1. An apparatus for parallel processing of a large computing requirement, the apparatus comprising:
a) a central processing unit (\u201cCPU\u201d);
b) a task pool in electronic communication with the CPU; and
c) a first solidarity cell in electronic communication with the task pool, the first solidarity cell comprising a first agent configured to proactively retrieve, from the task pool, a matching task for the solidarity cell to process.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the CPU populates the task pool.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the CPU populates the task pool by dividing the requirement into one or more threads and placing the threads in the task pool, each thread comprising one or more tasks, and the matching task being one of the tasks.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the task pool notifies the CPU when the tasks of a thread are completed.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the tasks each comprise a task type selected from a set of task types, and wherein the first solidarity cell is configured to perform tasks of one or more of the task types.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the matching task is a task that is ready to be processed and has a task type that the first solidarity cell can perform.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first agent retrieves the matching task by:
a) searching the task pool for a task that is ready to be processed and has a task type that the first solidarity cell can perform; and
b) identifying the matching task.
8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each task comprises a descriptor, the descriptor containing at least:
a) a function to be executed; and
b) a memory location of data upon which the function is to be executed.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the matching task is a task that is ready to be processed and the function of the matching task can be performed by the first solidarity cell.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first agent retrieves the matching task by searching the task pool for a task that is ready to be processed and has a function that the first solidarity cell can perform, and identifying the matching task.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the descriptor further contains a memory location where processed data is to be stored.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the descriptor is a data structure and the task contains a reference to the memory location of the descriptor.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first agent is a data frame comprising:
a) a source address;
b) a destination address; and
c) a payload.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first agent retrieves the matching task by:
a) being dispatched by the first solidarity cell to the task pool, during which the source address is the first solidarity cell’s address, the destination address is the task pool’s address, and the payload comprises a list of functions the first solidarity cell is configured to perform;
b) searching the task pool for a task that is ready to be processed and has a function that the first solidarity cell can perform; and
c) returning to the first solidarity cell, during which the source address is the task pool’s address, the destination address is the first solidarity cell’s address, and the payload comprises the descriptor of the matching task.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the task pool occupies a region of physical memory.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the task pool is disposed in a hardware block dedicated to the task pool.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second solidarity cell comprising a second agent that proactively retrieves matching tasks from the task pool for the second solidarity cell to process, wherein the matching task for each solidarity cell is a task in the task pool that is ready to be processed and can be performed by the solidarity cell.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each solidarity cell sends its agent to the task pool when the solidarity cell does not have a matching task to process.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each agent comprises a source address, a destination address, and a payload, and wherein each agent retrieves a matching task by:
a) being dispatched by its solidarity cell to the task pool, during which the source address is its solidarity cell’s address, the destination address is the task pool’s address, and the payload comprises a list of functions the agent’s solidarity cell is configured to perform;
b) searching the task pool for a task that is ready to be processed and has a function that the agent’s solidarity cell can perform; and
c) returning to its solidarity cell, during which the source address is the task pool’s address, the destination address is the agent’s solidarity cell’s address, and the payload comprises a descriptor of the matching task.
20. An apparatus for parallel processing of a large computing requirement, the apparatus comprising:
a) a central processing unit (\u201cCPU\u201d);
b) a switching fabric in electronic communication with the CPU;
c) one or more memory units in electronic communication with the switching fabric;
d) a task pool in electronic communication with the switching fabric and configured to receive, from the CPU, and prioritize threads to be processed, the threads comprising one or more tasks; and
e) a plurality of solidarity cells in wireless electronic communication with the switching fabric, each solidarity cell comprising an agent configured to retrieve, from the task pool, a task that matches the solidarity cell’s capabilities when the solidarity cell has no processing to perform;
wherein one or more of the solidarity cells further comprises a special-purpose coprocessor.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. In a trailer having an elongated bottom supported on a frame which is in turn supported on a plurality of wheels for transit over a roadway, the improvement comprising:
a. a ramp, pivotally connected to said frame at one end thereof and selectively movable between a stowed position atop said frame and substantially flush with said bottom and an extended position extending downwardly and outwardly from said frame and substantially aligned with a portion of said bottom;
b. a stand, pivotally connected to said frame beneath said portion of said bottom for concomitant motion with said ramp between a stowed position and an extended position;
c. a hydraulic actuator mounted to said frame and extending there along, operably connected between a source of hydraulic pressure and said ramp and stand, for urging said ramp and stand to said selected positions, wherein said hydraulic actuator extends longitudinally of said frame and said ramp pivots about and axis transverse of said frame, said actuator having affixed there to an actuator rod selectively extending below said axis; a link member pivotally connected at one end to said actuator rod for pivotal motion about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to transverse axis and pivotally connected and a second end thereof to said ramp for pivotal motion about a third axis parallel to said transverse axis, said link member being perpendicular to and intersecting said transverse axis with said ramp is in said stowed position and offset from said transverse axis with said ramp in its extended position.
2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 further comprising a bearing member mounted to said frame intermediate said actuator rod and said ramp and aligned with said link member such
that said link member bears against said bearing member when said ramp is in said stowed position.
3. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein retraction of said actuator rod urges said link against said bearing member providing a sliding leverage seat for forcing said ramp to pivot upward about said transverse axis to an intermediate upright position, whereupon further retraction of said rod urges said ramp from said upright position to said extended position.
4. The improvement as defined in claim 1 further comprising a secondary actuator rod mounted parallel to said actuator and connected at one end to said stand for urging said stand between said stowed position and said extended position.
5. The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said secondary actuator rod is connected to a spring biasing said stand toward said stowed position such that longitudinal movement of said actuator rod will cause said stand to move between said stowed position to said extended position such that said stand and said ramp move concomitantly.
6. In a trailer having an elongated bottom supported on a frame which is in turn supported on a plurality of wheels for transit over a roadway, the improvement comprising:
a. a ramp, pivotally connected to said frame at one end thereof and selectively movable between a stowed position atop said frame and substantially flush with said bottom and an extended position extending downwardly and outwardly from said frame and substantially aligned with a portion of said bottom; and,
b. a hydraulic actuator mounted to said frame and extending there along, operably connected between a source of hydraulic pressure and said ramp and stand, for urging said ramp and stand to said selected positions wherein said hydraulic actuator extends longitudinally of said frame and said ramp pivots about and axis transverse of said frame, said actuator having affixed there to an actuator rod selectively extending below said axis; a link member pivotally connected at one end to said actuator rod for pivotal motion about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to transverse axis and pivotally connected and a second end thereof to said ramp for pivotal motion about a third axis parallel to said transverse axis, said link member being perpendicular to and intersecting said transverse axis with said ramp is in said stowed position and offset from said transverse axis with said ramp in its extended position.
7. The improvement as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a stand, pivotally connected to said frame beneath said portion of said bottom for concomitant motion with said ramp between a stowed position and an extended position.
8. The improvement as defined in claim 7 further comprising a secondary actuator rod mounted parallel to said actuator and connected at one end to said stand for urging said stand between said stowed position and said extended position.