Abstract: Improvements in a molecular-dynamic simulator provide ways to save energy during computation and reduce die area consumed on an integrated circuit. Examples of such improvements include different interaction modules for different ranges, the use of streaming along rows while multicasting along columns in an array of interaction modules, the selection of computation units based on balancing computational costs and communication costs, the use of fences in networks that connect computation units, and the use of bond calculators to carry out specialized bond calculations.

Abstract: A method for managing flow of particles into an array of pairwise-point-interaction-module includes receiving a first set of particles into a first queue. The first set is a proper subset of a second set of particles that comprises all particles that are to be passed into an array of pairwise-point-interaction-modules during a current time period. Prior to having received all particles from the second set, particles from the first set are allowed to pass from the first queue into the array.

Abstract: A method comprising causing a simulation machine for molecular dynamic simulation to determine that a topological distance that separates two particles is less than a threshold. The simulation machine includes nodes connected by a network. The nodes collectively representing a volume with each node corresponding to a portion of the simulation space. A topological relationship between the nodes corresponds to spatial relationship thereof in the simulation space. The simulation volume is occupied by particles that interact with each other. The two particles are among these particles. The simulation volume includes node boxes, each of which is handled by one of the nodes. Each of the nodes is implemented as an application specific integrated circuit that includes a combination of first and second hardware elements. The first hardware elements are especially designed to perform pairwise interactions. The second hardware elements operate to provide potentially interacting particles to the first hardware elements.

Abstract: A method for managing flow of particles into an array of pairwise-point-interaction-module includes receiving a first set of particles into a first queue. The first set is a proper subset of a second set of particles that comprises all particles that are to be passed into an array of pairwise-point-interaction-modules during a current time period. Prior to having received all particles from the second set, particles from the first set are allowed to pass from the first queue into the array.

Abstract: A method comprising causing a computer to determine that a topological distance between two particles is less than a threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a cache coherency protocol are described. The system includes a first caching agent to send a first cache request to a home agent. The system also includes the home agent including a queue to store the first cache request.

Abstract: A method for cache coherency in a network of a plurality of caching agents includes storing a plurality of miss requests, transmitting the miss requests into the network, sending a probe message on a probe channel and a request message on a second channel from one of the plurality of caching agents, and maintaining an open status for the miss request until the requesting cache agent receives the data or an ownership indicator.

Abstract: A messaging protocol that facilitates a distributed cache coherency conflict resolution in a multi-node system that resolves conflicts at a home node. The protocol may perform a method including supporting at least three protocol classes for the messaging protocol, via at least three virtual channels provided by a link layer of a network fabric coupled to the caching agents, wherein the virtual channels include a first virtual channel to support a probe message class, a second virtual channel to support an acknowledgment message class, and a third virtual channel to support a response message class.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for an external agent to initiate data prefetches from a system memory to a cache associated with a target processor, which needs the data to execute a program, in a computing system. When the external agent has data, it may create and issue a prefetch directive. The prefetch directive may be sent along with system interconnection transactions or sent as a separate transaction to devices including the target processor in the system. When receiving and recognizing the prefetch directive, a hardware prefetcher associated with the target processor may issue a request to the system memory to prefetch data to the cache. The target processor can access data in the cache more efficiently than it accesses data in the system memory. Some pre-processing may also be associated with the data prefetch.

Abstract: The invention facilitates a messaging protocol in a multi-node system to resolve conflicts at a home node.

Abstract: A cache coherence protocol facilitates a distributed cache coherency conflict resolution in a multi-node system to resolve conflicts at a home node.