The Data Organizer: A high traffic node for tracking detector data

The Data Organizer is part of a real-time tracker for hadron collider experiments. It constitutes the tracker interface to the data acquisition (DAQ): a high-speed data-traffic node, where thousands of words are received and simultaneously organized in an internal structured data base, to be later quickly retrieved and delivered in response to specific requests. It is capable of processing data at a rate of 40 MHz, thanks to the use of fast and very dense devices. The use of programmable logic allows easy upgrades, evolution, and fast reconfiguration to adapt the interface to different trigger and DAQ needs. The hardware-dedicated structure optimizes speed, size, and cost.