1. A multiprocessor system, comprising:
a plurality of sub-processors operatively coupled to one another over a ring bus, whereby data may be transmitted over one or more paths on the ring bus between pairs of the sub-processors; and
a plurality of programmable delay circuits, each associated with at least one of the sub-processors, and each being operable to alter a delay of data transfer at least one of into and out of its associated sub-processor in order to alter one or more latencies associated with the paths on the ring bus between pairs of the sub-processors.
2. The multiprocessor system of claim 1, wherein each delay circuit alters the delay into or out of its associated sub-processor such that a pattern of latencies between pairs of sub-processors is the same irrespective of a location of a disabled sub-processor.
3. The multiprocessor system of claim 2, wherein the delays of the delay circuits define a delay pattern.
4. The multiprocessor system of claim 3, wherein the delay pattern is different depending on the location of the disabled sub-processor.
5. The multiprocessor system of claim 1, wherein the ring bus includes at least one path segment between each pair of sub-processors, and each path segment exhibits a latency associated with the transmittal of data thereover.
6. The multiprocessor system of claim 5, wherein each of the latencies associated with the paths on the ring bus between pairs of the sub-processors is defined by respective aggregates of one or more of the latencies associated with the at least one path segment.
7. The multiprocessor system of claim 1, wherein the ring bus is bi-directional such that the paths run clockwise and counterclockwise.
8. A method, comprising:
providing a plurality of sub-processors operatively coupled to one another over a ring bus, whereby data may be transmitted over one or more paths on the ring bus between pairs of the sub-processors; and
altering a delay of data transfer at least one of into and out of one or more of the sub-processors in order to alter one or more latencies associated with the paths on the ring bus between pairs of the sub-processors.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein altering the delays are such that a pattern of latencies between pairs of sub-processors is the same irrespective of a location of a disabled sub-processor.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the delays of the delay circuits define a delay pattern.
11. The method of claim 3, wherein the delay pattern is different depending on the location of the disabled sub-processor.
12. A method, comprising:
defining a first pattern of latencies between respective pairs of enabled sub-processors coupled together over a ring bus including latencies past at least one disabled sub-processor in a first position on the ring bus;
defining a second pattern of latencies between respective pairs of enabled sub-processors coupled together over the ring bus including latencies past the at least one disabled sub-processor in a second position on the ring bus;
defining at least one further pattern of latencies for at least one further location of the at least one disabled sub-processor; and
determining a respective delay pattern for each of the patterns of latencies, whereby each delay pattern represents adding delays in data transfer at least one of into and out of one or more of the sub-processors such that the delay pattern facilitates an altered pattern of latencies between pairs of sub-processors and wherein the altered pattern of latencies is the same irrespective of the location of the at least one disabled sub-processor.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the steps of defining the patterns of latencies between respective pairs of enabled sub-processors includes aggregating latencies of respective path segments between adjacent sub-processors disposed between the respective pairs of sub-processors.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising defining the patterns of latencies in one or more clockwise directions about the ring bus.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising defining the patterns of latencies in one or more counterclockwise directions about the ring bus.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a maximum latency between a pair of sub-processors with N enabled sub-processors therebetween.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
comparing the maximum latency with the determined latencies between other pairs of sub-processors with N enabled sub-processors therebetween; and
computing a portion of the delay pattern such that adding delays in data transfer at least one of into and out of at least some of the other pairs of sub-processors with N enabled sub-processors therebetween would result in latencies between such pairs of sub-processors substantially equal to the maximum latency.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising performing the comparing and computing steps for an integer number of N, where N=0, 1, . . . M\u22121, where M is a total number of enabled sub-processors.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising performing the comparing and computing steps for at least one of clockwise directions about the ring bus, and counterclockwise directions about the ring bus.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of determining a respective delay pattern includes: determining a respective delay pattern for each of the patterns of latencies in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions about the ring bus.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method for delivering content to be locked in a user device, comprising:
receiving a content selection;
receiving a device identifier operable to identify a specified user device;
generating a lock message based on the content selection; and
sending the lock message to the user device identified by the device identifier.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a locking option selection and generating a lock message further comprising generating the lock message based on the locking option selection.
3. The method of claim 2, the lock message comprising content data based on the content selection and a locking requirement based on the locking option selection.
4. The method of claim 1, generating a lock message further comprising generating the lock message based on at least one locking option available for selection.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of content identifiers, each content identifier operable to identify a content available for selection, the content selection comprising a selection of one of the content identifiers.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of locking options available for selection.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an acceptance from the user device and enabling receipt of a reward for a user of the user device based on the acceptance.
8. A system for delivering content to be locked in a user device, comprising:
a content database operable to store a plurality of contents; and
a delivery server operable to receive a content selection of one of the plurality of contents, to receive a device identifier operable to identify a specified user device, to generate a lock message based on the content selection, and to send the lock message to the user device identified by the device identifier.
9. The system of claim 8, the delivery server further operable to receive a locking option selection and to generate the lock message based on the locking option selection.
10. The system of claim 9, the lock message comprising content data from the content database based on the content selection and a locking requirement based on the locking option selection.
11. The system of claim 8, the delivery server further operable to generate the lock message based on at least one locking option available for selection.
12. The system of claim 8, the delivery server further operable to provide a plurality of content identifiers, each content identifier operable to identify a content in the content database, the content selection comprising a selection of one of the content identifiers.
13. The system of claim 8, the delivery server further operable to provide a plurality of locking options available for selection.
14. The system of claim 8, the delivery server further operable to receive an acceptance from the user device and to enable receipt of a reward for a user of the user device based on the acceptance.
15. A method for locking content in a user device, comprising:
receiving a lock message comprising terms of a locking option and content data;
providing the terms of the locking option to a user;
receiving acceptance of the terms of the locking option from the user;
revising content in the user device based on the content data; and
locking the content in accordance with a locking requirement, the locking requirement based on the terms of the locking option.
16. The method of claim 15, the locking requirement comprising a specified period of time.
17. The method of claim 15, the locking requirement comprising a specified amount of usage time for the user device.
18. The method of claim 15, the locking requirement comprising a specified number of usages of the content.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending an acceptance notification to a delivery server.
20. The method of claim 15, further comprising unlocking the content after the locking requirement has been met.