Vector computations on an orthogonal memory access multiprocessing system

Abstract

An Orthogonal Memory Access system allows a multiplicity of processors to concurrently access distinct rows or columns of a rectangular array of data elements. The resulting tightly-coupled multi-processing system is feasible with current technology and has even been suggested for VLSI as a “reduced mesh”. In this paper we introduce the architecture and concentrate on its application to a number of basic vector and numerical computations. Matrix multiplication, L-U decomposition, polynomial evaluation and solutions to linear systems and partial differential equations, all show a speed-up of 0(n) for a n-processor system. The flexibility in the choice of the number of PEs makes the architecture a strong competitor in the world of special-purpose parallel systems. Actually, we prove that the machine exhibits the same performance as any other system with the same number of processors within a factor of 3.