit is transmitted in a first direction and a second sideband bit is transmitted in a second direction, the method further comprising generating an error signal when the first and second sideband bits are driven simultaneously.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the third signals are transmitted during execution of a present function by at least one MCPE of the networked array.
- 10. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting an active configuration for at least one of the plurality of multiple context processing elements when a masked virtual identification of the at least one of the plurality of MCPEs corresponds to an address of the addresses of MCPEs n the second signal.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth signals comprise configuration data for configuring the MCPEs.
- 12. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
assigning a physical identification (PID) and a virtual identification (VID) to each of a plurality of MCPEs in the networked array; transmitting configuration data for configuration of at least one MCPE, instruction, an address of the at least one MCPE, and an address mask; comparing the virtual identification masked with the address mask to addresses of MCPEs; and selecting an active configuration for the at least one of the plurality of MCPEs and manipulating the MCPE when the masked virtual identification of the at least one of the plurality of MCPEs corresponds to the address.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein manipulating is selected from the group comprising setting a finite state machine state, setting a programmable run context, setting a reset context, and setting a stall context.
- 14. A system for dynamically operating a networked array of multiple context processing elements (MCPEs), comprising:
third signals selectively transmitted over a level 3 network, wherein the level 3 network comprises a plurality of channels between pairs of MCPEs in the networked array; and fourth signals selectively transmitted over a broadcast network, wherein the fourth signals comprise configuration data for configuring the level 3 network.
- 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the level 3 network comprises a level 3 switch structure, and the fourth signals comprise configuration data for configuring the level 3 switch structure.
- 16. The system of claim 14, further comprising first signals selectively transmitted over a level 1 network between MCPEs, wherein the first signals comprise bit-oriented control signals.
- 17. The system of claim 14, further comprising second signals selectively transmitted over a level 2 network between MCPEs, wherein the second signals comprise data, instructions, and addresses of MCPEs within a local group.
- 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the third signals comprise configuration data for configuration of MCPEs, instructions and addresses of MCPEs.
- 19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a sideband bit selectively transmitted with the third signals, wherein the sideband bit indicates a direction in which the third signals are driven.
- 20. The system of claim 14, wherein the fourth signals further comprise configuration data for configuring MCPEs.
- 21. The system of claim 14, further comprising a first sideband bit transmitted in a first direction and a second sideband bit transmitted in a second direction, and means for generating an error signal when the first and second sideband bits are driven simultaneously.
- 22. The system of claim 14, wherein the third signals are transmitted during execution of a present function by at least one MCPE of the networked array.
- 23. The system of claim 18, further comprising an active configuration for at least one of the plurality of multiple context processing elements selected when a masked virtual identification of the at least one of the plurality of MCPEs corresponds to an address of the addresses of MCPEs n the second signal.
- 24. The system of claim 14, wherein the fourth signals comprise configuration data for configuring the MCPEs.
- 25. The system of claim 18, further comprising:
a physical identification (PID) and a virtual identification (VID) assigning to each of a plurality of MCPEs in the networked array; configuration data for configuration of at least one MCPE, instruction, an address of the at least one MCPE, and an address mask; means for comparing the virtual identification masked with the address mask to addresses of MCPEs; and means for selecting an active configuration for the at least one of the plurality of MCPEs and means for manipulating the MCPE when the masked virtual identification of the at least one of the plurality of MCPEs corresponds to the address.
- 26. The system of claim 12, wherein means for manipulating is selected from the group comprising means for setting a finite state machine state, means for setting a programmable run context, means for setting a reset context, and means for setting a stall context.
- 27. A method for selectively programming and manipulating a networked array of multiple context processing elements (MCPEs), the method comprising:
selectively transmitting second signals including data, instructions, and addresses of MCPEs within a local group, over a level 2 network; selectively transmitting third signals including configuration data for configuration of MCPEs, instructions, and addresses of MCPEs, over a level 3 network; and transmitting fourth signals over a broadcast network, wherein the fourth signals comprise configuration data for configuring MCPEs.
- 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising selectively transmitting first signals including bit-oriented control signals, over a level 1 network between MCPEs
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application number 09/364,838 entitled THREE LEVEL DIRECT COMMUNICATION CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NEIGHBORING MULTIPLE CONTEXT PROCESSING ELEMENTS, filed on Jul. 30, 1999, the contents of which is expressly incorporated by reference as though set forth in full.
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09364838 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Child |
10828039 |
Apr 2004 |
US |