Bi-directional communication in a parallel processing environment

Abstract

A system receives an instruction from a technical computing environment, and commences parallel processing on behalf of the technical computing environment based on the received instruction. The system also sends a query, related to the parallel processing, to the technical computing environment, receives an answer associated with the query from the technical computing environment, and generates a result based on the parallel processing. The system further sends the result to the technical computing environment, where the result is used by the technical computing environment to perform an operation.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 706,805, filed Feb. 14, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND INFORMATION[0002]Certain computations may benefit from parallel processing. For example, a complex simulation may run faster when the simulation is divided into portions and the portions are simultaneously run on a number of processing devices in a parallel fashion. Parallel computing arrangements may include a controller that determines how an application should be divided and what application portions go to which parallel processors. For example, a host computer that is running the simulation may act as the controller for a number of parallel processors.[0003]Parallel processors may receive instructions and / or data from the controller and may return a result to the controller. Conventional parallel processing environments may allow parallel processors to send only certain types of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]According to another aspect, a system may include one or more devices to receive an instruction from a technical computing environment, and commence parallel processing on behalf of the technical computing environment based on the received instruction. The one or more devices may also send a query, related to the parallel processing, to the technical computing environment, receive an answer associated with the query from the technical computing environment, and send the instruction and the answer to two or more processors. The one or more devices may further perform the parallel processing with the two or more processors, generate a result based on the parallel processing, the received instruction, and the received answer, and send the result to the technical computing environment, the result being used by the technical computing environment to perform an operation.

Problems solved by technology

More complex types of communications, such as a request for additional resources, requests for additional information, requests for code, etc., may not be able to originate from a parallel processor in conventional parallel processing environments.

Conventional parallel processing environments may not be able to perform certain types of processing efficiently due to the limited types of messages that can be exchanged between the parallel processor and the controller.

For example, a parallel processor may not be able to inform a controller that its configuration is different from a configuration that the controller assumes is present on the parallel processor (e.g., when the controller assumes that a parallel processor is running a first type of operating system when the parallel processor is actually running a second type of operating system that differs from the first type of operating system).

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