Abstract: A method and apparatus for reserving and releasing routing paths in a parallel processing computer system. The present invention eliminates the need to restart the computer system to recover from a system seizure or an application stall. A plurality of signals are provided which convey various message transmission information to source, intermediate and destination nodes and routing elements. A first signal is used by a source node to reserve a route to a destination node. A second signal is used by the destination node to indicate that the message has reached the destination node and later that the entire message has been transmitted. A third signal is used by the destination node to signal that an error in transmission has been detected. Through various combinations of the signals transmission information is obtained and nodes in the route may be reserved and released.

Abstract: A conical contact of a male plug is biased by a coil spring which rides on a cylindrical tail. A bushing compresses the spring, but is held captive on the tail by a pin passing radially through the bushing and a slot through the tail. A female receptacle has a conical hole to receive the conical contact. A sleeve extends from the hole, providing two ramp shaped slots to engage the protruding ends of the pin on the male plug. When the connector is mated, the bushing is inserted into the sleeve and the ends of the pin engage the slots in the sleeve, causing the conical contact to enter the conical hole. Rotation of the bushing causes the ends of the pin to ride the ramp shaped slots inward, causing the conical contact to rotate as the spring compresses, forcing the conical contact into the conical hole. When fully mated, the ends of the pin fall into detent positions at the ends of the slots, locking the connector.

Abstract: A parallel processing computer system having an improved architecture for communication of information between nodes. The computer system of the present invention comprises at least three nodes; each of the three nodes for processing information. Each of the nodes comprises a routing means for routing information between nodes. The routing means allow reservation of a route through the network of nodes. Messages may then be transmitted from an origin node to a destination node over the reserved route. Use of a route reservation system reduces requirements for buffering of information at intermediate nodes on a route, improves message passing latency and increases node-to-node bandwidth. The present invention teaches communication of messages between nodes in a synchronous manner using a common strobe signal. The strobe signal is modified by regenerating alternate edges of the signal in order to eliminate pulse shrinkage of the strobe signal.

Abstract: A parallel flexible transmission cable accommodating three degrees of displacement and one degree of rotation. The cable has two connectors attached to a flexible, planar cable. A plurality of conductors in the planar cable electrically connect corresponding pins of the two conductors. The cable is bent or formed in the middle of its length to be composed solely of a vane or vanes, that is, planar sections which project othogonally to the common plane of the cable at the connectors. The vanes can flex cooperatively into parallel "S" shapes, allowing the connectors to move transversely with respect to each other. The cable can be made from different normally-planar materials such as flexible circuit boards, or "flex circuits," or ribbon cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing digital chronometers is provided in a distributed digital system having a number of nodes and a global clock for generating clock pulses. A subset of those nodes is coupled to a corresponding synchronizer while other nodes with chronometers are coupled to other synchronizers. Each synchronizer is coupled to at least one other synchronizer and receives clock pulses from the global clock and includes a counter holding a count. A sync signal is propagated in a forward direction from a first synchronizer to a last synchronizer through a chain of synchronizers. The sync signal is received and thereafter the synchronizer count is incremented at each received clock pulse. At the last synchronizer, the asserted sync signal is propagated back as an echo signal in a reverse direction from the last synchronizer to the first synchronizer through the chain of synchronizers. After receipt of the echo signal at a synchronizer, the synchronizer count is halted.

Abstract: A parallel processing computer system having an improved architecture for communication of information between nodes. The computer system of the present invention comprises at least three nodes; each of the three nodes for processing information. Each of the nodes comprises a routing means for routing information between nodes. The routing means allow reservation of a route through the network of nodes. Messages may then be transmitted from an origin node to a destination node over the reserved route. Use of a route reservation system reduces requirements for buffering of information at intermediate nodes on a route, improves message passing latency and increases node-to-node bandwidth. The present invention teaches communication of messages between nodes in a synchronous manner.

Abstract: A parallel processing computer system having an improved architecture for communication of information between nodes. The computer system of the present invention comprises at least three nodes; each of the three nodes for processing information. Each of the nodes comprises a routing means for routing information between nodes. The routing means allow reservation of a route through the network of nodes. Messages may then be transmitted from an origin node to a destination node over the reserved route. Use of a route reservation system reduces requirements for buffering of information at intermediate nodes on a route, improves message passing latency and increases node-to-node bandwidth. The present invention teaches communication of messages between nodes in a synchronous manner.

Abstract: The present invention finds application in the field of multi-computers, and more particularly to the collection of data from nodes in a multi-computer system. The multi-computer includes a number of nodes for performing computing and data transfer functions, each node communicating with one or more other nodes in the multi-computer through a message routing network. Each node includes a measurement device for measuring predetermined events occurring within each node. The system includes a concentrator bus for communicating measurement data packets produced by the measurement device, and a concentrator node for outputting a multiplexed serial sequence of the measurement data packets in response to a parallel asynchronous input of the measurement data packets received over the concentrator bus from the nodes. The multiplexed serial sequence of measurement data packets is communicated over a collection bus to a collection node that demultiplexes and processes the measurement data packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for encoding data in the context of a digital system for communicating binary information, including code words, over a communications channel. The information communicated over the channel is synchronized by a system clock producing a plurality of system clock pulses having edges associated with the binary information, where a change in the bit pattern between a bit and a prior adjacent bit represents a transition having a direction. The present invention encodes data words of n-bits each into a plurality of code words of m-bits each by selecting from the set of m-bit binary numbers those binary numbers in which each bit either experiences a transition in the same direction as the system clock edge associated with that bit or experiences no transition from a prior adjacent bit to that bit. Each of the selected binary numbers is a code word. Each data word is preferably associated with a code word.

Abstract: An adaptive routing means and method useful for transferring messages on a number of multi-dimensional network topologies that connect distributed multi-processing systems. A plurality of processing nodes comprising processing means for processing information and router means for routing messages are connected in a multi-dimensional network (A) with an identical or redundant message passing multi-dimensional network (B) of routers being connected to network A. Each router comprises four types of channels for message passing: 1) a channel to transfer information between a router and a processor coupled to the router, 2) a channel to transfer information in an X direction, 3) a channel for the Y direction, and 4) a channel for the Z direction. This connectivity allows messages to pass between nodes within network A, between routers within network B, or between network A and network B by passing through a router.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system includes a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, a host computer, and a library storage module storing the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in substantially upright positions. The library storage module includes a first cylindrical array of storage cells centered about a vertical axis, a second cylindrical array concentrically arranged about the first array, and a library tape unit including a plurality of tape drives, each of the tape drives being adapted to receive one of the magnetic tape cartridges in a substantially horizontal transducing position. A robot within the library storage module is used to transfer selected ones of the magnetic tape cartridges between their substantially upright positions and the substantially horizontal transducing positions at a selected tape drive.

Abstract: An electronic system is disclosed that is particularly useful for synchronizing motion picture and sound recordings. The system includes a sensor that is positioned contiguous to a movie camera during filming and contiguous to a movie projector during film playback to sense a characteristic indicative of film movement and, responsive thereto, producing an electrical output signal. During filming, a sensor, such as a microphone or induction coil, may be positioned contiguous to the movie camera such as by placing the sensor in a cylinder screwed into a camera tripod socket. During playback, the sensor, such as a light sensor, may be positioned to sense light bursts of a running movie projector. A control unit receives the electrical output signal from the sensor and utilizes the same in controlling operation of an associated tape recorder.