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ABSTRACT

Since the computer operation when viewed as the execution of subroutines or instructions or logical subcommands is a discrete sequential process, its action or behavior can be predicted to a degree of certainty when sufficient knowledge is available about the structure of its information flow. Conventionally, the “look-ahead” function implies fetching the next set of instructions and their associated data and preparing ahead of time for their execution. We shall, however, broaden the concept to the anticipation of the next “event” of a specified type whether it is a functional subroutine, instruction or an input-output function. In some sense, one can consider “looking-ahead” as the anticipatory simulation of important events in the execution sequence. By anticipating the most probable events, their requirements can be preplanned and furnished, if possible, without stalling the program, e.g., by alerting I/O units, by providing memory space for the next set of subroutines to be executed, etc. This is particularly important in a multi-programmed, multi-processor environment

REFERENCES

• 1: C V RAMAMOORTHY Discrete system representation and analysis by generating functions of abstract graphs IEEE International Convention Record Part 6 1965
• 2: C. V. Ramamoorthy, Analysis of computational systems: Discrete Markov analysis of computer programs, Proceedings of the 1965 20th national conference, p.386-392, August 24-26, 1965, Cleveland, Ohio, United States [doi>10.1145/800197.806061]
• 3: C V RAMAMOORTHY PhD Thesis Harvard University May 1964
• 4: Donald E. Knuth, Computer-drawn flowcharts, Communications of the ACM, v.6 n.9, p.555-563, Sept. 1963 [doi>10.1145/367593.367620]
• 5: C V RAMAMOORTHY Connectivity considerations of directed graphs representing sequential systems IEEE Trans Electronic Computers October 1965
• 6: C. V. Ramamoorthy, Analysis of Graphs by Connectivity Considerations, Journal of the ACM (JACM), v.13 n.2, p.211-222, April 1966 [doi>10.1145/321328.321332]
• 7: M E CONWAY A multiprocessor system design Proceedings FJCC 1963

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.4 OPERATING SYSTEMS
      D.4.1 Process Management

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.4 OPERATING SYSTEMS
      D.4.2 Storage Management

General Terms:
Design, Management