Parallel Processing of Recursive Functions.
Franklin Burkhead · Calhoun: The Naval Postgraduate School Institutional Archive (Naval Postgraduate School) · 1977
Algorithms defined as recursive functions, such as in pure LISP, are shown to have structure sufficient to distinguish between processes which must be executed in sequence and processes which may be executed in parallel. An interpreter program is presented for executing LISP programs and simultaneously computing the number of processors needed at each step of program execution in order to achieve optimum parallel processing. Sample program runs are presented to show speed-up ratios between strictly sequential and optimally parallel executions. A possible hardware organization for a parallel processing system derived from the interpreter program is presented. (Author)