Patent US4436242A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0061571A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Word processing system with a printer shared by a plurality of display units
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1982-02-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-02-10
Abstract
Abstract Word processing systems wherein material to be printed is formatted on a plurality of display units having each a display (22), and a text formatting processor (14) which formats the display material, the display units sharing a single printer (10). This is accomplished by having at least one of the display units called the primary display unit (11) which comprises means for controlling the sharing of the printer (10) by the other display units, and each of the other display units which communicates with the printer under the control of these printer sharing control means and through a printer sharing adapter (28). At least part of this printer sharing control means is contained in the text formatting processor (14) of the primary display unit (11).
Inventors
- 👤 Johnny Gennie Barnes
- 👤 John Andrew Hooten
- 👤 Patrick James Hurley
- 👤 Ernest Lee Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
Word processing system with a printer, shared by a plurality of display units each having a text formatting processor, means for displaying said text, and means for controlling said printer to print said formatted text, said system being characterized in that : at least one of said display units comprises control means for controlling the sharing of said printer by said plurality of display units, and each of the other display units communicate with said printer through said control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
Word processing system with a printer, shared by a plurality of display units each having a text formatting processor, means for displaying said text, and means for controlling said printer to print said formatted text, said system being characterized in that : at least one of said display units comprises control means for controlling the sharing of said printer by said plurality of display units, and each of the other display units communicate with said printer through said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Word processing system according to claim 1 wherein said text formatting processor includes said control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
Word processing system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein one of the display units called the primary display unit comprises control means for controlling the sharing of said printer by said primary display unit and the other display units, said control means being inactive in the absence of another display unit connected to said primary display unit, and being active when at least one other display unit is connected to said primary display unit and communicates with said printer through said control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Word processing system according to claim 3 further including : a printer sharing adapter, and means for selectively connecting said printer sharing adapter to said primary display unit, each other display unit which communicates with said printer, being connected to said primary display unit through said printer sharing adapter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Word processing system according to claim 4 wherein each of said display units further includes means for determ- ini-ng whether said unit is connected directly to said printer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
Word processing system according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein each display unit further includes normally inactive communication means for controlling the communication of said display unit with said printer, as a secondary display unit, through said control means in said primary display unit, and means responsive to the selective connection of said display unit as a secondary unit through said control means, for activating said communication means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Word processing system according to claim 6 wherein said communication means in each display unit is included in the text formatting processor of said unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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