EP0180428A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable computer
Assignee: V-MARC Inc
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Filing: 1985-10-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-10-25
Abstract
Abstract 57 A computer system has a system bus with several sockets or slots therein which receive memory modules. Each module can be used to implement at least one of a variety of functions. The functions include operating system programs, application programs, and random access memories (RAM). Each slot has a module select line coupled to it at the same location. A module select circuit is provided which enables the module select lines to select the appropriate module or modules. Modules implementing the same type of function, or different functions, can be plugged into the slots in any order. Each module implementing the same type of function is allocated the same address block and starts at the same address. In the cases of operating system modules and application program modules, the module which is enabled by the module select line acts as the program memory for the processor so that the program is instantaneously in memory from the time the module is selected. The computer system of the instant invention does not load a program from a storage medium into memory and then execute it. In the case of a RAM module, the selected module becomes a memory for the processor when selected and the processor can access the RAM module to store and retrieve data.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry G. Durkos
- 👤 Duaine O. Taylor
- 👤 Timothy E. Franklin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/76; G06F15/78; G06F15/7839; G06F15/02; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A computer, comprising a processor including means for addressing memory; multiple means for coupling memory modules to the processor; each memory module implementing a function of one of a plurality of types of functions; each function of a particular function type having the same starting address; the memory module coupling means capable of coupling a plurality of modules implementing different functions of the same function type to the processor at the same time; and means for enabling memory modules to select from among the functions provided by the modules coupled to the processor a desired function; the selected one or more modules comprising the memory addressed by the processor's memory addressing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A computer, comprising a processor including means for addressing memory; multiple means for coupling memory modules to the processor; each memory module implementing a function of one of a plurality of types of functions; each function of a particular function type having the same starting address; the memory module coupling means capable of coupling a plurality of modules implementing different functions of the same function type to the processor at the same time; and means for enabling memory modules to select from among the functions provided by the modules coupled to the processor a desired function; the selected one or more modules comprising the memory addressed by the processor's memory addressing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer of claim 1 wherein the function types include operating system programs, application programs, and random access memory (RAM).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer of claim 2 wherein the enabling means includes a select line for each means for coupling a memory module to the processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer of claim 3 wherein each memory module implementing an application program function includes means for identifying that memory module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer of claim 4 wherein each memory module implementing an operating system program function includes means for identifying that memory module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer of claim 5 wherein the memory module identifying means for the application program modules and the operating system modules comprises a module identification block of information related to the function type implemented by the module, a name for the memory module, an indication of related modules, and a memory module identification number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer of claim 6 wherein the enabling means includes means for selectively enabling individual coupling means and the processor includes means for reading the module identification block of the selectively enabled memory module and determining if a memory module for a desired function has been enabled based upon the information contained in the module identification block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer of claim 1 and further including a system bus, means for coupling the system bus to the processor, and means for coupling the system bus to the means for coupling memory modules to the processor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer of claim 8 wherein the system bus includes a unique enable line for each coupling means for enabling the module coupled by the coupling means to the processor and the means for selecting from among the modules comprises means for actuating the enable lines for the selected modules.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer of claim 9 wherein the processor includes a microprocessor, a microcomputer, and a dual port memory coupling the microprocessor to the microcomputer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer of claim 3 wherein the module select means includes means for sequentially actuating the enable lines to enable the modules in some sequence, means for determining that an enabled module implements a desired function, and means for halting the sequential actuation upon such a determination and maintaining the enable line for the last enabled module actuated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer of claim 11 wherein the module select means further includes means for restarting the sequential actuation of the enabling means to select another desired function.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer of claim 6 wherein the enabling means further includes second means for determining if the desired function is distributed among more modules than the enabled module, and means for enabling the additional modules among which the function is distributed and generating an error indication if any of such additional modules are absent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer of claim 13 wherein the second determining means comprises a module identification block indicating any additional modules needed by the function, each memory module which implements an application program function or an operating system program function having a module identification block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
