Abstract:
This circuitry permits equal access to a shared resource by a number of central processing units (CPUs). In a multiple CPU arrangement, common resource contention problems arise, when several CPUs attempt to access the common resource. To resolve these contention problems, this circuitry is an improvement to arbitration ring circuitry. The circuitry of this invention permits each of the CPUs equal access to the common resource during situations in which each CPU is constantly generating requests (high bandwidth utilization) for access to the common resource. This invention is particularly useful for systems in which a large number of CPUs must have their local memory rapidly reloaded from a common memory source. Reloading procedures for large numbers of CPUs require up to an hour. By employing the present invention, these reloading times can be cut from one hour to approximately 5 minutes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present Application is related to co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 017,383 and 017,385, both having the same inventive entity and being assigned to the same assignee as the present application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to multiple central processing unit (CPU) controlled real-time systems and more particularly to a scheme for increasing the bandwidth for each CPU of a multi-processor configuration for accessing a commonly shared resource. 
     Computerized control of telecommunication systems is known in the art. Modern telecommunication systems require vast amounts of processing power in order to provide the varied telecommunication functions commonly in use. Distributed processing or load sharing among CPUs is now common place in large real time systems. The telecommunications industry is no exception to this rule. 
     In a distributed processing system, CPUs exchange information via a common resource or memory. In this way, the system&#39;s tasks may be divided among the available CPUs. Such a system also avoids multiple CPUs initiating the same task by granting access to the common resource or memory to only one CPU at a particular time. 
     Therefore, when several CPUs attempt to access the common resource or memory, a selection arrangement must allow only one CPU to access the common resource or memory at a time. This hardware is termed contention resolution or arbitration circuitry. One such arbitration controller is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,414, for an invention entitled Arbitration Controller Providing For Access of A Common Resource By A Duplex Plurality Of Central Processing Units. This patent was issued on Feb. 15, 1983, to the same assignee as that of the present application. U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,414, is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,413, issued on Feb. 15, 1983, also teaches this arbitration scheme. This Patent is entitled Arbitration Controller Providing For Access of A Common Resource by a Plurality of Central Processing Units. This patent is also incorporated by reference. 
     The above mentioned Patents teach an arbitration circuit which alternately grants access to a common resource to a CPU within one of two subgroups. Each subgroup contains sixteen CPUs. The arbitration scheme employed in these Patents is to alternate granting request to the common resource between the two subgroups. In addition, arbitration within a subgroup of sixteen CPUs was handled on a rotational bases (i.e. CPU0 first; CPU1 second; . . . CPU15 then CPU0 again). 
     The operation of this arbitration scheme may best be understood by referenced FIG. 1. FIG. 1 depicts the arbitration scheme employed by the circuitry of the above mentioned U.S. Patents. FIG. 1 shows two CPU subgroups, each subgroup including sixteen CPUs. The designation for CPU0 of subgroup 0 is repeated for explanation purposes. Assume that all CPUs of both subgroups are requesting access to the common resource. Assume further that CPU0 of subgroup 0 is the first to be allocated access to the common resource, the arbitration circuitry then gives control to subgroup 1, but advances the CPU indicator to the next CPU within the group. As a result, CPU1 in subgroup 1 is allocated access to the common resource next. This is indicated by the arrow from CPU0, subgroup 0 to CPU 1, subgroup 1. Next, since this arbitration circuitry advances the CPU count and allocates access to the other group of CPUs. CPU2 in subgroup 0 is the next CPU to be allocated control to common resource (this is indicated by the arrow from CPU1, subgroup 1 to CPU2, subgroup 0). CPU3 in subgroup 1 is the next CPU to be allocated access to the common resource. 
