Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for automatically configuring an information processing system which incorporates a plurality of system devices, to accommodate the attachment of one of a plurality of different pluggable functional units into the system, the apparatus comprising: detecting means for detecting from the nature of the plugging which one of the plurality of functional units is currently attached; and coupling means responsive thereto for enabling selective coupling of electrical signals generated by a selected one of the plurality of system devices to that functional unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for automatically configuring an information processing system which incorporates a plurality of system devices, to accommodate the attachment of one of a plurality of different pluggable functional units into the system, the apparatus comprising: detecting means for detecting from the nature of the plugging which one of the plurality of functional units is currently attached; and coupling means responsive thereto for enabling selective coupling of electrical signals generated by a selected one of the plurality of system devices to that functional unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including means for excluding electrical signals generated by the remaining ones of the plurality of system devices from becoming coupled to that functional unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of functional units include input-output devices and/or memory units and/or logic circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of system devices are mounted on a system board together with the detecting means and the coupling means, and the excluding means, if present.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein coupling means comprises a commonly compatible part connector, mounted on the system board, able to mate with the other part connector of any of the functional units and establish plural contact to contact electrical connections thereby, a fixed sub-set of the contacts of the commonly compatible part connector being coupled to the detecting means and used by it to determine the type of functional unit currently plugged thereinto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the system units are each connected by conductive paths to a respective contacts of the commonly compatible part connector, the detecting means enabling one only thereof and disabling the remainder in response to signals derived from the fixed sub-set of contacts
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the system units are each connected by conductive paths to the detecting means, which includes respective cross-over switches coupled to respective conductive paths and to respective contacts of the commonly compatible part connector, the detecting means enabling one only thereof and disabling the remainder in response to signals derived from the fixed sub-set of contacts
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A data processing system including apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.