147 words
A portable computer having a processor, multiple means for coupling memory modules to the processor including, a system bus, the modules including modules containing operating system programs, modules containing random access memory (RAM), and modules containing application programs, the operating system program modules allocated an address block, the application program modules allocated an address block and the RAM modules allocated an address block, each of the address blocks comprising a unique set of addresses, each operating system program having the same starting address within the operating system program address block and each application program having the same starting address within the application program address block, and means for selecting from among the modules coupled to the processor to select the modules necessary for the processor to execute at least one of the operating system programs and application programs, the selected modules comprising memory addressed by the processor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
A portable computer having a processor, multiple means for coupling memory modules to the processor including, a system bus, the modules including modules containing operating system programs, modules containing random access memory (RAM), and modules containing application programs, the operating system program modules allocated an address block, the application program modules allocated an address block and the RAM modules allocated an address block, each of the address blocks comprising a unique set of addresses, each operating system program having the same starting address within the operating system program address block and each application program having the same starting address within the application program address block, and means for selecting from among the modules coupled to the processor to select the modules necessary for the processor to execute at least one of the operating system programs and application programs, the selected modules comprising memory addressed by the processor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer of claim 15 wherein the selecting means comprises each module coupling means having an enable terminal, the system bus including enable lines coupled to the enable terminals of the module coupling means, the processor having means for selectively actuating the enable lines to enable a module.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer of claim 16 wherein the enable lines comprise a unique enable line for each module coupling means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer of claim 17 wherein the selecting means includes the processor having means for sequentially actuating the enable lines to enable the modules coupled to the processor in some sequence to select the next program and means for initiating the sequential actuating means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer of claim 16 wherein the selecting means includes each application program and operating system program module having a module identification block, the processor having means for interrogating the module identification block of an enabled module.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer of claim 17 wherein the selecting means include each module having a module identification block, the module identification block including information related to the module, and the processor includes means for reading the information from the module identification block of an enabled module.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
The computer of claim 20 wherein the module identification block for modules containing programs includes information indicating any additional modules which are needed by the program and the processing means includes means for querying the module identification blocks of the selectively enabled modules to locate any needed additional modules, maintaining the enable lines for the needed modules enabled, and generating an error indication should a needed module be missing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer of claim 15 wherein the processor includes means for storing data for a program it is executing in a RAM module, selecting a new program, and executing the new program utilizing the data stored in the RAM module.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer of claim 21 wherein the processor includes RAM, the processor further including means for storing data for a program it is executing in the processor's RAM or in a RAM module, means for selecting a new program from among the modules coupled to the processor and executing the new program utilizing the data stored in the processor's RAM or the RAM module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer of claim 15 wherein the processor includes a RAM, a calculator, and a file system, means for switching between a program being executed by the processor and one of the file system and calculator wherein data generated by the selected one of the calculator and file system can be selectively stored in the processor's RAM for use by the application program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
116 words
A portable computer having a processor with a memory having an operating system therein, a plurality of slots for receiving modules, a system bus, the system bus including means for coupling the processor to the slots, the modules including modules having memories with operating system programs therein and modules having memories with application programs therein, means for communicably coupling the processor's operating system to a selected module containing an operating system program, the processor's operating system being configured to handle input/output functions related to hardware-dependent functions of the computer, the selected module's operating system being configured to interact with at least one application program contained in at least one module received in one of the slots.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
116 words
A portable computer having a processor with a memory having an operating system therein, a plurality of slots for receiving modules, a system bus, the system bus including means for coupling the processor to the slots, the modules including modules having memories with operating system programs therein and modules having memories with application programs therein, means for communicably coupling the processor's operating system to a selected module containing an operating system program, the processor's operating system being configured to handle input/output functions related to hardware-dependent functions of the computer, the selected module's operating system being configured to interact with at least one application program contained in at least one module received in one of the slots.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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