Multithreaded Processor Architecture for Parallel Symbolic Computation

摘要

This paper describes the Multilisp Architecture for Symbolic Applications (MASA), which is a multithreaded processor architecture for parallel symbolic computation with various features intended for effective Multilisp program execution. The principal mechanisms exploited for this processor are multiple contexts, interleaved pipeline execution from separate instruction streams, and synchronization based on a bit in each memory cell. The tagged architecture approach is taken for Lisp program execution and trap conditions are provided for future object manipulation and garbage collection. Keywords include: Futures, multithreaded architecture, parallel computing, and tagged architecture.