Patent EP0096465A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0096465A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Disk copier machine having a selectable format computer disk controller and method of copying computer disks
Assignee: MEDIA SYSTEMS Tech Inc
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Filing: 1983-05-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A disk copier machine uses a host computer, disk controller, disk drive, and mechanical disk feeder in order to automatically copy information onto each of a number of disks. The selectable format computer disk controller is used in order to connect the host computer to the computer disk drive. The disk controller is constructed to receive format definition program steps from the host computer so that the controller may configure itself to accommodate the particular format of the disk in the computer disk drive. The controller contains standardized process control program steps which are executed inside the controller in order to interact with the particular format definition program provided by the host computer. The process control program is standardized to work with a large variety of disk formats and serves to control the execution of the format definition program, which is a particularized sequence of steps adapted to a particular disk format. The format definition program contains a format definition segment which serves to define the disk format, and an indirect addressing pointer table which is accessed by the process control program in order to control the use of the steps of the format definition segment. The selectable format disk controller is particularly useful for copying computer floppy diskettes so that the same disk copier machine may be used in order to copy disks having any of a variety of format types.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric M. Kadison
- 👤 Subhash C. Batra
- 👤 Gad E. Meir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G11; G11B; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/20; G11B19/28; G11B5/00; G11B5/86; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G11B2020/1087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of information onto initialized destination computer disks, said copier comprising: a destination drive for writing said information onto said destination disks; and an automatic mechanical disk loader connected to said destination disk drive so that said destination disks are automatically transferred into and out of said destination disk drive, one at a time, so that copies of said information are automatically produced on said initialized destination computer disks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of information onto initialized destination computer disks, said copier comprising: a destination drive for writing said information onto said destination disks; and an automatic mechanical disk loader connected to said destination disk drive so that said destination disks are automatically transferred into and out of said destination disk drive, one at a time, so that copies of said information are automatically produced on said initialized destination computer disks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 1 further comprising a selectable format disk controller connected to said destination disk drive, so that said disk copier may be configured to accommodate the format of said destination computer disks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 2 wherein said controller includes a format definition program memory so that a format definition program in said memory selects the format configuration for said disk copier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 1 further comprising a source disk drive interconnected with said destination disk drive so that information is transferred from a source disk in said source disk drive to said initialized disks in said destination disk drive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 4 further comprising a selectable format disk controller connected to said source disk drive and to said destination disk drive, so that said disk copier may be configured to accommodate the format of said source disk and said destination computer disks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 5 wherein said controller includes a format definition program memory so that a format definition program in said memory selects the format configuration for said disk copier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 6 wherein said source disk drive is connected to provide a format definition program to said format definition program memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of information onto destination computer disks, said copier comprising: a destination computer disk drive for reading sector identification information from said destination disks, and for copying data information onto said destination disks in accordance with the identification information read; and an automatic mechanical disk loader connected to said destination disk drive so that said destination disks are automatically transfered into and out of said destination disk drive, one at a time, so that copies of said information are automatically produced on said destination disks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of information onto destination computer disks, said copier comprising: a destination computer disk drive for reading sector identification information from said destination disks, and for copying data information onto said destination disks in accordance with the identification information read; and an automatic mechanical disk loader connected to said destination disk drive so that said destination disks are automatically transfered into and out of said destination disk drive, one at a time, so that copies of said information are automatically produced on said destination disks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of information onto destination computer disks, said copier comprising: a plurality of destination disk drives equipped with automatic mechanical disk loaders for copying information onto said destination disks; and a host computer connected to supply said information to said plurality of disk drives, and connected to control said mechanical disk loaders.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of information onto destination computer disks, said copier comprising: a plurality of destination disk drives equipped with automatic mechanical disk loaders for copying information onto said destination disks; and a host computer connected to supply said information to said plurality of disk drives, and connected to control said mechanical disk loaders.