RAP. 2 - an Associative Processor for data bases

ABSTRACT

RAP - a Relational Associative Processor - is a back-end or peripheral device to augment a general purpose computer for implementing a data base management system (DBMS). Its architecture is based on the fact that data base operations are inherently set-oriented and that data base addressing is best accomplished through associative reference to achieve high data independence. RAP utilizes these characteristics by combining the features of associative and array processors. Previous publications on RAP have dealt separately with the details of the first version of its architecture [1,2,3,4] language interface [5,6] and performance evaluation [7,8,9,]. This paper provides details on a recently evolved, faster, and more flexible architecture for RAP.

REFERENCES

• 1: Ozkarahan, E.A., Schuster, S.A. and Smith, K.C., "A Data Base Processor" Technical Report CSRG-43, Computer Systems Research Group, University of Toronto, September 1974.
• 2: Ozkarahan, E.A., Schuster, S.A. and Smith, K.C., "RAP—An Associative Processor for Data Base Management", Proc. AFIPS NCC, Vol. 44, 1975, pp. 379-387.
• 3: Schuster, S.A., Ozkarahan, E.A., Smith, K.C., "A Virtual Memory System for a Relational Associative Processor", Proc. AFIPS NCC, Vol. 45, 1976, p.p. 855-862.
• 4: Esen A. Ozkarahan, An associative processor for relational data bases--rap. (volumes 1 and 2), 1976
• 5: L. Kerschberg , E. A. Ozkarahan , J. E.S. Pacheco, A Synthetic English query language for a relational associative processor, Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on Software engineering, p.505-519, October 13-15, 1976, San Francisco, California, United States
• 6: Ozkarahan, E.A. and Schuster, S.A., "A High Level Machine-Oriented Assembler Language for a Data Base Machine", Technical Report CSRG-74, Computer Systems Research Group, University of Toronto, October 1976.
• 7: Nakano, R. "A Simulator for a RAP Virtual Memory System", M.S. thesis, University of Toronto, 1976.
• 8: E. A. Ozkarahan , S. A. Schuster , K. C. Sevcik, Performance evaluation of a relational associative processor, ACM Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), v.2 n.2, p.175-195, June 1977 [doi>10.1145/320544.320553]
• 9: E. A. Ozkarahan , K. C. Sevcik, Analysis of aarchitectural features for enhancing the performance of a database machine, ACM Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), v.2 n.4, p.297-316, Dec. 1977 [doi>10.1145/320576.320577]
• 10: George P. Copeland, Jr. , G. J. Lipovski , Stanley Y.W. Su, The architecture of CASSM: A cellular system for non-numeric processing, Proceedings of the 1st annual symposium on Computer architecture, p.121-128, December 09-11, 1973
• 11: DeFiore, C.F,, and Berra, P.B., "A Data Management System Utilizing an Associative Memory", Proc. AFIPS NCC, Vol. 42, 1973.
• 12: Chyuan Shiun Lin , Diane C. P. Smith , John Miles Smith, The design of a rotating associative memory for relational database applications, ACM Transactions on Database Systems (TODS), v.1 n.1, p.53-65, March 1976 [doi>10.1145/320434.320447]
• 13: Baum, R.I., and Hsiao, D.K., "Data Base Computers—A Step Towards Data Utilities", IEEE-TC, Dec. 1976, Vol. C-25, No. 12.
• 14: S. G. Zaky, Microprocessors for non-numeric processing, Proceedings of the 3rd workshop on Computer architecture : Non-numeric processing, p.23-30, January 1977
• 15: Sadowski, P., "Exploiting Parallelism In A Relational Associative Processor", M.S. Thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, December 1977.
• 16: Freen, R., "A Partitioned Data Base for Use With A Relational Associative Processor", M.S. Thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, December 1977.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.0 GENERAL
      Subjects: System architectures

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT

General Terms:
Design, Management