Abstract: Methods and apparatus for arbitration and access to hardware request ring structures in a concurrent environment. A request ring mechanism is provided including an arbiter, ring overflow guard, request ring, and request ring metadata, each of which is implemented in shared virtual memory (SVM) on a computing platform including a multi-core processor coupled to an offload device having one or more SVM-capable accelerators. Worker threads request to access the request ring to provide job descriptors to be processed by the accelerator(s). A lockless arbiter returns either an index of a slot in which to write a descriptor or information indicating the ring is full to each worker thread. The scheme enables worker threads to write descriptors to slots in the request ring corresponding to the returned indexes without contention from other worker threads. The ring overflow guard prevents valid descriptors from being overwritten before they are taken off the ring by the accelerator(s).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for arbitration and access to hardware request ring structures in a concurrent environment. A request ring mechanism is provided including an arbiter, ring overflow guard, request ring, and request ring metadata, each of which is implemented in shared virtual memory (SVM) on a computing platform including a multi-core processor coupled to an offload device having one or more SVM-capable accelerators. Worker threads request to access the request ring to provide job descriptors to be processed by the accelerator(s). A lockless arbiter returns either an index of a slot in which to write a descriptor or information indicating the ring is full to each worker thread. The scheme enables worker threads to write descriptors to slots in the request ring corresponding to the returned indexes without contention from other worker threads. The ring overflow guard prevents valid descriptors from being overwritten before they are taken off the ring by the accelerator(s).

Abstract: A Low Voltage, “LV”, network automation system is provided which enables utilities to remotely identify location of LV faults on their networks, isolate these faults and re-energizing the healthy LV circuit by remote control. The hardware for this system is designed to be retrofitted into existing LV switchgears and panels which enables the network changeover to be done cost effectively and with minimum interruption to the network. The system also enables utilities to monitor load flows on the LV networks and identify circuits which are overloaded and gives control room operator options for redistribution of network load where possible.

Abstract: A Low Voltage, “LV”, network automation system is provided which enables utilities to remotely identify location of LV faults on their networks, isolate these faults and re-energising the healthy LV circuit by remote control. The hardware for this system is designed to be retrofitted into existing LV switchgears and panels which enables the network changeover to be done cost effectively and with minimum interruption to the network. The system also enables utilities to monitor load flows on the LV networks and identify circuits which are overloaded and gives control room operator options for redistribution of network load where possible.