SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR PREEMPTION IN ASYNCHRONOUS SYSTEMS USING ANTI-TOKENS

Systems, methods, and computer program products for preemption in asynchronous systems using anti-tokens are disclosed. According to one aspect, configurable system for constructing asynchronous application specific integrated data pipeline circuits with preemption includes a plurality of modular circuit stages that are connectable with each other and with other circuit elements to form multi-stage asynchronous application specific integrated data pipeline circuits for asynchronously sending data and tokens in a forward direction through the pipeline and for asynchronously sending anti-tokens in a backward direction through the pipeline. Each stage is configured to perform a handshaking protocol with other pipeline stages, the protocol including receiving either a token from the previous stage or an anti-token from the next stage, and in response, sending both a token forward to the next stage and an anti-token backward to the previous stage.