US3585600A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stored program electronic computer
Assignee: Olivetti SpA
•
Filing: 1968-12-16
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1988-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A computer for executing instructions grouped in fixed length macroinstructions having a bulk memory for storing the macroinstructions and data, and an operational delay line memory divisable into a plurality of zones for storing the macroinstruction presently under execution and data being operated upon. Means are provided for transferring macroinstructions and data between the two memories. The macroinstruction under execution can select one of two macroinstructions from the bulk memory to be next executed depending on whether or not a jump condition has occurred. Each macroinstruction contains a label which specifies how the individual instructions contained therein are to be interpreted. The operational memory may be divided into any zone configuration by a division macroinstruction and any one zone may be designated for a use in a particular operation by recording a heading code before it. The computer also includes a plurality of peripheral units including a printer each of which has its own control unit. Program instructions for controlling a peripheral unit are transferred to the respective control unit and executed directly by it so that the main portion of the computer can overlap the execution of following instructions with the peripheral unit instruction execution. The operational memory also includes a zone for storing a subprogram for controlling the horizontal format of the printers.
Inventors
- 👤 Fabrizio Saltini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/08; G06F13/00; G06F13/10; G06F13/12; G06F15/04; G06F15/76; G06F15/78; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4482; G06F9/4484; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673; G06F3/0682
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions, each of which includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising: first memory means for storing the macroinstruction presently under execution, said first memory means having a predetermined set of segments, and means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstruction stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations in the execution of the program, the portion of the macroinstructions stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, said interpreting means being responsive to the respective positions occupied by said segments within said first memory means for controlling the performance of the predetermined operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions, each of which includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising: first memory means for storing the macroinstruction presently under execution, said first memory means having a predetermined set of segments, and means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstruction stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations in the execution of the program, the portion of the macroinstructions stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, said interpreting means being responsive to the respective positions occupied by said segments within said first memory means for controlling the performance of the predetermined operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
185 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions each of which includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising: first memory means for storing the macroinstruction presently under execution, said first memory means having a predetermined set of segments, means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstruction stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations in the execution of the progRam, the portion of the macroinstruction stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, second memory means having a plurality of addressable locations for storing the macroinstructions of the program, and means responsive to the portion of the macroinstructions stored in a predetermined one of said segments of said first memory means as interpreted by said interpreting means for transferring the macroinstructions stored in a selected one of said addressable locations to said first memory means in place of said present macroinstruction, after completion of the execution of the rest of said present macroinstruction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
185 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions each of which includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising: first memory means for storing the macroinstruction presently under execution, said first memory means having a predetermined set of segments, means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstruction stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations in the execution of the progRam, the portion of the macroinstruction stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, second memory means having a plurality of addressable locations for storing the macroinstructions of the program, and means responsive to the portion of the macroinstructions stored in a predetermined one of said segments of said first memory means as interpreted by said interpreting means for transferring the macroinstructions stored in a selected one of said addressable locations to said first memory means in place of said present macroinstruction, after completion of the execution of the rest of said present macroinstruction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions having a labeled portion, each of which macroinstructions includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising: first memory means for storing the macroinstruction presently under execution, and having a predetermined set of segments, means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstructions stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations in the execution of the program, the portion of the macroinstructions stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, and means for providing an indication of the label portion of the macroinstruction presently under execution, the interpreting means being responsive to the indication for interpreting the portions of the macroinstructions stored in different predetermined set of segments of said first memory means for controlling the performance of different predetermined operations depending on the identity of said labeled portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions having a labeled portion, each of which macroinstructions includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising: first memory means for storing the macroinstruction presently under execution, and having a predetermined set of segments, means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstructions stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations in the execution of the program, the portion of the macroinstructions stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, and means for providing an indication of the label portion of the macroinstruction presently under execution, the interpreting means being responsive to the indication for interpreting the portions of the macroinstructions stored in different predetermined set of segments of said first memory means for controlling the performance of different predetermined operations depending on the identity of said labeled portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
