A symmetric multiprocessor includes with a hierarchical ring-based interconnection network is disclosed. The symmetric processor includes a plurality of buses comprised on the symmetric multiprocessor, wherein each of the buses are configured in a circular topology. The symmetric multiprocessor also includes a plurality of multi-processing nodes interconnected by the buses to make a hierarchical ring-based interconnection network for conveying commands between the multi-processing nodes. The interconnection network includes a command network configured to transport commands based on command tokens, wherein the tokens dictate a destination of the command, a partial response network configured to transport partial responses generated by the multi-processing nodes, and a combined response network configured to combine the partial responses generated by the multi-processing nodes using combined response tokens.

Described is an apparatus which comprises: a reference device; and a processor having a plurality of circuit units, each circuit unit is operable to electronically couple with the reference device such that only one circuit unit of the plurality of circuit units is electronically coupled to the reference device at a given time while other circuit units of the plurality are electronically uncoupled to the reference device during that time.

A device comprises one or more movable elements and one or more processors. The device is configured to receive a first movement assignment of a first type, receive tracking data from a motion tracking system configured to monitor a position of personnel in a vicinity of the device, plan a first motion for a first movable element of the one or more movable elements based on the first type of the first movement assignment and the tracking data, and execute the first motion.

A device comprises one or more movable elements and one or more processors. The device is configured to receive a first movement assignment of a first type, receive tracking data from a motion tracking system configured to monitor a position of personnel in a vicinity of the device, plan a first motion for a first movable element of the one or more movable elements based on the first type of the first movement assignment and the tracking data, and execute the first motion.

A control device having an integrated switch and being configured to logically enable and disable an Ethernet port of the integrated switch. Further disclosed is a device network consisting of at least two field devices, a primary control device and a primary switch, a secondary control device and a secondary switch, which are connected in a daisy chain loop topology. And wherein the secondary control device is configured to logically enable and disable an Ethernet port of the secondary switch. Further disclosed is a flat network consisting of such a device network. Further disclosed is a method for controlling a redundant connection in a flat network, consisting of detecting failure of the primary control device, initiating failover, enabling the Ethernet port of the secondary switch, and disabling the Ethernet port of the primary switch.

A control device having an integrated switch and being configured to logically enable and disable an Ethernet port of the integrated switch. Further disclosed is a device network consisting of at least two field devices, a primary control device and a primary switch, a secondary control device and a secondary switch, which are connected in a daisy chain loop topology. And wherein the secondary control device is configured to logically enable and disable an Ethernet port of the secondary switch. Further disclosed is a flat network consisting of such a device network. Further disclosed is a method for controlling a redundant connection in a flat network, consisting of detecting failure of the primary control device, initiating failover, enabling the Ethernet port of the secondary switch, and disabling the Ethernet port of the primary switch.

A medical device comprises a control system, processing modules, and a wire bundle connecting the control system to the processing modules, the wire bundle comprising control lines and data lines. Each processing module is coupled to a respective set of sensors arranged to interface with a biological tissue site, the sensors being configured to capture analog physiological signals generated from the biological tissue site. The control system is configured to generate a control signal on the control lines to initiate a data collection cycle by the processing modules. In response to the control signal, each processing module is configured to perform a respective data collection process which comprises (i) capturing and processing an analog physiological signal on each enabled sensor to generate a data sample for each analog physiological signal captured on each enabled sensor, and (ii) outputting data samples to the control system on the data lines.

A medical device comprises a control system, processing modules, and a wire bundle connecting the control system to the processing modules, the wire bundle comprising control lines and data lines. Each processing module is coupled to a respective set of sensors arranged to interface with a biological tissue site, the sensors being configured to capture analog physiological signals generated from the biological tissue site. The control system is configured to generate a control signal on the control lines to initiate a data collection cycle by the processing modules. In response to the control signal, each processing module is configured to perform a respective data collection process which comprises (i) capturing and processing an analog physiological signal on each enabled sensor to generate a data sample for each analog physiological signal captured on each enabled sensor, and (ii) outputting data samples to the control system on the data lines.

Systems and methods to transmit data over multiple communication channels in parallel with forward error correction. Original packets are evenly distributed to the channels as the initial systematically channel-encoded packets. Subsequent channel-encoded packets are configured to be linearly independent of their base sets of channel-encoded packets, where a base set for a subsequent channel-encoded packet includes those scheduled to be transmitted before the subsequent packet in the same channel as the subsequent packet, and optionally one or more initial packets from other channels. The compositions of the sequences of the encoded packets can be predetermined without the content of the packets; and the channel-encoded packets can be generated from the original packets on-the-fly by the transmitters of the channels during transmission. When a sufficient number of packets have been received via the channels, a recipient may terminate their transmissions.

The methods and systems may provide a scalable round-robin arbiter tree that performs round-robin arbitration for a plurality of requests received from a set of requestors. The round-robin arbiter may stack a plurality of round-robin cells in stages where an output of a first stage of round-robin cells is an input to a next stage of round-robin cells. The round-robin arbiter may transform an arbitration state at each stage of the arbitration and propagate the arbitration state into the next stage for arbitration. The arbitration state from the final stage round-robin cell is fed back to the first stage of the round-robin cells and used in a subsequent arbitration round.