     As can be seen from FIG. 1, every other CPU in each subgroup is not granted access to the common resource. This is due to the grant of access &#34;walking&#34; in between CPU subgroups, but always being advanced. This configuration was designed to handle telecommunication events which typically occur at the rate of 10 milliseconds per event. In situations where there is CPU contention for the common resource (i.e. many CPUs simultaneously requesting) and when events occur on an average of approximately 10 millisecond intervals typically true CPU contention, the CPU contentions are easily resolved within this time frame, since the available bandwidth is 666 nsec. This arbitration logic was designed in this fashion and worked well to allow up to 64 duplex processors access to the common resource for telecommunication functions which occurred at approximately 10 millisecond rate. 
     Public policy requires telecommunication functions including telephone service to operate 24 hours a day continuously without a disruption of service. Therefore, highly reliable telecommunication systems are required. In the above mentioned Patents, each CPU or processor has associated with it local memory. This local memory contains the operating instructions for each CPU. If this local memory becomes mutilated, the processors may not operate efficiently, if at all. 
     For a telecommunication system outage, no telephone services are provided. Such conditions must be quickly rectified. During outages in the system which employs the above mentioned Patents, reloading the local memory of a CPU from the common memory requires approximately 1 hour. This means that those telecommunication functions and telephone subscribers served by this processor are potentially without service for up to 1 hour. 
     Improvements were made to the system software which loaded processors whose local memory had become mutilated. This system software is able to reload a processor&#39;s local memory very quickly by constantly generating requests for access to the common resource with a frequency of request of approximately 1 request per 666 nanoseconds. As a result, the &#34;walking&#34; phenomenon referred to above in FIG. 1 was observed. That is, certain CPUs were quickly loaded while others were virtually completely ignored for access to the common resource. 
     For the duration of the reloading process, each CPU of each subgroup was constantly generating a request for access to the common resource. Due to the alternating rotational scheme employed by the arbitration circuitry of the above mentioned Patents, the CPU access bandwidth (frequency of access through the arbitration logic) was found to be insufficient to accommodate the 666 nanosecond bandwidth of 32 constantly requesting CPUs. 
     A fully equipped group of CPUs along with associated arbitration circuitry includes up to 17 printed wiring cards (PWCs). Since there are two copies of each CPU and arbitration circuit operating in duplex, a fully equipped CPU group (2 subgroups) included up to 34 PWCs. Each CPU group includes two subgroups (subgroup 0 and subgroup 1) as mentioned above. A fully equipped telecommunication system may include up to two processor groups. As a result, up to 64 duplex processors may be generating requests for access to the common resource. 
     Originally, it was believed that a complete redesign of the arbitration circuitry would be required to accommodate this fast reloading procedure. In addition, it was believed that each of the printed wiring cards would require redesign and relayout. The redesign and relayout functions are extremely costly and require considerable amounts of engineering time and effort. 
     It, therefore, is an object of the present invention to allow constant access to a common resource by a large number of CPUs, thereby increasing the bandwidth of the CPU/common resource interface, while requiring minimal circuit and engineering changes to the circuitry shown in the above mentioned Patents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accomplishing the object of the present invention, there is provided a novel arbitration scheme embodying minimal changes to a previously designed arbitration circuit for rapid local memory reloading by a number of CPUs. 
     An arbitration controller provides for equal priority sharing of duplicate copy resources by active ones of first and second pluralities of duplicate pairs of CPUs. The arbitration controller has first and second common buses. First and second switches produce alternating first and second selection signals. 
     The arbitration controller includes first and second arbitration groups. Each arbitration group has first and second initialization circuitry, each initialization circuit provides a first signal. Each arbitration group also has corresponding first and second pluralities of arbitration circuits. Each plurality of arbitration circuits includes a first, at least one successive and a last arbitration circuit. Each initialization circuit is connected to at least one of the corresponding plurality of arbitration circuits. 
     The arbitration controller also includes first and second pluralities of CPU buses. Each bus of each plurality is connected between a CPU and the duplicate copy resources via a corresponding arbitration circuit on a one for one basis. The first and second pluralities of buses are interconnected, also on a one for one basis. The common buses connect the CPUs to the duplicate copy resources via the corresponding arbitration circuits. 