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of data information onto destination computer disks, said copier comprising: means for reading sector identification information from said destination disks and for writing said data information on said destination disks in accordance with said identification information read; and means for automatically feeding said computer disks into and out of said disk copier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of data information onto destination computer disks, said copier comprising: means for reading sector identification information from said destination disks and for writing said data information on said destination disks in accordance with said identification information read; and means for automatically feeding said computer disks into and out of said disk copier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 10 wherein said means for reading and writing comprises a destination disk drive into which said destination disks are mounted 'by said means for automatically feeding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 10 further comprising means for controlling connected to operate said means for reading and writing, and wherein said means for controlling has a selectable format for configuring itself to accommodate the particular disk format in use.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 12 wherein said means for controlling comprises a selectable format disk controller having a format definition program memory for storing a format definition program that configures said disk controller for the particular disk format in use.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 12 further comprising means for inputing format definition information into said means for controlling so that said means for controlling may configure itself in accordance with said format definition information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 14 wherein said means for inputing comprises a source disk drive which also provides said data information for copying to said means for writing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of data information onto a destination computer disk, said copier comprising: means for transfering said data information onto said destination disk; and means for controlling said means for transfering so that the disk format is accommodated, and wherein said means for controlling has a selectable format for configuring itself to accommodate the particular disk format in use.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer disk copier for making copies of data information onto a destination computer disk, said copier comprising: means for transfering said data information onto said destination disk; and means for controlling said means for transfering so that the disk format is accommodated, and wherein said means for controlling has a selectable format for configuring itself to accommodate the particular disk format in use.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 16 wherein said means for transferring comprises a destination disk drive for mounting said destination computer disk.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 16 wherein said means for controlling comprises a selectable format disk controller having a format definition program memory for storing a format definition program that configures said disk controller for the particular disk format in use.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 16 further comprising means for inputing format definition information into said means for controlling so that said means for controlling may configure itself in accordance with said format definition information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer disk copier of Claim 19 wherein said means for inputing comprises a source disk drive which also provides said data information for copying to said means for transferring.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
119 words
A selectable format disk drive controller for controlling the operation of a computer disk drive in reading and writing operations, said controller comprising: means for process control program storage for permanently storing a process control program; means for format definition program storage for storing a format definition program so that the contents of said format definition program may be changed in order to select the format for use with said disk drive; and - means for processing connected to both said means for program storage so that steps of said process control program may be executed to use steps of said format definition program in order to control the operation of said disk drive in reading and writing operations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
119 words
A selectable format disk drive controller for controlling the operation of a computer disk drive in reading and writing operations, said controller comprising: means for process control program storage for permanently storing a process control program; means for format definition program storage for storing a format definition program so that the contents of said format definition program may be changed in order to select the format for use with said disk drive; and - means for processing connected to both said means for program storage so that steps of said process control program may be executed to use steps of said format definition program in order to control the operation of said disk drive in reading and writing operations.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The disk drive controller of Claim 21 wherein said means for process control program storage comprises read only memory having a process control program encoded therein, said means for format definition program storage comprises random access memory, and said means for processing comprises a digital computer processor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer disk copying apparatus for copying stored digital data onto a destination computer disk in a predefined format, said disk copying apparatus comprising: a host computer for reading the digital data from a data storage source, and for defining a format definition program for the format in which the digital data is to be written on the destination computer disk; a destination disk drive into which said destination computer disk may be mounted so that said digital data may be transferred to said destination disk; and a disk controller connected between said host computer and said disk drive, and for executing the format definition program defined by said host computer, so that said disk drive is operated by said controller to place said digital data on said destination disk in the format defined by said host computer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer disk copying apparatus for copying stored digital data onto a destination computer disk in a predefined format, said disk copying apparatus comprising: a host computer for reading the digital data from a data storage source, and for defining a format definition program for the format in which the digital data is to be written on the destination computer disk; a destination disk drive into which said destination computer disk may be mounted so that said digital data may be transferred to said destination disk; and a disk controller connected between said host computer and said disk drive, and for executing the format definition program defined by said host computer, so that said disk drive is operated by said controller to place said digital data on said destination disk in the format defined by said host computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer disk copying apparatus of Claim 23 wherein said controller executes said format definition program by accessing an instruction pointer table in said format definition program which, in turn, references corresponding format specification instructions in said format definition program.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
