ADDRESS SNOOP METHOD AND MULTI-PROCESSOR SYSTEM

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an address snoop method and a multi-processor system, wherein a number of I/O blocks are made independent from a processor block so as to be easily mounted in the multi-processor system while preventing the upper-limit degradation of the performance of the multi-processor system (an increase in latency). SOLUTION: The address snoop method is provided for the multi-processor system in which the processor block consisting of a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories are connected to the plurality of I/O blocks via a plurality of address joint devices. When an access request is generated from arbitrary one processor block, the address joint device instead of each I/O block performs address snoop processing for determining whether to respond to the access request or not. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI