Updating of an earlier primer by Julia Lee and Dr. Chandra Asthagiri based on Dr. Jerry Potter’s work

The MAXDEX (MINDEX) function returns the index of an entry where the maximum (minimum) value of the specified item occurs, among the active responders. This index is also used to retrieve the related fields.

head[mindex(val[$])] = -1; /* get index and use it */

endif;

Before: After; (U = unchanged)

mask[$]		tail[$]	head[$]	val[$]		tail[$]	head[$]	val[$]
1		8	4	100		U	U	U
1		5	3	80		U	U	U
1		7	5	20		U	-1	U
1		6	9	70		U	U	U
0		1	5	10		U	U	U
0		1	4	1		U	U	U

In this example, a minimum value for the VAL parallel values with active responders is the third row. So the contents of the HEAD variable in the third row is changed to -1.

This function returns the number of active responders.

k = count(them[$]); /* get the number –note use of word them*/

end;

tail[$]	mask[$]
5	0
1	1
3	0
1	1
1	1

The NTHVAL function returns the Nth value of an item and NTHDEX returns the index variable of that entry. The smallest is the 1^st .

entry = b[nthdex(a[$],3)]; /* associated entry */

a[$]

5

1

4

1

1

6.8 Inter-Process Communication

The current version of ASC supports a one dimensional CPU, and a two dimensional memory configuration. So a two-dimensional array declaration

int parallel arr[$, 512]

would be mapped onto memory in rows and columns. The inter-column communication is achieved by specifying a variable or constant expression as the second column index.
For example: Adding adjacent columns, element by element in parallel

arr[$,i] + arr[$,i+1]

Inter-row communication is achieved by specifying a variable or constant expression in the first dimension index. A + is a shift down; - is a shift up. For more inter-process communication see Chapter 3 of Associative Computing [8].
6.9 ASC Pronouns and Articles

To be closer to natural language ASC supports the use of associative pronouns and articles. The associative pronouns are THEM, THEIR, and ITS and the associative articles are A and THE.

x = count(them[$]);

endif;
if node[$] .gt. 100 then

if their leftchild[$] .lt. 50 then

. . .

endif;

if their leftchild[$] .lt. 50 then

. . .

endif;

if its leftchild .lt. 50 then

. . .

endif;

THE refers to the last value of a parallel variable which was reduced to a scalar. Suppose aa[xx] is reduced most recently then THE aa may be used as an alternate form of aa[xx]. The indefinite article A refers to the first entry of an association and its used is similar to a get. (Thus, A is a reserved word and that is why variables are named aa[$], not a[$].)

k = node[xx]; k = a node; or

endget xx; k = node[a];
6.10 Dynamic Storage Allocation

ASC provides dynamic storage allocation by the ALLOCATE and the RELEASE statement. When a new association entry is needed, memory is allocated by the ALLOCATE statement. The RELEASE statement returns the cell to idle status. In general, several association entries may be released simultaneously.

statement-block

endallocate index-variable;
release conditional-expression from association-name;
For example: allocate xx in t[$]

aa[xx] = 100;

endallocate xx;

release aa[$] .eq. 100 from t[$];

ASC’s performance monitor calculates the number of scalar and the number of parallel operations performed during a run. Any of the combinations parallel-parallel, scalar-parallel, or parallel-scalar are counted as parallel operations. The monitor can be turned on and off anywhere in the program with the following statements:

MSG “parallel count “ PA_PERFORM;

main try1

int scalar k;

int parallel aa[$], b[$], used[$];

index parallel xx[$];

logical parallel lg[$];

read aa[$], b[$] in lg[$];

PERFORM = 1; /* monitor on */

if aa[$] .eq. b[$] then

aa[$] = b[$] -5;

endif;
k = k + 1;

endwhile xx;
PERFORM = 0; /* monitor off*/

MSG “scalar count :” SC_PERFORM;

MSG “parallel count :” PA_PERFORM;

print aa[$], b[$] in lg[$];

end;
6.12 ASC Recursion: The STACKWHILE-RECURSE Construct

ASC does not support recursion. However, the STACKWHILE-RECURSE construct is useful when layers of nesting of logical parallel expressions are needed. A recursive while construct allows nesting to a level as deep as the data requires and the internal stack will allow. Moreover, the compactness of the recursive form greatly reduces the amount of repetitious programming effort. For more explanation about this construct see Chapter 5 [8].

Complex searching addresses searching techniques needed to accommodate rule-based pattern matching. A matching rule can be expressed in an associative parallel form using ASC ANDIF and ANDFOR statements. The nested ANDIF and ANDFOR constructs can be envisioned as tree searches to a fixed depth, with different search and action specification at every level.

body

body

Unfortunately, this is not implemented. But this normally doesn’t seem to be a problem.