     The arbitration circuits of each plurality of each group are interconnected so that, the first arbitration circuit is connected to a successive arbitration circuit and each successive arbitration circuit is connected to the next successive arbitration circuit, with the next successive arbitration circuit being connected to the last arbitration circuit. Each arbitration circuit group propagates a first signal synchronously. One arbitration circuit of each group operates in response to the first signal, to a common bus request signal from the active CPU and to a second signal of the arbitration circuit to access the duplicate copy resources simultaneously. 
     The first switch is connected between the first plurality of CPUs, via the first common bus, and one copy of the resource. The second switch is connected between the second plurality of CPUs, via the second common bus, and the other copy of the resource. The first and second switches operate to enable access to one copy of the resource from the CPUs of the first plurality and operate to disable access from the CPUs of the second plurality. The first and second switches also operate to disable access from the first plurality of CPUs and to enable access of the resource from the second plurality of CPUs. 
     The improvement to the arbitration controller includes a clock for generating a clock signal of a predetermined frequency. Simultaneous access requests of the CPUs of each of the first and second pluralities are recognized by detector circuitry. This detector is connected to the corresponding first and second pluralities of arbitration circuits. The detector operates in response to the simultaneous access requests to produce a contention signal. 
     The improvement also includes a disabling circuit. The disabling circuit is connected to the detector, to the first and second pluralities of arbitration circuits and to the clock. The disabling circuit operates in response to the contention signal and to an indication that a CPU corresponding to the first plurality of arbitration circuits was previously granted access to the resource. The disabling circuit inhibits transmission of the clock signal to the arbitration circuits corresponding to the first plurality of CPUs. 
     The improvement also includes an enabling circuit. The enabling circuit is connected to the detector, to the first and second pluralities of arbitration circuits and to the clock. The enabling circuit operates in response to the contention signal and to an indication that a CPU corresponding to the first plurality of arbitration circuits was previously granted access to the resource. The enabling circuit transmits the clock signal to the arbitration circuits corresponding to the second plurality of CPUs so that, these CPUs may be granted access to the resource. 
    
    
     A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting resource allocation between two subgroups of CPUs under a condition of frequent common resource access by the CPUs. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the arbitration concept for resolution of access contention between two subgroups of CPUs. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the improvements made to the arbitration circuitry embodied in the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagram, similar to FIG. 1, depicting the resource allocation between two subgroups of CPUs when the arbitration circuitry includes the circuitry of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,374,414 and 4,374,413 are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an arbitration arrangement is shown. This arbitration arrangement is embodied in the U.S. Patents mentioned above. Subgroup 0 (SG0) includes 16 CPUs (CPU0 through CPU15). Subgroup 1 (SG1) also includes 16 CPUs (CPU16 through CPU31). Subgroup 0 CPUs are connected to arbitration ring 0. Arbitration ring 0 is a conceptual device which represents arbitration circuitry associated with subgroup 0. This arbitration circuitry controls the granting of memory request to one of the 16 CPUs within the subgroup 0. 
     Similarly, CPUs 16 through CPU 31 are connected to arbitration ring 1. Arbitration ring 1 represents the circuitry which controls access to the memory by CPU 16 through CPU 31. Arbitration ring 0 and arbitration ring 1 are shown interconnected to permit resolution of CPU contention for the memory between the two subgroups. 
     The ring or circular structure chosen to represent arbitration rings 0 and 1 indicates that within a subgroup access to the memory is granted to sirm:ltaneously requesting CPUs on a rotational basis. That is, access is granted first CPU0, then CPU1, and so forth up to CPU 15, then access is returned back to CPU0. Similarly for subgroup 1, access to the memory is granted first to CPU 16, then to CPU 17, through CPU 31 and is returned back to CPU 16. 
