This paper describes a class of partitioning networks, called banyans, whose cost function grows more slowly than that of the crossbar and whose fan-out requirements are independent of network size. Such networks can economically partition the resources of large modular systems into a wide variety of subsystems. Any possible partition can be realized by paralleling several networks or by multiplexing a single network in a manner to be described later. Results will be given indicating that a cost/performance advantage over the crossbar can be obtained for large systems and that the crossbar can, in fact, be considered a non-optimal special case of a banyan network. Inherent fail-soft capability and the existence of rapid control algorithms which can be largely performed by distributed logic within the network are also important attributes of banyans.
This paper presents fundamental properties and preliminary simulation results of banyan partitioning networks. A more detailed treatment, including proofs of theoretical properties, is reserved for reference (5).
Since conventional computers are straining to handle the increased size and sophistication of non-numeric processing (data management, information retrieval, artificial intelligence), a new class of non-numeric architectures is evolving. The segment sequential architecture is one of these. Further development of this architecture requires new techniques for multiple cell operation and intercell communication to handle control and search operations. This paper describes such techniques for instruction fetching, operand recall, string, set and tree context searching, and pointer transfer. It is expected that combinations of these techniques will appear in future architectures that are needed for non-numeric processing.
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