174 words
A disk controller for controlling the operation of a computer disk drive and for responding to commands issued by a host computer so that data from the host computer may be written on and read from the disk drive, wherein said controller comprises: a format decoder connected to said host computer for receiving commands therefrom, and connected to said disk drive for controlling the operation thereof in response to said commands received from said host computer; a format definition memory connected to said host computer for receiving format definition program steps therefrom, and connected to said format decoder so that said format definition program steps may be executed by said format decoder to control the format of data written on and read from said disk drive; and a process memory having process control steps stored therein, and connected to said format decoder so that said process control steps may be executed thereby in order to respond to said host computer commands, and to control the sequence of execution of said format definition program steps.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
174 words
A disk controller for controlling the operation of a computer disk drive and for responding to commands issued by a host computer so that data from the host computer may be written on and read from the disk drive, wherein said controller comprises: a format decoder connected to said host computer for receiving commands therefrom, and connected to said disk drive for controlling the operation thereof in response to said commands received from said host computer; a format definition memory connected to said host computer for receiving format definition program steps therefrom, and connected to said format decoder so that said format definition program steps may be executed by said format decoder to control the format of data written on and read from said disk drive; and a process memory having process control steps stored therein, and connected to said format decoder so that said process control steps may be executed thereby in order to respond to said host computer commands, and to control the sequence of execution of said format definition program steps.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
77 words
The disk controller of Claim 25 wherein said format definition memory comprises: a format definition segment containing format specification instructions for said disk drive; and an instruction pointer table containing indirect address references to said format definition segment so that when said table is accessed by said process control steps, format specification instructions corresponding to the accessed pointer table entry will be executed by said format decoder in order to control the operation of said disk drive.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of copying computer disks in a disk copier machine having a selectable format disk drive controller connected to a source disk drive and to a destination disk drive, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a format definition disk in said source disk drive in order to configure said selectable disk drive controller for the particular disk format to be used; removing said format definition disk from said source disk drive; mounting a source disk in said source disk drive; and mounting a destination disk in said destination disk drive so that information is copied from said source disk to said destination disk.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of copying computer disks in a disk copier machine having a selectable format disk drive controller connected to a source disk drive and to a destination disk drive, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a format definition disk in said source disk drive in order to configure said selectable disk drive controller for the particular disk format to be used; removing said format definition disk from said source disk drive; mounting a source disk in said source disk drive; and mounting a destination disk in said destination disk drive so that information is copied from said source disk to said destination disk.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of copying information onto computer disks in a disk copier machine having a selectable format disk drive controller connected to a destination disk drive, said method comprising the steps of: transferring a format definition program to said controller in order to configure said controller for the particular disk format to be used; and mounting a destination disk in said destination disk drive so that said information is copied onto said destination disk.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of copying information onto computer disks in a disk copier machine having a selectable format disk drive controller connected to a destination disk drive, said method comprising the steps of: transferring a format definition program to said controller in order to configure said controller for the particular disk format to be used; and mounting a destination disk in said destination disk drive so that said information is copied onto said destination disk.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of copying data information onto destination computer disks in a disk copier machine having a destination disk drive and an automatic mechanical disk loader connected to said destination disk drive, wherein said method comprises the steps ' of: (a) reading sector identification information from the destination disk in said destination disk drive; (b) writing said data information onto the destination disk in said destination disk drive in accordance with the sector identification information read; and (c) automatically replacing the destination disk in said destination disk drive by actuating said automatic mechanical disk loader.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of copying data information onto destination computer disks in a disk copier machine having a destination disk drive and an automatic mechanical disk loader connected to said destination disk drive, wherein said method comprises the steps ' of: (a) reading sector identification information from the destination disk in said destination disk drive; (b) writing said data information onto the destination disk in said destination disk drive in accordance with the sector identification information read; and (c) automatically replacing the destination disk in said destination disk drive by actuating said automatic mechanical disk loader.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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