     While the arbitration ring concept resolves contention between simultaneously requesting CPUs within a subgroup, memory contention between two simultaneously requesting CPUs of different subgroups must be resolved between the two arbitration rings. This arbitration is conceptually straightforward. Memory access is first granted to the CPU of one or the other subgroups. Then, CPU access to the memory alternates between the two subgroups. The circuitry for accomplishing this arbitration is shown in FIG. 3 of either of the U.S. Patents mentioned above and incorporated by reference. In the block diagram of FIG. 2, this arbitration is represented by the arrow connecting arbitration rings 0 and 1. 
     Referring next to FIG. 2 of the above mentioned U.S. Patents, the arbitration ring circuitry for each subgroup is shown. The grant signal (grant 0 through grant 15) is connected to the corresponding CPU (CPU0 through CPU 15) via the corresponding GRANT lead. The explanation of the arbitration ring circuitry and the improvements thereto will be shown for the arbitration ring of one subgroup operating in the simplex mode. The two rings operate synchronously for the duplex mode as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,414. It is to be noted that each arbitration ring has arbitration circuits connected to corresponding CPUs and that the grant signal is passed from one arbitration circuit to the next as a function of the clock (CLK) signal. 
     For example, on the first clock cycle, flip-flop 201 will be clocked. As a result, J-K flip-flop 204 will produce the grant signal to enable CPU0 to access the memory. The GRANT signal enables the next arbitration circuit corresponding to CPU1 to receive access to the memory upon the next clock signal via the CLK lead. This scheme of passing the grant signal continues on each clock cycle, transmitting the grant signal to each of the arbitration circuits corresponding to the CPUs, until arbitration circuit 15 is reached. 
     Arbitration circuit 15 includes D-type flip-flop 351 gates 352, 353, and 355, and J-K flip-flop 354. After arbitration circuit 15 has granted CPU 15 access to the common memory, the grant signal is passed back from gate 350 to gate 202. On the next clock cycle, a signal on the CLK lead enables arbitration circuit 0 to give control to CPU0, thereby completing the ring. This circular rotation of the grant signal between arbitration circuits gives rise to the name arbitration ring. 
     Due to the clock signal advancing the grant each clock cycle, the &#34;walking&#34; phenomenon of FIG. 1 of this application was observed. The CLK lead connects the system clock directly to each of the flip-flops of each arbitration circuit of the respective arbitration ring. Clocking this lead causes advancement of the grant signal, such that, when it is shared between subgroups it advances in a &#34;walking&#34; fashion, shown in FIG. 1. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the circuitry for constant CPU contention arbitration is shown. The resource request signals supplied via the SG0REQ and SG1REQ leads are the subgroup 0 request and subgroup 1 request signals, respectively. These signals are transmitted via their respective leads to AND gate 9 and to combination AND/NOR gates 12 and 13. Gate 9 is connected to the D-input of flip-flop 21. The Q output of flip-flop 21 is connected to AND gates 33 and 34. AND gate 34 is connected to AND gate 32. AND gate 33 is connected to AND gate 31. AND gate 32 produces the CLKO signal on the corresponding lead. This signal is used to operate arbitration ring 0 logic in advancing the grant signal among subgroup 0 CPUs. Similarly, the CLK1 signal transmitted via the corresponding lead operates arbitration ring 1 logic to advance the grant signal among subgroup 1 CPUs. 
     The Q-bar and Q outputs of J-K flip-flop 11 are connected to AND/NOR combination gates 12 and 13, respectively. The output of combination gate 12 is connected to the D-input of D-type flip-flop 16. The output of combination gate 13 is connected to the D-input of D-type flip-flop 17. The Q output of flip-flop 17 is connected to the J-input of flip-flop 11 and to an input of AND gate 34. 
