SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY : Computer Companies Working to Establish Industry Consortium

Corollary Inc., a developer of multiprocessing technology in Irvine, sees eye to eye with its Irvine neighbor, AST Research Inc., on the need to form an industry consortium to develop standards for multiprocessing technology.

Multiprocessing computers, which link several processors to perform calculations simultaneously and faster than a single processor, are one way personal computer manufacturers are mounting an attack on the $40-billion minicomputer industry. Processors perform calculations, direct the flow of data to and from memory, and govern the interaction of all parts of the machine.

Minicomputers, those computers between small mainframes and personal computers, are typically used by medium-size businesses and institutions. Minicomputers have been losing ground to less-expensive PCs that can be hooked together in networks.

Reaching an agreement on a multiprocessing standard is important to AST, Corollary and seven other computer companies so that they can begin to introduce multiprocessing machines and software applications.

Mike Krieger, manager of AST’s multiprocessing project, said the company hopes a consortium will emerge this year to develop standards for a common bus, or data pathway between each processor and memory, and a common operating system, or interface between the computer and its programs, that would enable a standard machine to run many software applications.

“We’ve been in communication with AST for a while,” said Judy Uttal, vice president of marketing at Corollary. “And we agree with them on the issues of setting standards.”