Patent EP0433818A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0433818A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for configuring a computer bus adapter circuit board without the use of jumpers or switches
Assignee: 3Com Corp
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Filing: 1990-12-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A computer bus adapter device which is coupled to a true parallel computer bus is automatically set to a pre-determined configuration in response to configuration data provided to the bus by a host process. During a set-up portion of an initialization procedure, the adapter device recognizes a data sequence and uses information based on the recognized data sequence to configure itself to respond to its host process. In a specific embodiment, the desired configuration information is stored in non-volatile storage associated with the host process, such as a magnetic file or a non-volatile random access memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Arnold Peterson
- 👤 Richard S. Reid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/06; G06F12/0646; G06F12/0653; G06F12/0661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for configuring a computer bus adapter in a computer system having a parallel bus, a bus master unit, nonvolatile storage means, and at least one adapter means coupled to said parallel bus, said method comprising the steps of: retrieving initialization information and configuration values for said at least one adapter from said nonvolatile storage means to said bus master unit; preparing a first sequence of information from said initialization information for transmittal by said bus master unit to said one adapter means; sending said first sequence of information from said bus master unit to said adapter means via said parallel bus; receiving information from said parallel bus at said adapter means until said first sequence of information is recognized by said adapter means; upon recognition of said first sequence of said information by said adapter means, using said first sequence of information to establish a base address for said adapter means, said base address for uniquely addressing said adapter means by said bus master unit via said parallel bus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1, further including the step of: transmitting said configuration values from said bus master unit to said adapter means by reference to said base address.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
206 words
A method for configuring a computer bus adapter in a computer system having a parallel bus, a bus master unit, nonvolatile storage means, and at least one adapter means coupled to said parallel bus, said method comprising the steps of: retrieving initialization information and configuration values for said at least one adapter from said nonvolatile storage means to said bus master unit, said initialization information including a seed value for an identification process and a procedure for an identification process; preparing a first sequence of information from said initialization information for transmittal by said bus master unit to said one adapter means, said preparing step comprising executing said identification process according to said procedure based upon said seed value; sending said first sequence of information from said bus master unit to said adapter means via said parallel bus; receiving information from said parallel bus at said adapter means until said first sequence of information is recognized by said adapter means; upon recognition of said first sequence of said information by said adapter means, using said first sequence of information to establish a base address for said adapter means, said base address for uniquely addressing said adapter means by said bus master unit via said parallel bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said using step comprises employing a portion of said first sequence of information as a base address value for said adapter means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein said using step comprises employing as a base address value for said adapter means the address to which said first sequence is transmitted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 3, further including the step of: transmitting said configuration values from said bus master unit to said adapter means by reference to said base address.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for configuring a computer bus adapter in a computer system having a parallel bus, a bus master unit, nonvolatile storage means, and at least one adapter means coupled to said parallel bus, said method comprising the steps of: retrieving initialization information and configuration values for said at least one adapter from said nonvolatile storage means to said bus master unit, said initialization information including a start value and unique adapter identification code; preparing a first sequence of information from said initialization information for transmittal by said bus master unit to said one adapter means, said preparing step comprising computing an identification sequence and computing a check value for said identification sequence; sending said first sequence of information from said bus master unit to said adapter means via said parallel bus, including said identification sequence and said check value; receiving information from said parallel bus at said adapter means until said first sequence of information is recognized by said adapter means, said receiving step comprising receiving said identification sequence and said check value, computing a verification value for said identification sequence, and comparing said verification value with said check value for a match; upon recognition of said first sequence of said information by said adapter means, using said first sequence of information to establish a base address for said adapter means, said base address for uniquely addressing said adapter means by said bus master unit via said parallel bus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said using step comprises employing a portion of said first sequence of information as a base address value for said adapter means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein said using step comprises employing as a base address value for said adapter means the address to which said first sequence is transmitted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 7, further including the step of: transmitting said configuration values from said bus master unit to said adapter means by reference to said base address.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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