EP0273136A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal peripheral controller with configuration loaded during booting
Assignee: Bull HN Information Systems Inc
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Filing: 1987-10-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-10-30
Abstract
Abstract In a computer system having at least a bus with at least one central processing unit (CPU), one random access memory (RAM), and a first configuration of a plurality of different types of peripheral units (e.g. tape drives, disk drives, diskette drives, printers, unit record peripherals, etc.) coupled to the bus, an apparatus for controlling the first configuration and also capable of controlling a predetermined number of other configurations of different types of peripheral units when any of that predetermined number of configurations of peripheral units is coupled to the bus.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Klashka
- 👤 Sidney L. Kaufman
- 👤 Krzysztof A. Kowal
- 👤 Richard P. Lewis
- 👤 Susan L. Raisbeck
- 👤 John L. Mcnamara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
(1) In a computer system comprising of at least one bus, at least one read only memory and/or programmable read only memory (ROM, PROM) coupled to said bus, at least one random access memory (RAM) also coupled to said bus, a central subsystem (CSS) and further including a first configuration of different types of peripheral devices coupled to said bus, said first configuration typically comprising different numbers and types of peripheral devices such as m tape drives, n disk drives, p diskette drives, q unit record drives, a universal peripheral controller (UPC) coupled to said bus for controlling access to said bus of any peripheral device of said first configuration of different peripheral devices, said UPC also capable of controlling access to said bus of any peripheral device in any of a predetermined number of other configurations comprised of different peripheral devices which can be coupled to said bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
(2) The computer system as recited in Claim 1 including in said UPC adapter means for coupling said UPC to said any peripheral devices in any of said predetermined number of configurations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
(3) The computer system as recited in Claim 2 including Ramware means in one of said peripheral devices for providing said predetermined number of configurations of different peripheral devices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
(4) The computer system as recited in Claim 3 including utility loading means for automatically loading said Ramware means from a predetermined one of said any peripheral device in any of a predetermined number of configurations of different peripheral devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
(5) The computer system as recited in Claim 4 including in said UPC instruction means for servicing said any predetermined number of configurations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
(6) The computer system as recited in Claim 5 wherein said bus comprises a high priority, low data rate section and a low priority, high data rate section and wherein said UPC can service either one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
(7) The computer system as recited in Claim 6 wherein said adapters each include at least two channels for coupling said any peripheral device of said any predetermined number of configurations to said adapter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
(8) The computer system as recited in Claim 7 wherein said UPC permits up to four simultaneous data transfers on said channels that are not busy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
(9) The computer system as recited in Claim 5 wherein said instruction means include IOLD function code means for providing addresses for data transfers into and from said RAM.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
(10) The computer system as recited in Claim 9 including configuration words corresponding to predetermined ones of said channels and wherein said instruction means further includes configuration word means for loading any of said configurations means into said RAM A.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
(11) The computer system as recited in Claim 10 wherein said instruction means includes stop Ramware load instruction means for terminating a string of said IOLD instructions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
(12) In a computer system comprising of at least one bus, at least one read only memory and/or programmable read only memory (ROM, PROM) coupled to said bus, at least one random access memory (RAM) also coupled to said bus, a central subsystem (CSS) and further including a first configuration of different types of peripheral devices coupled to said bus, said first configuration typically comprising different numbers and types of peripheral devices such as m tape drives, n disk drives, p diskette drives, q unit record drives, a universal peripheral controller (UPC) for controlling access to said bus by any peripheral device of said first configuration of different peripheral devices, said UPC also capable of controlling access to said bus by any peripheral device of a second configuration of different types of peripheral devices when said second configuration replaces said first configuration of peripheral devices coupled to said bus, said second configuration comprising typically of different numbers and types of peripheral devices such as x tape drives, y disk drives, z diskette drives and s unit record drives.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
(13) The UPC as recited in Claim 12 wherein said UPC for controlling communications of a third configuration of peripheral devices when coupled to said bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
(14) The UPC as recited in Claim 13 wherein said UPC can control the communications of any predetermined number of configurations of peripheral devices when coupled to said bus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
(15) The computer system as recited in Claim 12 including in said UPC adapter means for coupling said UPC to said any peripheral devices in any of said predetermined number of configurations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
(16) The computer system as recited in Claim 15 including Ramware means in one of said peripheral devices for providing said predetermined number of configurations of different peripheral devices.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
