Processor interconnect network for printing press system

Claim 2

A processor interconnect network for operating a printing press having a plurality of different modules each containing a means for processing, comprising: control means for communicating having a plurality of ports connected to said plurality of means for processing in said modules of said printing press in a one-to-one correspondence; and each of said modules being equivalent to a node in a local area network and having a unique address.

Claim 3

The processor interconnect ACCORDING TO Claim 1 wherein said control means and said plurality of modules form substantially a star network.

Claim 4

The processor interconnect network according to claim 2, wherein addition modules can be connected to unused available ports of said control means without substantial change to operating said star network.

Claim 5

The processor interconnect network according to claim 1, wherein said processor interconnect network operates independently of the port of the control means to which each module is connected.

Claim 6

The processor interconnect network according to claim 1, wherein said modules are composed of at least a plurality of DRINKS, each having a unique address.

Claim 7

The processor interconnect network according to claim 1, wherein the processor interconnect network is a network layer of an International Standards Organization (ISO) model, said model also having in order of decreasing hierarchy from the network layer, a data link layer, a physical layer and a physical medium.

Claim 8

The processor interconnect network according to claim 1, wherein said control means and said modules provides distributed computing power for said processor interconnect network.

Claim 9

The processor interconnect network according to claim 1, wherein said modules communicate with one another via said control means.

Claim 10

The processor interconnect network according to claim 5, wherein each of said DRINKS has a plurality of functions operating in response to instructions received via said central means.

Claim 11

A processor interconnect network for operating a printing press having a plurality of different modules each containing a means for processing, comprising: control means for communicating having a plurality of ports connected to said plurality of means for processing in said modules of said printing press in a one-to-one correspondence; each of said modules being equivalent to a node in a local area network and having a unique address; and said control means and said plurality of modules forming substantially a star network, and said processor interconnect network operating independently of the port of the control means to which each module is connected.

Claim 12

A processor interconnect network for operating a printing press having a plurality of different modules each containing a means for processing, comprising: control means for communicating having a plurality of ports connected to said plurality of means for processing in said modules of said printing press in a one-to-one correspondence; each of said modules being equivalent to a node in a local area network and having a unique address; and said control means and said plurality of modules forming substantially a star network, and said processor interconnect network operating independently of the port of the control means to which each module is connected.

Claim 13

The processor interconnect network according to claim 10, wherein addition modules can be connected to unused available ports of said control means without substantial change to operating said star network.

Claim 14

The processor interconnect network according to claim 10, wherein said modules are composed of at least a plurality of DRINKS, each having a unique address.

Claim 15

The processor interconnect network according to claim 10, wherein each of said DRINKS has a plurality of functions operating in response to instructions received via said central means.

Claim 16

The processor interconnect network according to claim 10, wherein the processor interconnect network is a network layer of an International Standards Organization (ISO) model, said model also having in order of decreasing hierarchy from the network layer, a data link layer, a physical layer and a physical medium.

Claim 17

The processor interconnect network according to claim 10, wherein said control means and said modules provides distributed computing power for said processor interconnect network.

Claim 18

The processor interconnect network according to claim 10, wherein said modules communicate with one another via said control means.

Claim 19

A processor interconnect network for operating a printing press having a plurality of different modules each containing a means for processing, comprising: control means for communicating having a plurality of ports connected to said plurality of means for processing in said modules of said printing press in a one-to-one correspondence; each of said modules being equivalent to a node in a local area network and having a unique address; said processor interconnect network operating independently of the port of control means to which each module is connected; the processor interconnect network being a network layer of an International Standards Organization (ISO) model, said model also having in order of decreasing hierarchy from the network layer, a data link layer, a physical layer and a physical medium; and said control means and said modules providing distributed computing power for said processor interconnect network; and said modules communicate with one another via said control means.

Claim 20

A processor interconnect network for operating a printing press having a plurality of different modules each containing a means for processing, comprising: control means for communicating having a plurality of ports connected to said plurality of means for processing in said modules of said printing press in a one-to-one correspondence; each of said modules being equivalent to a node in a local area network and having a unique address; said processor interconnect network operating independently of the port of control means to which each module is connected; the processor interconnect network being a network layer of an International Standards Organization (ISO) model, said model also having in order of decreasing hierarchy from the network layer, a data link layer, a physical layer and a physical medium; and said control means and said modules providing distributed computing power for said processor interconnect network; and said modules communicate with one another via said control means.

Claim 21

The processor interconnect network according to claim 17, wherein addition modules can be connected to unused available ports of said control means without substantial change to operating said star network.

Claim 22

The processor interconnect network according to claim 17, wherein said modules are composed of at least a plurality of DRINKS, each having a unique address.

Claim 23

The processor interconnect network according to claim 19, wherein each of said DRINKS has a plurality of functions operating in response to instructions received via said central means.