| From: | Dark Elf <VESPOSIT@****.SUNYSB.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Multitasking made easy |
| Date: | Fri, 9 Oct 92 19:02:18 EDT |
multiple decks/cyberspace personas using an encephalon/spu hierarchy ( hence
known as multi-decking). To pull off a stunt like this requires an
encephalon, the appropriate number of decks, an SPU for each deck, enough
datajacks to cover each deck and a sufficient amount of free memory for
buffering commands. In the scheme I came up with, the encephalon writes
instuctions for each deck in a set region of the memory buffer. The SPU
associated with each deck scans the appropriate locations in the buffer,
and then passes the commands onto the deck. This system has some limitations
due to multitasking overhead and read/write time. The decks send data back
to the brain/controller by the reverse process. Output is sent to the SPU
slaved to that deck which writes data into a specified area of the buffer
which is scanned by the encephalon when it is that deck's turn in the
multitasking/time-sharing scheme (see my previous post).
Anyway, enough technical talk, here's the game mechanics:
_____________ _______________
| Encephalon |<=>| memory buffer|<=>spu1<=>deck1
-------------- | | . .
| | . .
| |<=>spuN<=>deckN
----------------
This diagram describes the basic setup for a multi-decking scheme.
Equipment: An encephalon is required. An encephalon can multitask a
maximum of level + 1 decks. An SPU for each deck. An SPU can be mounted
inside the deck if desired. An appropriate memory buffer (either headware,
or a computer attached through a datajack or both) of the following size.
# of decks | Buffer size
1 | 0mp
2 | 50mp
3 | 100mp
4 | 150mp
5 | 200mp
Limitations: The reaction penalty for each deck is as follows (see
previous post for priority scheme)
enceph level | # of decks 1 2 3 4 5
1 0 -1 - - -
2 0 -1 -2 - -
3 0 -1 -2 -3 -
4 0 -1 -1 -2 -2
Can someone please send me back a copy of this post (and of my previous
multitasking post) Dark Elf
