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EP0346946A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Communication line controller

Assignee: Tandem Computers Inc
•
Filing: 1984-11-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-11-14
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a system for control­ling multiple communications lines, so that a computer system can operate with a single component failure. Two processors are used to control two communications controllers and each of the controllers control up to 15 line controllers. Each line controller has two ports and each port is connected to a communications controller thereby providing two communications paths toeach processor. Two power supplies are also used to provide single failure fault-tolerance. Additionally, the disclosure relates to providing a downloadable microprocessor board in combination with, but separate from, an interface board that is designed to meet various communication format specifications and the line controller comprises the two boards. The use of a single microprocessor board improves produceability, maintainability and diagnostic capabilities.

Inventors

  • 👤 David Albert Greig
  • 👤 David Lee Hinders
  • 👤 William Robert Goodman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 14:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007; G06F11/2005; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/382; G06F13/385; G06F11/14; G06F11/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A line controller system for communicating data between a plurality of processors means (10a, 10b) and a plurality of remote port means (26a-n) and wherein said remote port means (26a-n), in use, receives and transmits data within predetermined electronic and data formats, comprising processing means (34) connected to said processor means for communicating said data between said processor means (10a, b) and said port means (26a-n); interface means (36) connected between said processing means (34) and said port means (26a-n) for communicating said data within said predetermined electronic and data formats between said processor means (10a, b) and said port means (26a, b), and communications means (66, 68) connecting together said processing means (34) and said interface means (36) for communicating said data between said processing means (34) and said interface means (36).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 133 words
A line controller system for communicating data between a plurality of processors means (10a, 10b) and a plurality of remote port means (26a-n) and wherein said remote port means (26a-n), in use, receives and transmits data within predetermined electronic and data formats, comprising processing means (34) connected to said processor means for communicating said data between said processor means (10a, b) and said port means (26a-n); interface means (36) connected between said processing means (34) and said port means (26a-n) for communicating said data within said predetermined electronic and data formats between said processor means (10a, b) and said port means (26a, b), and communications means (66, 68) connecting together said processing means (34) and said interface means (36) for communicating said data between said processing means (34) and said interface means (36).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 65 words
The processing means of claim 1, comprising; microprocessor means (54) for executing instructions; memory means (56, 58) connected to said microprocessor means (54) for storing programs and data, and a plurality of port means (40a, b, 60, 62, 64) connected to said memory means (56, 58), said microprocessor means (54), said processor means (10a, 10b) and said interface means (36) for communication data there between.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 79 words
The interface means of claim 1 or 2, comprising; driver means (37) connected to said processing means (34) and said remote port means (26) for transmitting data to said remote port means (26) from said processor means (10a, 10b); receiver means (38) connected to said processing means (34) and said port means for transmitting data from said port means to said processor means, and; identifier memory means (70) connected to processor means for identifying characteristics of said interface means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 71 words
The communications means of claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising, parallel data path means (62-68) connected to said processing means (34) and said interface means (36) for communicating data between said interface means (36) and said processing means (34), and; serial data path means (60; 66, 68) connected to said processing means (34) and said interface means (36) for communicating data between said interface means (36) and said processing means (34).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4079452A Cited
WO1982003285A1 Cited

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