196 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions each of which includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising first memory means for storing the macroinstructions presently under execution, said first memory means having a predetermined set of segments, means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstructions stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations, in the execution of the program, the portion of the macroinstructions stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, second memory means having a plurality of addressable locations for storing the macroinstructions of the program, and means responsive to the result of a previous operation in the execution of the program and the portion of the macroinstructions stored in a predetermined one of said segments of the first memory means for transferring the macroinstructions stored in a selected one of a selected plurality of said addressable locations to said first memory means in place of the present macroinstruction, after completion of the execution of the rest of the present macroinstructions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
196 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of fixed length macroinstructions each of which includes a plurality of instructions for controlling the operation of said computer, comprising first memory means for storing the macroinstructions presently under execution, said first memory means having a predetermined set of segments, means for interpreting the portion of the macroinstructions stored in the predetermined set of segments for controlling the performance of a plurality of predetermined operations, in the execution of the program, the portion of the macroinstructions stored in each of the segments controlling the performance of a predetermined one of the predetermined operations, second memory means having a plurality of addressable locations for storing the macroinstructions of the program, and means responsive to the result of a previous operation in the execution of the program and the portion of the macroinstructions stored in a predetermined one of said segments of the first memory means for transferring the macroinstructions stored in a selected one of a selected plurality of said addressable locations to said first memory means in place of the present macroinstruction, after completion of the execution of the rest of the present macroinstructions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The electronic computer as recited in claim 2 further comprising: means containing a plurality of addressable locations for storing fixed and variable length segments of information for being operated upon by the macroinstruction stored in said first memory means, means for transferring a fixed or variable length segment of information between a selected location in the second memory means and a selected location of the means for storing fixed and variable length segments of information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of instructions comprising: first memory means for storing the program to be executed and data to be operated upon by the program, operational memory means being divisible into a plurality of register means for storing the instruction presEntly under execution, data and arithmetic and logical operands, means for transferring instructions and data between said first memory means and said operational memory means, and means responsive to the insertion of a selected one of a plurality of division instructions into the operational memory means for dividing the operational memory into a particular grouping of the register means, the division of the operational memory means being variable in number and size at any time during the execution of the program upon the insertion of a different division instruction into the operational memory means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of instructions comprising: first memory means for storing the program to be executed and data to be operated upon by the program, operational memory means being divisible into a plurality of register means for storing the instruction presEntly under execution, data and arithmetic and logical operands, means for transferring instructions and data between said first memory means and said operational memory means, and means responsive to the insertion of a selected one of a plurality of division instructions into the operational memory means for dividing the operational memory into a particular grouping of the register means, the division of the operational memory means being variable in number and size at any time during the execution of the program upon the insertion of a different division instruction into the operational memory means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of instructions, comprising: memory means being divisible into a plurality of zones, said zones being capable of storing information in the nature of an instruction presently under execution, data, arithmetic operands and results, means for interpreting said stored information in accordance with the zone in which it is stored, said interpreting means being connected to said memory means, and means connected to said memory means and responsive to the presence of one of a plurality of division instructions in the memory means for dividing the memory means into a particular grouping of the zones, the division being variable at any time during the execution of the program upon the insertion of a new division instruction into the memory means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
An electronic computer for executing a program made up of a series of instructions, comprising: memory means being divisible into a plurality of zones, said zones being capable of storing information in the nature of an instruction presently under execution, data, arithmetic operands and results, means for interpreting said stored information in accordance with the zone in which it is stored, said interpreting means being connected to said memory means, and means connected to said memory means and responsive to the presence of one of a plurality of division instructions in the memory means for dividing the memory means into a particular grouping of the zones, the division being variable at any time during the execution of the program upon the insertion of a new division instruction into the memory means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
The electronic computer as recited in claim 7 wherein the dividing means operates to divide the memory means into the zones by recording a beginning-of-zone signal at the beginning of each of the zones, the signal being alike for all the zones and further comprising: means responsive to the insertion of a heading instruction into the memory means for identifying a selected zone for use in a predetermined operation by recording a predetermined heading code at the beginning of the selected zone, the zone being identified in later operations by the recognition of the heading code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electronic computer for executing a program comprising a series of instructions comprising: operational memory means for storing data and arithmetic operands and results, means for serially reading the instructions of said program from said memory means, means responsive to the reading of a division instruction by the reading means for subdividing the memory means into a plurality of zones by recording a beginning-of-zone signal at the beginning of each of the zones, the signals being alike for all of the zones, and means responsive to the reading of a heading instruction by the reading means for identifying a selected zone for use in a predetermined operation by recording a predetermined heading code at the beginning of the selected zone, the zone being identified in later operations by the recognition of said heading code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
