Enhancing the two-dimensional mesh

A number of architectures which combine efficient iconic and symbolic processing are reviewed. An approach which enhances the structure of the 2D mesh while still retaining that structure is suggested. The deficiencies of the mesh, in its usual form, in terms of symbolic processing are taken as indications of how the enhancement should proceed. The authors identify three orthogonal properties (processor power, processor autonomy, and interprocessor connectivity) which are open to manipulation. On the basis of a number of generic operations, both iconic and symbolic, the effect of varying each of these parameters is examined with emphasis on the requirements for sequences of operations to execute efficiently. An attempt is made to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the various possibilities