Description of the AMIDAR Model

The AMIDAR model consists of four main types of components: a token generator, functional units (FU), a token distribution network and a communication structure. The token generator is a specialized functional unit, which is always required. It controls the other components of the processor by means of tokens. These tokens are sent to the FUs over the token distribution network. The tokens tell the FUs what to do with input data and where to send the results. Functional units can have a very wide range of meanings: ALUs, register files, program and/or data memory, specialized address calculation units, etc.

Data is passed between the FUs over the communication structure. This data can have various meanings: program information (instructions), address information, or application data.