134 words
An electronic computer for executing a program comprising a series of instructions comprising: operational memory means for storing data and arithmetic operands and results, means for serially reading the instructions of said program from said memory means, means responsive to the reading of a division instruction by the reading means for subdividing the memory means into a plurality of zones by recording a beginning-of-zone signal at the beginning of each of the zones, the signals being alike for all of the zones, and means responsive to the reading of a heading instruction by the reading means for identifying a selected zone for use in a predetermined operation by recording a predetermined heading code at the beginning of the selected zone, the zone being identified in later operations by the recognition of said heading code.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electronic computer as recited in claim 9 wherein the memory means includes a cyclic memory and further comprising: means responsive to the reading of a heading instruction by the reading means for recording the heading code at the end of the selected zone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The electronic computer as recited in claim 9 further comprising: means for reading the instructions in said selected zone and performing the predetermined operation, and means for erasing the heading code after completion of the predetermined operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
161 words
The electronic computer as recited in claim 9 further comprising: at least one peripheral unit having a control unit, each control unit including means for transferring information between the associated peripheral unit and a zone of the memory means headed with a predetermined heading code, means responsive to the reading of an instruction for controlling a selected one of the at least one peripheral unit by the reading means for transferring the instruction to the control unit of the relevant peripheral unit for causing the control unit to control tHe relevant peripheral unit in accordance with the transferred instruction, means responsive to the reading of the other instructions of the program for executing the instructions, the execution of instructions following a peripheral unit control instruction being overlapped in time with execution of the peripheral unit control instruction only if execution of the following instructions require use of separate portions of the computer in the execution of the peripheral unit control instruction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
228 words
An electronic computer for serially executing a program made up of a series of instructions comprising: a cyclic memory subdivided into a plurality of addressable zones, at least one peripheral unit having an associated control unit, and a main control unit including: means for serially reading the instructions of the program from the cyclic memory, means responsive to the reading of a heading instruction for heading a selected zone of the memory with a heading code for designating the selected zone for a selected operation, means controlled by the reading means for transferring an instruction for controlling said at least one peripheral unit to the associated control unit for causing the latter to control the associated peripheral unit in accordance with the said transferred instruction, each peripheral unit control unit each including means for transferring information between the associated peripheral unit and the zone of the memory headed with a predetermined heading code, means controlled by the reading means for executing the other of the instructions of the program as they are read by the reading means, the execution of a instruction following an instruction for controlling said at least one peripheral unit being overlapped in time with execution by the associated control unit of the instruction for controlling the associated peripheral unit only if they require the use of separate portions of the computer for their execution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
228 words
An electronic computer for serially executing a program made up of a series of instructions comprising: a cyclic memory subdivided into a plurality of addressable zones, at least one peripheral unit having an associated control unit, and a main control unit including: means for serially reading the instructions of the program from the cyclic memory, means responsive to the reading of a heading instruction for heading a selected zone of the memory with a heading code for designating the selected zone for a selected operation, means controlled by the reading means for transferring an instruction for controlling said at least one peripheral unit to the associated control unit for causing the latter to control the associated peripheral unit in accordance with the said transferred instruction, each peripheral unit control unit each including means for transferring information between the associated peripheral unit and the zone of the memory headed with a predetermined heading code, means controlled by the reading means for executing the other of the instructions of the program as they are read by the reading means, the execution of a instruction following an instruction for controlling said at least one peripheral unit being overlapped in time with execution by the associated control unit of the instruction for controlling the associated peripheral unit only if they require the use of separate portions of the computer for their execution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electronic computer for serially executing a program comprising a series of instructions comprising: a printer, a cyclic memory having a plurality of zones, a predetermined one of the zones being reserved for storing a printing subroutine including a series of instructions for controlling the horizontal format of said printer, means connected to said memory for indicating the instruction presently under execution by the computer, means responsive to the indication of a predetermined heading instruction for recording a heading code in the beginning of a selected one of the zones for designating said selected zone as containing data characters to be printed, means responsive to the indication of a print instruction for serially reading the instructions of the printing subroutine from the predetermined zone, means responsive to the reading of a first type instruction from the printing subroutine for transferring a selected data character from the zone headed by said heading code to the printer for being printed and responsive to the reading of a second type of instruction from the predetermined zone to the printer for being printed, the instructions of the first and second types being interspersed in any desired order in the printing subroutine.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
197 words
An electronic computer for serially executing a program comprising a series of instructions comprising: a printer, a cyclic memory having a plurality of zones, a predetermined one of the zones being reserved for storing a printing subroutine including a series of instructions for controlling the horizontal format of said printer, means connected to said memory for indicating the instruction presently under execution by the computer, means responsive to the indication of a predetermined heading instruction for recording a heading code in the beginning of a selected one of the zones for designating said selected zone as containing data characters to be printed, means responsive to the indication of a print instruction for serially reading the instructions of the printing subroutine from the predetermined zone, means responsive to the reading of a first type instruction from the printing subroutine for transferring a selected data character from the zone headed by said heading code to the printer for being printed and responsive to the reading of a second type of instruction from the predetermined zone to the printer for being printed, the instructions of the first and second types being interspersed in any desired order in the printing subroutine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
