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A heterogeneous parallel deduction system


Author(s) : Geoff Sutcliffe, 
Publisher : N/A
Publication Date : 1992
ISSN : N/A
Abstract : This paper describes the architecture, implementation and performance, of a heterogeneous parallel deduction system (HPDS). The HPDS uses multiple deduction components, each of which attempts to find a refutation of the same input set, but using different deduction formats. The components cooperate by distributing clauses they generate to other components. The HPDS has been implemented in Prolog-D-Linda. Prolog-D-Linda provides appropriate data transfer and synchronisation facilities for implementing parallel deduction systems. The performance of the HPDS has been investigated. Parallel Deduction Systems A parallel deduction system is one in which multiple deduction components run in parallel on separate processors. This is distinct from those deduction systems which run multiple deduction components alternately, such as the unit preference system [Wos, Carlson & RobinsonDG.A.,l1964], and those which are only conceptually parallel systems. Parallel deduction systems can be categorised along three axes. Homogeneous or Heterogeneous? In a homogeneous system the multiple deduction,