Heirarchical microprocessor organization
David R. Smith · ACM SIGIR Forum · 1976
With the widespread application of microprocessors and the consequent decrease in prices with volume, the possibility has arisen that it may be cost effective to replace large computers with networks of microcomputers in many applications. That this is an obvious idea whose time has come may be adjudged from the quantity of scientific papers read on the subject during 1975. A small apology for adding to their number should be prefaced with the assurance that this is written after a reading of many of them and that it is at least not the same. So saying, we choose to start with a discussion of alternative multiprocessor organizations as they compare for the stated purpose, that is, a potentially large number of microprocessors co-coperating on a single high performance application.