The Architectural Features and Implementation Techniques of the Multicell CASSM

The architectural characteristics and the implementation techniques of a context addressed segment sequential memory system called CASSM are described. The system provides hardware support for many database management functions. It offers associative and parallel processing capabilities for the efficient retrieval and manipulation of data in large databases. The hardware is designed mainly to support a hierarchical model for database applications but also contains facilities for supporting a wide range of data searches and operations useful for other nonnumeric data processing applications. The software development of the assembly language CASAL and its assembler, the high-level nonprocedural language CASDAL and its compiler, the interface to the CASSM-user interface computer, etc., have been carried out for the system. The hardware design and implementation techniques have been verified using a one-cell prototype system and a simulator designed for testing the system in the multicell environment. The emphasis of this paper is in the detailed description of the hardware features and techniques used in the multicell CASSM system.