[2] Hioe, K.H., ASPROL (Associative Programming Language), Master’s Thesis, Kent State University, August, 1986.

[3] Lee, J.J., The Design and Implementation of Parallel SIMD Algorithms for the Traveling Salesperson Problem, Master’s Thesis, Kent State University, December 1989.

[4] Michalakes, John, ASP-VMS Handbook, Kent State University.

[5] Marowka, Ami, Back to Thin-Core Massively Parallel Processors, IEEE Computer, December 2011, pp 49-54.

[6] Potter, J.L. (1985) The Massively Parallel Processor, MIT Press.

[7] Potter, J.L. (1987) “An Associative Model of Computation”, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Supercomputing, Volume III May 4-7, 1987, pp 1-8.

[8] Potter, J.L. (1992) “Associative Computing”, Plenum Publishing Inc. New York.

[9] Price, Jonathan (1984) How to Write a Computer Manual, The Benjamin/Cummins Publishing Company Inc.

[10] STARAN-E Reference Manual, Ger – 16422, Goodyear Aerospace Corp., November 1977.

1. 
   Nael B. Abu-Ghazaleh, Philip A. Wilsey, Jerry Potter, Robert Walker, and Johnnie Baker, "Flexible Parallel Processing in Memory: Architecture + Programming Model ", Proc. of the Third Petaflop Workshop, held in conjunction with Frontiers on Massively Parallel Computing, presented at Annapolis, MD, February 1999.
   
2. 
   Maher M. Atwah and Johnnie W. Baker, "An Associative Dynamic Convex Hull Algorithm", Proc. of the Tenth IASTED International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems, pages 250-254, presented at Las Vegas, NV, October 1998.
   
3. 
   Maher M. Atwah and Johnnie W. Baker "An Associative Static and Dynamic Convex Hull Algorithm", Proc. of the 16th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IEEE Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing), abstract on page 249, full text on CDROM, presented Ft. Lauderdale, FL, April 2002.
   
4. 
   Maher M. Atwah and Johnnie W. Baker, "An Associative Implementation of a Parallel Convex Hull Algorithm", Proc. of the 15th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IEEE Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing), full text on CDROM, presented San Francisco, CA, April 2001.
   
5. 
   Maher Atwah, Johnnie Baker, and Selim Akl, An Associative Implementation of Classical Convex Hull Algorithms, Proceedings of the IASTED International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems, 1996, 435-438.
   
6. 
   Maher M. Atwah, Johnnie W. Baker, and Selim Akl, "An Associative Implementation of Graham's Convex Hull Algorithm", Proc. of the Seventh IASTED International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems, pages 273-276, presented at George Mason University, October 1995.
   
7. 
   Johnnie Baker and Mingxian Jin, Simulation of Enhanced Meshes with MASC, a MSIMD Model, Proc. of the Eleventh IASTED International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems, Nov. 1999, 511-516.
   
8. 
   Johnnie W. Baker and Mingxian Jin, "Simulations Between Enhanced Meshes and the Multiple Associative Computing (MASC) Model", Proc. of the 1999 Midwest Workshop on Parallel Processing (MWPP'99), presented at Kent, OH, August 1999.
   
9. 
   Johnnie W. Baker and Andrew Miller, "A Parallel Production System Extending OPS5", Proceedings of the 3rd Symposium on the Frontiers of Massively Parallel Computation, edited by Joseph JaJa, pages 110-118, paper presented at The University of Maryland at College Park, October, 1990.
   
10. 
    Wittaya Chantamas, Johnnie Baker, and Michael Scherger, "An Extension of the ASC Language Compiler to Support Multiple Instruction Streams in the MASC Model using the Manager-Worker Paradigm,", Proc. of the 2006 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing Techniques and Applications (PDPTA 2006), 7 pages in proceedings CD, June 2006.
    
11. 
    Wittaya Chantamas and Johnnie Baker, "A Multiple Associative Model to Support Branches in Data Parallel Applications using the Manager-Worker Paradigm", Proc. of the 19th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IEEE WMPP Workshop), 8 pages, April 2005.
    
12. 
    Paul Durand, Rohit Pasari, Johnnie W. Baker, and Chun-che Tsai, "An Efficient Algorithm for Similarity Analysis of Molecules", Internet Journal of Chemistry (IJC), Vol. 2, Article 17, 16 pages,, Online by subscription at http://www.ijc.com/article/1999v2/17/. Unofficial copy at http://www.cs.kent.edu/~jbaker/paper, 1999.
    
13. 
    Mary Esenwein and Johnnie W. Baker, "VLCD String Matching for Associative Computing and Multiple Broadcast Mesh", Proc. of the IASTED International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems, pages 69-74, presented at George Washington University, October, 1997.
    
