The Cross Product of Interconnection Networks

We study the cross product as a method for generating and analyzing interconnection network topologies for multiprocessor systems. Consider two interconnection graphs G/sub 1/ and G/sub 2/ each with some established properties such as symmetry, low degree and diameter, scalability, simple optimal routing, recursive structure (partitionability), fault tolerance, existence of node-disjoint paths, low cost embedding, and efficient broadcasting. We investigate and evaluate the corresponding properties for the cross product of G/sub 1/ and G/sub 2/ based on the properties of G/sub 1/ and those of G/sub 2/. We also give a mathematical characterization of product families of graphs which are closed under the cross product operation. This investigation is useful in two ways. On one hand, it gives a new tool for further studying some of the known interconnection topologies, such as the hypercube and the mesh, which can be defined using the cross product operation. On the other hand, it can be used in defining and evaluating new interconnection graphs using the cross product operation on known topologies.