Volume 15, 1996, No. 1


An Interprocessor Communication Interface for Message Passing via Shared Memory Modules - Design and Performance

G.Lj. Djordjevič, M.K. Stojčev

Abstract. In this paper the interprocessor communication interface intended for realization of multiprocessor (MMC) system is described.  The MMC system is implemented as a Fully_Connected_n-side_Pyramid (FCnP). The base of the pyramid consists of n processors and it acts as an accelerator to the host computer that is placed at the top of the pyramid. Communication between any two processors takes place through Shared_Memory_Module (SMM) independently accessed by both processors involved in current data transfer. The SMMs are realized with two-side accessible memory chips of FIFO RAM type. For the processors we use standard Single_Board_Computers (SBC) extended with a communication hardware referred to as the Communication_Module (CM). The main task of the CM is to provide efficient DMA transfer between the SBC's local memory and SMMs. Attaching the CM to the SBC requires only some minor modification of the SBC's hardware. In order to connect one SBC with several SMMs a special bus named Shares_Memory_Bus (SMB) is provided. Higher FCnP's performances, in comparison with the common bus biased MMC systems, are obtained mainly due to: increased communication bandwidth, possibility to use heterogeneous processors, and configuration flexibility of system topology. This paper deals with hardware structure of constituent parts of the communication interface (CM, SMM, and SMB), and system operation concerning the message transfer. Further on, performance evaluation for the proposed communication interface related to system efficiency, communication throughput, and message latency are carried out. Simulation analysis is also included.

 

p-adic Arithmetic and Parallel Symbolic Computation: An Implementation for Solving Linear Systems Over Rationals

C. Limongelli, R. Pirastu

Abstract. In this work we describe the use of truncated p-adic expansion of handling rational numbers by parallel algorithms for symbolic computation. As a case study we propose a parallel implementation for solving linear systems over the rationals.

The parallelization is based on a multiple homomorphic image technique and the result is recovered by a parallel version of the Chinese remainder algorithm. Using a MIMD machine, we compare the proposed implementation with the classical modular arithmetic, showing that truncated p-adic arithmetic is a feasible tool for solving systems of linear equations working directly over rational numbers. A safe algorithm for computing the p-adic division operation is proposed.

The implementation leads to a speedup of up to seven by ten processors with respect to the sequential implementation.

 

Implementation of the Self-Organizing Feature Map on Parallel Computers

V. Demian, J.-C. Mignot

Abstract. In this paper, we propose two implementations of the SOFM on parallel computers. One is for a MIMD computer, the other one is for a SIMD computer. We propose a new learning method for the SOFM using a block strategy. This allows to exploit the high performance level of the new generation of parallel computers. We show that the block strategy performs well on several examples outperforming classical implementations. A model to describe the performance of this algorithm is proposed and compared with experimental data. Finally, we compare experimental  results on the two classes of parallel computers.

 

Evaluation of Differential Methods for Image Velocity Measurement

P. Handschack, R. Klette

Abstract. For eight point-based differential methods of image velocity measurement, including two new methods, quantitative evaluations are reported based on synthetic images, and qualitative evaluations based on real images.  A new method  (cluster method) is characterized by the determination of the nearest point to all constraint lines, and the other (VF expansion method) by local approximation of the motion vector field. For six methods, solutions for algorithmic use are compiled, e.g. also iterative solutions for the Schunck and the Nagel constraint. The given quantitative evaluations may be used for characterizing situations where methods may be applied, and where not, and what parameters may be suggested.


Go To Contents