14. 
    Mingxian Jin and Johnnie W. Baker "Two Graph Algorithms on an Associative Computing Model", 2007 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing Techniques and Applications (PDPTA'07), Las Vegas, 7 pages, June 25-28, 2007.
    
15. 
    Mingxian Jin, Johnnie Baker, and Kenneth Batcher, Timings for Associative Operations on the MASC Model, Proc. of the 15th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing, San Francisco, April 2001.
    
16. 
    Mingxian Jin, Johnnie W. Baker, and Will C. Meilander, "The Power of SIMDs vs. MIMDs in Real-Time Scheduling", , in Proc. of the 16th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IEEE Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing), abstract on page 248, full text on CDROM, presented Ft. Lauderdale, FL, April 2002.
    
17. 
    Will C. Meilander and Johnnie W. Baker, "ATC Architecture Computers -Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow", 43rd Annual Air Traffic Control Association Fall Conference Proceedings, pages 91-95, 1998.
    
18. 
    Will Meilander, Johnnie Baker, and Mingxian Jin, "Importance of SIMD Computation Reconsidered", Proc. of the 17th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IEEE Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing), abstract on page 266, full text on CDROM , presented at Nice, France, April 2003.
    
19. 
    Will Meilander, Johnnie Baker, and Mingxian Jin, "Predictable Real-Time Scheduling for Air Traffic Control", Proc. of the 15th International Conference of Systems Engineering, pages 533-539, presented at Las Vegas, NV, August 2002.
    
20. 
    Will C. Meilander, Mingxian Jin, and Johnnie W. Baker, "Tractable Real-Time Air Traffic Control Automation", Proc. of the 14th IASTED International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Systems, pg 483-488, Cambridge, MA, November 2002.
    
21. 
    Will C. Meilander, Johnnie W. Baker, and Jerry Potter, "Predictability for Real-Time Command and Control", Proc. of the 15th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IEEE Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing), abstract on page 194, full text on CDROM, presented San Francisco, CA, April 2001.
    
22. 
    Will C. Meilander, Jerry L. Potter, Kathy J. Liszka, and Johnnie W. Baker, "Real-Time Scheduling in Command and Control", in Proc. of the 1999 Midwest Workshop on Parallel Processing, (MWPP'99), presented at Kent, OH, August 1999.
    
23. 
    Mark Merry and Johnnie W. Baker, "A Constant Time Algorithm for Computing the Hough Transform on a Reconfigurable Mesh", Image and Vision Computing Journal, vol. 14, 1996, pages 35-37, 1996
    
24. 
    Mark S. Merry and Johnnie W. Baker, "A Constant Time Sorting Algorithm for a Three-Dimensional Mesh and Reconfigurable Network, Parallel Processing Letters, 5(3), pages 401-412, 1995.
    
25. 
    Mark S. Merry and Johnnie W. Baker "A Constant Time Algorithm for the Channel Assignment Problem Using the Reconfigurable Mesh", in Journal of Parallel Algorithms and Applications, Vol 6, pages 259-271, 1995.
    
26. 
    Yi Pan , Selim Akl, and Johnnie W. Baker, Co-editors, "Computing on Bus-Based Architectures", Parallel Processing Letters, Special issue, 8(2), 1998.
    
27. 
    Jerry Potter, Johnnie Baker, Stephen Scott, Arvind Bansal, Chokchai Leangsuksun, and Chandra Asthagiri, An Associative Computing Paradigm, Special Issue on Associative Processing, IEEE Computer, 27(11):19-25, Nov. 1994.
    
28. 
    Jerry Potter, Johnnie Baker, Stephen Scott, Arvind Bansal, Chokchai Leangsuksun, and Chandra Asthagiri, "ASC: An Associative Computing Paradigm, Associative Processing and Processors", Associative Processing and Processors, editors: A. Krikelei and C.C.Weems, IEEE Computer Society Press, pages 188-194, 1997.
    
29. 
    Stewart Reddaway, Will Meilander, Johnnie Baker, and Justin Kidman, "Overview of Air Traffic Control Using an SIMD COTS System", International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, 9 pages, Published on CD, April 2005.
    
30. 
    Michael Scherger, Johnnie Baker, and Jerry Potter, "Multiple Instruction Stream Control for an Associative Model of Parallel Computation", Proc. of the 17th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IEEE Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing), abstract on page 266, full text on CDROM, presented at Nice, France, April 2003.
    
31. 
    Michael Scherger, Johnnie Baker, and Jerry Potter, "An Object Oriented Framework for and Associative Model of Parallel Computation", Proc. of the 17th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (Workshop in Advances in Parallel and Distributed Computational Models), abstract on page 166 , full text on CDROM, presented at Nice, France, April 2003.
    
