EP0239324A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
CPU channel to CPU channel extender
Assignee: ChannelNet Corp
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Filing: 1987-03-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A system is described with which a channel of an IBM central processor unit (CPU) may communicate at channel speed with a channel of another CPU over extended distances. The system incorporates coupler units at each CPU site and each coupler unit has high speed dedicated data transfer logic that is enabled during data transfer by a microprocessor. During initial selection sequences the microprocessor controls and sets up conditions for data communication through a high speed serial full duplex data link capable of accommodating channel speed data transfers. Each coupler employs suitable parallel to serial and serial to parallel converters. Parity error checks are performed throughout the system to detect errors and alert the system of the occurrence of errors. Data transfers occur without interlock across the link and in a rapid manner.
Inventors
- 👤 C.Peter Armstrong
- 👤 Ronald P. Steiner
- 👤 Mitchell J. Nusbam
- 👤 Paul Yursis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/12; G06F13/122; G06F13/38; G06F13/42; G06F13/4204; G06F13/4221; G06F13/4226; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/163; G06F15/17; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/08; G06F11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for enabling a first IBM CPU channel located at one site to communicate at a channel speed with a second remotely-located channel of another IBM CPU located at a remote site through a duplex high speed _serial data communication link that extends between the sites, comprising: first and second couplers for coupling to said data link and respectively through bus and tag cables to the first and second channels, said couplers each comprising: PISO means for converting data in parallel form to a serial form suitable for transmission through the data link at a channel speed; SIPO means for receiving serial data passed through the link from PISO means and for converting said received data to parallel form; means for generating vectors for transmittal from a source coupler over the data link to the other coupler, wherein the vectors represent sequences desired between the other coupler and its connected channel and represent the status of the source coupler and its data communication with a CPU channel; means for detecting said vectors to initiate said sequences; and data transfer and assist logic means coupled to the PISO means and SIPO means for data communication through bus and tag cables to a CPU channel to transfer data channel speed with a channel using interlocking signals and provide data to said PISO means without interlocking signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for enabling a first IBM CPU channel located at one site to communicate at a channel speed with a second remotely-located channel of another IBM CPU located at a remote site through a duplex high speed _serial data communication link that extends between the sites, comprising: first and second couplers for coupling to said data link and respectively through bus and tag cables to the first and second channels, said couplers each comprising: PISO means for converting data in parallel form to a serial form suitable for transmission through the data link at a channel speed; SIPO means for receiving serial data passed through the link from PISO means and for converting said received data to parallel form; means for generating vectors for transmittal from a source coupler over the data link to the other coupler, wherein the vectors represent sequences desired between the other coupler and its connected channel and represent the status of the source coupler and its data communication with a CPU channel; means for detecting said vectors to initiate said sequences; and data transfer and assist logic means coupled to the PISO means and SIPO means for data communication through bus and tag cables to a CPU channel to transfer data channel speed with a channel using interlocking signals and provide data to said PISO means without interlocking signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A- system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each coupler includes: means for generating initial selection and end sequence signals for use with a CPU channel in a manner that is compatible with CPU channel to channel adapter protocol; and means responsive to a vector received from a remote coupler over the data link for initiating a said sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
'A - system as claimed in claim 2 and further including in each coupler: means responsive to a said vector for enabling said data transfer and assist logic means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein each coupler further includes a buffer interposed between the SIPO means and the data transfer and assist logic means; means for detecting when the buffer is filled with a predetermined amount of data and producing a transfer hold vector indicative thereof; means responsive to a detected transfer hold vector to cause a suppression of data transfer from a connected channel; means for producing a transfer continue vector when the buffer contains less data than said predetermined amount after containing a greater amount of data; and means responsive to a detected transfer continue vector to enable a resumption of the transfer of data from a connected channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein each coupler further includes: controller means for operating and monitoring the data link, said controller means producing control words for transmittal along the data link.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for enabling a first IBM CPU channel located at one site to communicate at a channel speed with a second remotely located channel of another IBM CPU located at a remote site through a duplex high speed serial data communication link that extends between the sites, comprising the steps of: commencing an initial selection sequence with a first channel at one site; producing at said one site, a vector representative of a selection sequence desired with the second channel at the remote site; generating interlocked signal sequences with the first channel to transfer data therefrom to the data link; sending the data over the data link without interlocking signals to the remote site; and transferring data at the remote site to the second channel using interlocking signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for enabling a first IBM CPU channel located at one site to communicate at a channel speed with a second remotely located channel of another IBM CPU located at a remote site through a duplex high speed serial data communication link that extends between the sites, comprising the steps of: commencing an initial selection sequence with a first channel at one site; producing at said one site, a vector representative of a selection sequence desired with the second channel at the remote site; generating interlocked signal sequences with the first channel to transfer data therefrom to the data link; sending the data over the data link without interlocking signals to the remote site; and transferring data at the remote site to the second channel using interlocking signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A- method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the vector producing step includes the steps of: producing a vector representative of a write request from the first channel; sending the write request vector through the serial data link to the second channel; in response to the write request vector, producing a vector representative of a read request from the second channel; sending the read request vector through the serial data to the first channel; and enabling data transfer from the first channel and to the second channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said enabling step includes: following the production of the read request vector by initiative global retry requests from the second channel; and upon receipt of the read request vector, producing a second write request vector from the first channel; and sending the second write request vector through the data link to the second channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said enabling step further includes the steps of: sending vectors representative of the second channel's retry state and read request through the data link to the first channel; and sending a vector representative of the status of the first channel to the second channel to enable data transfer to the latter channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 and further comprising: producing a transfer hold vector representative of the filling of a buffer located at the remote site in excess of a predetermined amount; sending said transfer hold vector through the data link to the one site to suppress transfer of data from the first channel; producing a transfer continue vector representative of the buffer being emptied below the predetermined amount after having been filled above this amount; and sending the transfer continue vector through the data link to the one site to cause a resumption of data transfer from the first channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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