     The Q output of flip-flop 16 on the SG1LAST lead is a signal indicating that subgroup 1 was the last subgroup to have a CPU be given access to the common resource. The Q output of D-type flip-flop 17 is connected to the K-input of flip-flop 11 and to AND gate 33. The Q output of flip-flop 17 on the SG0LAST lead indicates that subgroup 0 was the last subgroup to have a CPU be given access to the common resource. The system clock (not shown) is connected to AND gates 31 and 32 via the CLK lead. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 of the above mentioned U.S. Patents, the system clock is connected directly via the CLK lead to flip-flops 201, 211 . . . 351. In FIG. 3 of the present application, the circuitry is connected between the system clock via the CLK lead and the above mentioned flip-flops of FIG. 2 of the referenced U.S. Patents. The action of the circuit of FIG. 3 of the present application inhibits the subgroup which was not granted access to the common resource from advancing its GRANT signal. The circuit of FIG. 3 of the present application inhibits clock pulses from advancing the D-type flip-flops 201, 211 . . . 351 of the subgroup which was not granted access to the memory. 
     Referring to FIG. 3 of the present application, gate 9 receives requests from each of the subgroups indicating that there is at least one CPU requiring access to the memory or common resource. Since it is assumed that a contention situation assists, both signals SG0REQ and SG1REQ will be at logic 1. As a result, gate 9 is enabled and flip-flop 21 becomes set (logic 1). The Q output of flip-flop 21 is transmitted to AND gates 33 and 34. If there is contention between the two subgroups of CPUs for the common resource, both gates 33 and 34 will have their upper input set to logic 1 due to the Q output of flip-flop 21. 
     J-K flip-flop 11 operates as a toggle switch to alternately pass control of access of the common resource between subgroup 0 and subgroup 1. Again, assuming that there is a contention situation, both the SG0REQ and SG1REQ signals are at logic 1. Since flip-flop 11 is either in the set or reset state, the values of the outputs Q and Q-bar of flip-flop 11 will be either logic 0 and logic 1, respectively or logic 1 and logic 0, respectively. If it is assumed that subgroup 0 was granted access to the common resource last, the Q output of flip-flop 11 will be set and the Q-bar output will be reset. As a result, combination gate 12 produces a logic 1 output which is transmitted to flip-flop 16 where it is latched and stored. The Q output of flip-flop 16 is now at logic 1. 
     Since subgroup 0 was the last to be given accessed to the common resource, subgroup 1 should be granted access this time according to the scheme. The Q output of flip-flop 16, which is at logic 1, is transmitted to gate 34. Gate 34 is operated and causes gate 32 to operate upon the next clock signal on the CLK lead. This clock signal is transmitted to subgroup 0 via the CLK0 lead. This signal will operate each of the flip-flops mentioned in FIG. 2 of the referenced U.S. Patents to advance the take grant signal among the CPUs as mentioned above. 
     Since the Q-bar output of flip-flop 11 is reset, combination gate 13 will produce a logic 0 at its output. As a result, flip-flop 17 will latch and store a logic 0. Therefore the Q output of flip-flop 17 will be at logic 0. As a result, gate 33 will be inhibited from operation. On the next clock cycle, the clock signal on the CLK lead will not be transmitted through gate 31 to the subgroup 1 flip-flops shown in FIG. 2 of the referenced U.S. Patents. As a result, these flip-flops will not advance the grant signal. The next CPU to be given control in subgroup 1 will be the same as the last one given control in the subgroup 0. 
     As a result of the operation of the circuit of FIG. 3, the granting of CPU access to the common resource will be that as shown in FIG. 4. It is to be noted that in FIG. 4 no CPUs in either group are denied access, if each of the CPUs is requesting continual access to the common resource or memory. Therefore, each of the 16 CPUs of each subgroup is able to have its local memory reloaded very rapidly without ignoring the requests of any of the CPUs. It should be noted that for the non-contention case or for the case in which every CPU is not requesting access, the circuit of FIG. 3 still permits proper arbitration between the subgroups. 
     Lastly, on the next arbitration contention situation, flip-flop 11 has been toggled. Since a CPU of subgroup 1 was granted memory access during the last contention situation, the circuitry of FIG. 3 operates to grant access to a CPU of subgroup 0, etc. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.