EP0103851A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiprocessor control synchronization and instruction downloading
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1983-09-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a multiprocessor machine control having at least one processor for performing input and output operations and communicating with a master processor over a communication channel. Common synchronizing signals are conveyed to both the input/output processor and the master processor independent of the communication channel. This provides the input/output processor with immediate access to timing and synchronizing information for prompt response to general control information from the master processor. The master processor downloads instructions or provides general instructions to the input/output processor. These downloaded instructions are given priority and timely executed without further communication with the master processor. At completion of the operation the master processor is informed that the particular operation has been performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Michael Federico
- 👤 Stephen P. Wilczek
- 👤 Ernest Lee Legg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/04; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/42; G06F13/4204; G06F13/4208; G06F13/4217
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A machine comprising a plurality of machine operating components, a plurality of control devices for controlling said operating components, each of the plurality of control devices having an arithmetic and logic unit, said control devices being interconnected at least one of said operating controls actuating a portion of said operating components, a synchronizing means to provide a synchronizing signal, and means connected to the control devices to synchronize the operation of the control devices with the synchronizing signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A machine comprising a plurality of machine operating components, a plurality of control devices for controlling said operating components, each of the plurality of control devices having an arithmetic and logic unit, said control devices being interconnected at least one of said operating controls actuating a portion of said operating components, a synchronizing means to provide a synchronizing signal, and means connected to the control devices to synchronize the operation of the control devices with the synchronizing signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing signal is a machine clock signal provided to each of the control devices in response to the operation of the machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing signal is a reset signal provided by a machine reset means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing signals are provided simultaneously to the control devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein the synchronizing signals are provided independent of the communication line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein one of the control devices is a master control device, and one of the control devices is an input/output control device remote from said master control device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 6 including a plurality of input/output control devices remote from said master control device, said control devices communicating on a shared communication system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein said synchronizing signals are provided independent of said shared communication system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 6 including a plurality of master control devices remote from said input/output control devices, said control devices communicating on a shared communications system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a machine having a plurality of machine operating components, a set of interconnected control devices for controlling said operating components, one of the set of control devices being a master control device having an arithmetic and logic unit, a plurality of said set of control devices being remote from said master control device and having an arithmetic and logic control means for actuating portions of said operating components, the improvement comprising synchronizing means to provide synchronizing signals, and means connected to the control devices to provide the synchronizing signals to each of the control devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a machine having a plurality of machine operating components, a set of interconnected control devices for controlling said operating components, one of the set of control devices being a master control device having an arithmetic and logic unit, a plurality of said set of control devices being remote from said master control device and having an arithmetic and logic control means for actuating portions of said operating components, the improvement comprising synchronizing means to provide synchronizing signals, and means connected to the control devices to provide the synchronizing signals to each of the control devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The machine of claim 10 including a shared communication line interconnecting the control devices wherein the synchronizing signals are provided independent of the communication line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 10 wherein the synchronizing signals are machine clock signals provided in response to the operation of the machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 12 wherein the clock signals are provided to each of the control devices.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 12 wherein the synchronizing signals are provided only to the processors which have time critical operations to perform that are too fast for the communications system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 10 including a reset means to synchronize the machine clock signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein one of said control devices downloads an instruction to another of said control devices, said instruction comprising an execution requirement, and a time of execution requirement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said control device activating a portion of said operating components receives input control information and provides output control information, said instruction to the activating control device comprising a) an input to monitor, b) an output to activate, and c) a time delay between monitoring and activating.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
132 words
A system controller for a system having a plurality of process operating components cooperating with one another to achieve a result, said controller comprising; a plurality of control devices for activating the process operating components, each of the control devices including an arithmetic and logic unit for manipulating data; - a communication line, each of the control devices being interconnected to the communication line for data communication between the control devices; a timing means producing synchronizing signals, and a synchronizing line connected to the control devices and the timing means to convey said synchronizing signals from the timing means to the control devices, said synchronizing line being independent of said communication line whereby the control devices receive synchronizing signals for the activation of the process operating components independent of said communication line.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
132 words
A system controller for a system having a plurality of process operating components cooperating with one another to achieve a result, said controller comprising; a plurality of control devices for activating the process operating components, each of the control devices including an arithmetic and logic unit for manipulating data; - a communication line, each of the control devices being interconnected to the communication line for data communication between the control devices; a timing means producing synchronizing signals, and a synchronizing line connected to the control devices and the timing means to convey said synchronizing signals from the timing means to the control devices, said synchronizing line being independent of said communication line whereby the control devices receive synchronizing signals for the activation of the process operating components independent of said communication line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The controller of claim 18, wherein said system is a machine, the communication line is a shared communication line, and one of the control devices is a master processor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The controller of claim 19 wherein said shared communication line conveys data between control devices, said control devices responding to the data upon receipt of the synchronizing signals from the timing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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