32. 
    Michael Scherger, Jerry Potter, and Johnnie W. Baker, "On Using the UML to Describe the BSP Model of Parallel Computation", in Proc. of the 2002 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing Techniques and Applications (PDPTA'2002), volume II, pages 578-583, presented Las Vegas, NV, June 2002.
    
33. 
    Michael Scherger, Jerry Potter, and Johnnie Baker, "On Using UML to Describe the MASC Model of Parallel Computation", Proc. of the 2000 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing Techniques and Applications (PDPTA '2000), volume V, pages 2639-2645, presented Las Vegas, NV, June 2000.
    
34. 
    Stephen Scott and Johnnie W. Baker , "Embedding the Hypercube into the 3-Dimensional Mesh" , Proceedings of the 4th Symposium on the Frontiers of Massively Parallel Computation, Edited by H. J. Siegel, pages 577-8, paper presented at Goddard Space Flight Center in McLean VA, October, 1992.
    
35. 
    Shannon Steinfadt and Johnnie. W. Baker, "SWAMP: Smith-Waterman using Associative Massive Parallelism", IEEE Workshop on Parallel and Distributed Scientific and Engineering Computing, 2008 International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IPDPS) at Miami, 8 pages, published on CD, April 14-18, 2008.
    
36. 
    Shannon Steinfadt, Michael Scherger, and Johnnie W. Baker, "A Local Sequence Alignment Algorithm Using an Associative Model of Parallel Computation", Proc. of IASTED Computational and Systems Biology (CASB 2006), Dallas, pp. 38-43, Nov. 13-14, 2006.
    
37. 
    Jerry Trahan, Mingxian Jin, Wittaya Chantamas, and Johnnie Baker, "Relating the Power of the Multiple Associative Computing Model (MASC) to that of Reconfigurable Bus-Based Models", Journal of Parallel & Distributed Computing 70(2010), pgs 458-466, Elsevier Publishers, Available online at ScienceDirect: www.sciencedirect.com, May, 2010.
    
38. 
    Darrell Ulm and Johnnie W. Baker, Virtual Parallelism by Self Simulation of the Multiple Instruction Stream Associative Model", in Proc. of the International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing Techniques and Applications, pages 1421-1430, presented Sunnyvale, CA, August, 1996.
    
39. 
    Darrell Ulm and Johnnie W. Baker, "Solving a 2D Knapsack Problem on an Associative Computer Augmented with a Linear Network", Proc. of the International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing Techniques and Applications, pages 29-32, presented Sunnyvale, CA, August, 1996.
    
40. 
    Darrell Ulm and Johnnie Baker, "Solving a Two-Dimensional Knapsack Problem on a Mesh with Multiple Buses", Proc. of the International Conference on Parallel Processing, vol. 3, pages 168-171, paper presented in Wisconsin, August, 1995.
    
41. 
    Darrell Ulm and Johnnie Baker, "Simulating PRAM with a MSIMD Model (ASC)", Proc. of the International Conference on Parallel Processing, pages 3-10, presented at Minneapolis, MN, August, 1998
    
42. 
    Darrell Ulm, Johnnie Baker, and Michael Scherger, "Solving a 2D Knapsack Problem Using a Hybrid Data-Parallel/Control-Parallel Style of Computing", Proc of the 18th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, (IEEE Workshop on Massively Parallel Processing), Santa Fe, NM,, May 2004.
    
43. 
    Mike Yuan, Johnnie Baker, Frank Drews, Lev Neiman, and Will Meilander, "An Efficient Associative Processor Solution to an Air Traffic Control Problem", Large Scale Parallel Processing IEEE Workshop at the International Parallel and Distributed Computing Symposium (IPDPS2010), published on IPDPS-2010 CDROM and in the IEEE Digital Library with other IPDPS-2010 publications, 8 pages, April 2010.
    
44. 
    Mike Yuan, Johnnie Baker, Frank Drews, Will Meilander, and Kevin Shaffer, "System Design and Algorithms for an Air Traffic Control Prototype using an Associative Processor with Timings and Comparisons", IEEE Transactions of Parallel and Distributed Systems (TPDS), Currently revising to meet reviewers' requests
    
45. 
    Mike Yuan, Johnnie Baker, Frank Drews, Lev Neiman, and Will Meilander, Scalable and Efficient Associative Processor Solution to Guarantee Real-Time Requirements for Air Traffic Control Systems, Large Scale Parallel Processing IEEE Workshop at the International Parallel and Distributed Computing Symposium (IPDPS2011), published on IPDPS-2011 CDROM and in the IEEE Digital Library with other IPDPS-2011 publications, 8 pages,