hypercube
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hypercube
[′hī·pər ‚kyüb] (computer science)
A configuration of parallel processors in which the locations of the processors correspond to the vertices of a mathematical hypercube and the links between them correspond to its edges.
(mathematics)
The analog of a cube in n dimensions (n = 2, 3, ….), with 2 n vertices, n 2 n-1edges, and 2 n cells; for an object with edges of length 2 a, the coordinates of the vertices are (± a, ± a, …, ± a).
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
hypercube
A cube of more than three dimensions. A single (2^0 = 1)
point (or "node") can be considered as a zero dimensional
cube, two (2^1) nodes joined by a line (or "edge") are a one
dimensional cube, four (2^2) nodes arranged in a square are a
two dimensional cube and eight (2^3) nodes are an ordinary
three dimensional cube. Continuing this geometric
progression, the first hypercube has 2^4 = 16 nodes and is a
four dimensional shape (a "four-cube") and an N dimensional
cube has 2^N nodes (an "N-cube"). To make an N+1 dimensional
cube, take two N dimensional cubes and join each node on one
cube to the corresponding node on the other. A four-cube can
be visualised as a three-cube with a smaller three-cube
centred inside it with edges radiating diagonally out (in the
fourth dimension) from each node on the inner cube to the
corresponding node on the outer cube.
Each node in an N dimensional cube is directly connected to N other nodes. We can identify each node by a set of N Cartesian coordinates where each coordinate is either zero or one. Two node will be directly connected if they differ in only one coordinate.
The simple, regular geometrical structure and the close relationship between the coordinate system and binary numbers make the hypercube an appropriate topology for a parallel computer interconnection network. The fact that the number of directly connected, "nearest neighbour", nodes increases with the total size of the network is also highly desirable for a parallel computer.
Each node in an N dimensional cube is directly connected to N other nodes. We can identify each node by a set of N Cartesian coordinates where each coordinate is either zero or one. Two node will be directly connected if they differ in only one coordinate.
The simple, regular geometrical structure and the close relationship between the coordinate system and binary numbers make the hypercube an appropriate topology for a parallel computer interconnection network. The fact that the number of directly connected, "nearest neighbour", nodes increases with the total size of the network is also highly desirable for a parallel computer.
This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)
hypercube
A parallel processing architecture made up of binary multiples of computers (4, 8, 16, etc.). The computers are interconnected so that data travel is kept to a minimum. For example, in two eight-node cubes, each node in one cube would be connected to the counterpart node in the other.Copyright © 1981-2019 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.