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EP0281999A2
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Data processing system with pluggable option card
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A data processing system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a main memory unit, and input/output (I/O) sockets, each adapted to receive a selected one of a plurality of different and/or similar option cards. Each card contains (or is connected to) and controls a respective peripheral device, and each card is pre-wired with an ID value corresponding to its card type. Programmable option registers on each card store parameters such as address information, priority levels, and other system resource parameters. A setup routine, during initial power-on, retrieves and stores the appropriate parameters in the I/O cards and also in socket locations in main memory, one location being assigned to each input/output socket. Each socket location is adapted to hold the parameters associated with the card inserted in its respective socket and the card ID value. That portion of main memory containing the socket locations is adapted to maintain the parameter and ID information by means of battery power when system power fails or is disconnected, i.e., a non-volatile memory portion. Subsequent power-on routines are simplified by merely transferring parameters from the memory to the card registers if the status of all the sockets has not changed since the last power-down.
Inventors
- 👤 Chester Asbury Heath
- 👤 John Kennedy Langgood
- 👤 Ronald Eugene Valli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2289; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A digital data processing system including a plurality of input/output sockets (2-0 to 2-7) for accepting up to a like plurality of input/output cards (5-0 to 5-7), and means for generating operational data for the cards, characterised by a non-volatile memory (10) for storing said operational data, means (14) for enabling the cards within the sockets at power-up of the system to obtain identifier data from each of said cards for comparison with corresponding identifier data within said stored operational data to determine whether said stored operational data is valid for the cards in the sockets, and means (17C) for directing valid operational data from said memory to the cards in the sockets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A digital data processing system including a plurality of input/output sockets (2-0 to 2-7) for accepting up to a like plurality of input/output cards (5-0 to 5-7), and means for generating operational data for the cards, characterised by a non-volatile memory (10) for storing said operational data, means (14) for enabling the cards within the sockets at power-up of the system to obtain identifier data from each of said cards for comparison with corresponding identifier data within said stored operational data to determine whether said stored operational data is valid for the cards in the sockets, and means (17C) for directing valid operational data from said memory to the cards in the sockets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to Claim 1 in which each card includes circuit means for generating identifier data related to the card function in response to an enabling signal and register means for storing said valid operational data, including said identifier data, from said memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 including means (60) for generating fixed identifier data in response to enable signals applied to empty sockets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to Claim 3, including means (8 and Figure 6) for initially setting up parameter data in said memory in response to identifier data received from sequentially enabled cards in said sockets and said fixed identifier data corresponding to empty sockets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A system according to Claim 4 including means (8 and Figure 7) for transferring corresponding parameter data from said memory to the register means in each card within a socket in response to the detection of equality between the identifier data from each card in a socket together with said fixed identifier data corresponding to any empty sockets and said identifier data in said memory, or, in response to detection of inequality therebetween, to update parameter data in said memory in response to the identifier data received from the cards and said fixed identifier data corresponding to empty sockets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A digital data processing system including a plurality of input/output sockets (2-0 to 2-7) for accepting up to a like plurality of input/output cards (5-0 to 5-7), characterised by non-volatile memory means (10) storing, in locations thereof assigned to respective input/output sockets, identity values and parameter data of input/output cards within the sockets, means (8 and Figure 7) effective on power-up of the system for comparing an identity value generated by each card with the identity value stored in the corresponding memory location, and means (17C, 21) responsive to successful comparison of all the respective identity values for equality for writing into each respective card the parameter data stored in the corresponding memory location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A digital data processing system including a plurality of input/output sockets (2-0 to 2-7) for accepting up to a like plurality of input/output cards (5-0 to 5-7), characterised by non-volatile memory means (10) storing, in locations thereof assigned to respective input/output sockets, identity values and parameter data of input/output cards within the sockets, means (8 and Figure 7) effective on power-up of the system for comparing an identity value generated by each card with the identity value stored in the corresponding memory location, and means (17C, 21) responsive to successful comparison of all the respective identity values for equality for writing into each respective card the parameter data stored in the corresponding memory location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A system according to Claim 6 including means (41, 60) for interrogating each input/output socket to fetch the identify value of a card attached thereto or alternatively producing a fixed, unique identity value for each empty interrogated socket, said memory storing said unique identity value at each location corresponding to an empty socket when the system is powered down, said means for comparing being effective up on subsequent power-up of the system to compare each unique identity value generated an interrogation of a socket with the value in the corresponding memory location, thereby to detect removal, addition or replacement of input/output cards during power-down of the system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of automatically setting parameters for operation of option cards pluggable into input/output sockets in a microcomputer system comprising the steps of: at initial power-up of the system, generating option card parameters relating to cards plugged into the sockets, and storing the generated parameters in a non-volatile memory; at subsequent power-up, determining that the stored parameters remain valid with respect to option cards plugged into the sockets; and transferring the valid parameters from the memory to the respective option cards.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of automatically setting parameters for operation of option cards pluggable into input/output sockets in a microcomputer system comprising the steps of: at initial power-up of the system, generating option card parameters relating to cards plugged into the sockets, and storing the generated parameters in a non-volatile memory; at subsequent power-up, determining that the stored parameters remain valid with respect to option cards plugged into the sockets; and transferring the valid parameters from the memory to the respective option cards.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to Claim 8, in which said parameters include identity data, and each option card includes means for generating identity data, and said determining that the stored parameters remain valid comprises comparing the identity data from each option card with identity data within the parameters stored in a memory location corresponding to the socket into which the card is plugged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which said parameters include a unique parameter set representing the absence of an option card in a socket, and said determining that the stored parameters remain valid includes the step of generating said unique parameter set on detection of the absence of an option card in a socket and determining, by comparison, whether the stored parameter set corresponding to that socket equals the unique parameter set, thereby determining whether an option card has been inserted during power-down of the system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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