EP0055369A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic document distribution terminal
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1981-10-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An electronic document distribution terminal includes a first adapter (12) coupled to data entry and document preparation means and a second adapter (15) coupled to data transmission means for communication, for example, with a similar terminal. Each of the adapters includes a processor for processing the data received from or for application to a coupled device. A peripheral processing memory (16) is employed to store data to be transferred between the adapters. This memory is under the control of a peripheral processing controller (10) whi allocates memory blocks to the adapters under the control of CPU 20. Thus each adapter operates as a stand-alone unit sharing a common memory with the CPU and peripheral processing controller performing only system control functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Allen Bushaw
- 👤 William Irvin Branson
- 👤 Ted Anthony Rehage
- 👤 Frankie Sherwood Shook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/12; G06F13/124; H; H04; H04L; H04L69/00; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32561; H04N1/32566
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An electronic document distribution terminal, including.a central processing system (20,21), a peripheral processing memory (16), a first adapter (12) coupled to a data entry device and a document preparation device, and a second adapter (15) coupled to a data communication device, each adapter including a processor for processing data recieved from, as for application to, a coupled device, characterised in that each adapter is coupled directly to the peripheral processing memory for storage and retrieval of data under the control of a peripheral processing controller (10) having control lines coupled to the adapters and'the central processing system and arranged, in response to control signals on the control lines, to allocate storage block locations in the peripheral processing memory to respective adapters whereby data transfer between the adapters is effected through the peripheral processing memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electronic document distribution terminal, including.a central processing system (20,21), a peripheral processing memory (16), a first adapter (12) coupled to a data entry device and a document preparation device, and a second adapter (15) coupled to a data communication device, each adapter including a processor for processing data recieved from, as for application to, a coupled device, characterised in that each adapter is coupled directly to the peripheral processing memory for storage and retrieval of data under the control of a peripheral processing controller (10) having control lines coupled to the adapters and'the central processing system and arranged, in response to control signals on the control lines, to allocate storage block locations in the peripheral processing memory to respective adapters whereby data transfer between the adapters is effected through the peripheral processing memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic document distribution terminal as claimed in claim 1, further characterised by a third adapter (13) coupled to a data compression and decompression system (13a) and directly to the peripheral processing memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electronic document distribution terminal as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further characterised by a fourth adapter (14) coupled to a data encryption and decryption system (14a) and directly to the peripheral processing memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic document distribution terminal as claimed in any of the previous claims, further characterised in that said first adapter is coupled to a combined facsimile document scanner/printer system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic document distribution terminal as claimed in any of the previous claims, further characterised in that each adapter includes means (50) for signalling to the peripheral processing controller, a request for data transfer between the adapter and the peripheral processing memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic document distribution terminal as claimed in claim 5, further characterised in that said peripheral processing means includes a priority control system (Fig. 6) responsive to request signals from the adapters to control data transfer between the peripheral processing memory and the adapters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electronic document distribution terminal as claimed in any of the previous claims, further characterised in that each adapter includes processing apparatus with buffering means (40) for processing data from, or for application to, a coupled device without reference to the peripheral processing memory whereby when data transfer is taking place between an adapter and the peripheral processing memory each remaining adapter can process data from, or for application to, a device coupled thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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