(17) The computer system as recited in Claim 16 including utility loading means for automatically loading said Ramware means from a predetermined one ofsaid any peripheral device in any of a predetermined number of configurations of different peripheral devices into RAM.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
(18) The computer system as recited in Claim 17 including in said UPC instruction means for servicing said any predetermined number of configurations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
(19) The computer system as recited in Claim 18 wherein said bus comprises a high priority, low data rate section and a low priority, high data rate section and wherein said UPC can service either one.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
(20) The computer system as recited in Claim 19 wherein said adapters each include at least two channels for coupling said any peripheral device of said any predetermined number of configurations to said adapter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
(21) The computer system as recited in Claim 20 wherein said UPC permits up to four simultaneous data transfers on said channels that are not busy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
(22) The computer system as recited in Claim 21 wherein said instruction means includes IOLD function code means for providing addresses for data transfers into said RAM A from said RAM.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
(23) The computer system as recited in Claim 22 including a RAM A and further including configuration words corresponding to predetermined ones of said channels and wherein said instruction means further includes configuration word means for loading any of said configuration means into said RAM A.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
(24) The computer system as recited in Claim 23 wherein said instruction means includes stop Ramware load instruction means for terminating a string of said IOLD instructions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
113 words
(25) In a computer system comprising of at least a system bus, at least a control subsystem (CSS), said CSS also including an erasable programmable memory (EPROM), and at least one random access memory (RAM) all coupled to the system bus, and further including different types and number of peripheral devices such as tape drives, disk drives, diskette drives, unit record drives, printers, etc., all coupled to the system bus, a universal peripheral controller (UPC) having at least two adapters for coupling said peripheral devices to said system, said UPC for maintaining a base intelligence for interrogating said at least one adapter to control access of said peripheral devices to said system bus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
(26) The computer system as recited in Claim 25 including Ramware means in one of said diskette drives for identifying any of a predetermined number of configurations of said different types of peripheral devices that can be coupled to said system bus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
(27) The computer system as recited in Claim 26 including a RAM A and utility loading means in said UPC for automatically loading said Ramware means from said one diskette drive into said RAM, and from said RAM into said RAM A.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
(28) The computer system as recited in Claim 27 including instruction means in said UPC for servicing any of said configurations of peripheral devices coupled to said UPC.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
(29) The computer system as recited in Claim 28 wherein said instruction means includes IOLD instruction means for providing addresses for data transfers into or from said RAM.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
(30) The computer system as recited in Claim 29 wherein said adapters include a plurality of channels and further including configuration words corresponding to predetermined ones of said channels and wherein said instruction means further includes configuration word means for loading any of said configuration words into said RAM.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
191 words
(31) A computer peripheral controller system having at least a system bus, at least a control subsystem (CSS), said CSS also including an erasable programmable memory (EPROM), and at least one random access memory (RAM) all coupled to the system bus, said computer peripheral controller system for controlling different types of peripheral devices (e.g. tape drives, disk drives, diskette drives, unit record drives, printers, etc.) coupled to said system bus, said peripheral computer system controller comprising: (a) adapter means coupled to said computer peripheral controller for coupling said peripheral devices to said system bus; (b) processor means coupled to said computer peripheral controller for controlling access to said system bus; (c) Ramware means in one of said peripheral devices for providing at least one configuration of peripheral devices for coupling to said system bus, from a plurality of configurations of peripheral devices capable of being coupled to said system bus; (d) utility loading means for automatically loading said Ramware means from one of said peripheral devices into said RAM; and, (e) instruction means in said universal peripheral controller system for servicing said configuration of peripheral devices coupled to said system bus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
(32) The computer peripheral controller system as recited in Claim 31 wherein said instruction means includes IOLD function code means for identifying addresses for data transfers into or from said RAM.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
(33) The computer system as recited in Claim 32 wherein said instruction means includes stop Ramware load instruction means for terminating the loading of said Ramware means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
92 words
(34) In a computer system having at least a bus with at least one central processing unit (CPU) one random access memory (RAM), and a first configuration of a plurality of different types of peripheral units (e.g., tape drives, disk drives, diskette drives, printers, unit record peripherals, etc.) coupled to the bus, an apparatus for controlling the first configuration and also capable of controlling a predetermined number of other configurations of different types of peripheral units when any of that predetermined number of configurations of peripheral units is coupled to the bus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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