System-level Integration of Optics into Multiprocessor Interconnect Architecture

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

9411587 Pinkston Communication complexity and latency is a critical problem in multiprocessor systems. A major portion of communication latency is associated with the interconnect network. Optics has many advantages for achieving low latency, scalable interprocessor communication. Recently, many optical interconnects have been designed; however, little regard for system-level influences on the interconnect architecture were taken into account in these designs. The proposed research is to investigate an integrated design solution for low latency multiprocessor communication. Program behavior, architecture, and optical technology considerations are factored into the overall interconnect design. This will lead to a design capable of increased network throughput and optimal processor-memory connectivity. Engineering design principles will be developed for applying high bandwidth, reconfigurable optical interconnects to electronic digital multiprocessor systems. An optical interconnect strategy that incorporates latency reduction and hiding techniques will be developed. An interconnect simulator will be written to assist in the design and performance evaluation efforts. A small scale optical interconnect demonstrator unit will be built to show feasibility. Hence, an outgrowth of this research is an optical design framework (design methodology, simulation tools and prototype) that will build infrastructure and allow for empirical evaluation of a large design space. ***