A real time environment for the Associative String Processor in second level trigger applications

High-energy physics experiments will require sophisticated trigger systems in which massively parallel processing structures such as the Aspex Associative String Processor (ASP) could take an important part. For such systems, ultimate real-time performance may be achieved in a matched network of high-performance (computation and communication oriented) conventional processors, using ASPs for data searching and filtering. Requirements and specifications for an ASP Embedded Node (ASPEN) are defined, and the application of a prototype ASPEN architecture to medium-term trigger applications is reviewed. Larger applications which could integrate such nodes for local and/or global data processing, are presented