Data-driven multicomputers in digital signal processing

New technologies of integration allow the design of powerful systems which may include several thousands of elementary processors. These multiprocessors may be used for a range of applications in signal and data processing. However, assuring the proper interaction of a large number of processors and the ultimate safe execution of the user programs presents a crucial scheduling problem. The scheduling of operations upon the availability of their operands has been termed the data-driven mode of execution and offers an elegant solution to the issue. This approach is described in this paper and several architectures which have been proposed or implemented (systolic arrays, data-flow machines, etc.) are examined in detail. The problems associated with data-driven execution are also studied. A multi-level approach to high-speed digital signal processing is then evaluated.