WASP: a WSI associative string processor

The WSI associative string processor (WASP), a massively parallel processor, implemented as a system-on-silicon, is discussed. The WASP is organized as a string of simple content-addressable associative processing elements (APEs), which achieves particularly high APE packing density and incorporates a highly flexible and compact inter-APE communications network on silicon. At the VLSI level the associative string processor architecture is already finding wide acceptance in a variety of applications areas. The integration of this architecture with the potential of wafer-scale integration (WSI) promises further significant decreases in size and weight production cost, and power dissipation, combined with improvements in performance and reliability. The WASP architecture and microelectronic implementation are described. The evolution of the WASP research program, the current WASP demonstrators, and the potential characteristics of a realistic WASP system are summarized