Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for producing an adapter device which operatively connects a selected controlled machine to a central control unit via a network, comprising: constructing and assembling a first group of adapter device components, including a central processing unit, memory means and input/output devices, solely on the basis of the operating characteristics of the central control unit; constructing a further adapter device component in accordance with the operating characteristics of the selected controlled machine; and removably connecting the further adapter device component to the first group of adapter device components to produce the adapter device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for producing an adapter device which operatively connects a selected controlled machine to a central control unit via a network, comprising: constructing and assembling a first group of adapter device components, including a central processing unit, memory means and input/output devices, solely on the basis of the operating characteristics of the central control unit; constructing a further adapter device component in accordance with the operating characteristics of the selected controlled machine; and removably connecting the further adapter device component to the first group of adapter device components to produce the adapter device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of constructing a further component comprises: providing representations of control commands which the central control unit is constructed to produce for any controlled machine; providing representations of instructions which the selected controlled machine must receive in order to respond to each of the control commands; and coding the further adapter device in accordance with the representations of control commands and the representations of instructions for causing the adapter device to perform conversions between the control commands and the instructions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step of providing representations of instructions comprises: providing representations of information identifying the type of data which must be supplied for machines of the class containing the selected machine to enable those machines to respond to each of the control commands; and using the representations of information to interrogate an operation to obtain appropriate data for the machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
An adapter device which operatively connects a selected controlled machine to a central control unit via a network, comprising: a first group of adapter device components, including a central processing unit, memory means and input/output devices, constructed and assembled solely on the basis of the operating characteristics of the central control unit; and a further adapter device component constructed in accordance with the operating characteristics of the selected controlled machine; said further adapter device component being removably connected to the first group of adapter device components to produce the adapter device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
An adapter device which operatively connects a selected controlled machine to a central control unit via a network, comprising: a first group of adapter device components, including a central processing unit, memory means and input/output devices, constructed and assembled solely on the basis of the operating characteristics of the central control unit; and a further adapter device component constructed in accordance with the operating characteristics of the selected controlled machine; said further adapter device component being removably connected to the first group of adapter device components to produce the adapter device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said further component is constructed by providing representations of control commands which the central control unit is constructed to produce for any controlled machine; providing representations of instructions which the selected controlled machine must receive in order to respond to each of the control commands; and coding the further adapter device in accordance with the representations of control commands and the representations of instructions for causing the adapter device to perform conversions between the control commands and the instructions.