217 words
An electronic computer, comprising: a cyclic memory for storing a plurality of information words each including a variable plurality of n bit characters and be divisible into a plurality of zones, a predetermined one of the zones containing a pair of numerical words interlaced character by character, the corresponding characters of the words being adjacent to each other, a serial to parallel converter having n outputs and an input coupled to the output of the cyclic memory for successively making simultaneously available at its outputs the n bits of the characters, a parallel to serial converter having n inputs and an output coupled to the input of the cyclic memory for receiving the N bits of a character in parallel and entering them serially into the delay line, at least two cascaded n bit registers connected between the outputs of the serial to parallel converter and the input of the parallel to serial converter for successively making simultaneously available in the registers the successive corresponding characters of the numerical words of the predetermined zone, and means for performing, within a single cycle of the memory character by character arithmetic operations on the successive characters of the arithmetic words stored in the predetermined zone as the corresponding characters of the words are made available in the cascaded registers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
217 words
An electronic computer, comprising: a cyclic memory for storing a plurality of information words each including a variable plurality of n bit characters and be divisible into a plurality of zones, a predetermined one of the zones containing a pair of numerical words interlaced character by character, the corresponding characters of the words being adjacent to each other, a serial to parallel converter having n outputs and an input coupled to the output of the cyclic memory for successively making simultaneously available at its outputs the n bits of the characters, a parallel to serial converter having n inputs and an output coupled to the input of the cyclic memory for receiving the N bits of a character in parallel and entering them serially into the delay line, at least two cascaded n bit registers connected between the outputs of the serial to parallel converter and the input of the parallel to serial converter for successively making simultaneously available in the registers the successive corresponding characters of the numerical words of the predetermined zone, and means for performing, within a single cycle of the memory character by character arithmetic operations on the successive characters of the arithmetic words stored in the predetermined zone as the corresponding characters of the words are made available in the cascaded registers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
131 words
In an electronic computer including a memory having a plurality of zones, the combination comprising: a tape unit including a continuous loop of magnetic tape for storing information, the tape containing at least one information track and an address track for storing addresses of locations on the at least one information track, each of the addresses identifying an equal portion of each information track; and means for reading and writing information on the at least one information track, and means for selectively transferring, by way of the reading and writing means, a block of information between a selected zone of the memory and a selected one of the portions of a selected information track, the capacity of said portion having a maximum size equal to the capacity of the selected zone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
131 words
In an electronic computer including a memory having a plurality of zones, the combination comprising: a tape unit including a continuous loop of magnetic tape for storing information, the tape containing at least one information track and an address track for storing addresses of locations on the at least one information track, each of the addresses identifying an equal portion of each information track; and means for reading and writing information on the at least one information track, and means for selectively transferring, by way of the reading and writing means, a block of information between a selected zone of the memory and a selected one of the portions of a selected information track, the capacity of said portion having a maximum size equal to the capacity of the selected zone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
89 words
An electronic computer, comprising: a memory having a plurality of zones, a magnetic tape cartridge including a loop of magnetic tape having at least one continuous information track and an address track, means for reading and writing information on the tracks, and means for selectively transferring by way of the reading and writing means a block of information between a selected memory zone and a selected portion of a selected one of the tracks, the said portion having a maximum size equal to the capacity of the selected zone.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
89 words
An electronic computer, comprising: a memory having a plurality of zones, a magnetic tape cartridge including a loop of magnetic tape having at least one continuous information track and an address track, means for reading and writing information on the tracks, and means for selectively transferring by way of the reading and writing means a block of information between a selected memory zone and a selected portion of a selected one of the tracks, the said portion having a maximum size equal to the capacity of the selected zone.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electronic computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the address track on the magnetic cartridge tape loop is parallel to the at least one information track, the address track bearing a plurality of addresses each designating an equal portion of each information track.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
The electronic computer as recited in claim 17 wherein the selective transferring means includes; a register means for storing the address of the selected portion on the tape loop, means responsive to the address stored in the register means for positioning the beginning of the selected portion of the information track proximate the reading and writing means and for enabling the reading and writing means and for enabling the reading and writing means to transfer information between the memory and the selected track.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
A stored program electronic computer comprising: a memory having an operational portion and a program storing portion, means for transferring selected program instructions from the program storing portion to the operational portion for execution in the carrying out of the program, and means responsive to predetermined instructions in the operational portion for causing said transferring means to transfer different instructions depending on the occurrence of preselected jump conditions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
68 words
A stored program electronic computer comprising: a memory having an operational portion and a program storing portion, means for transferring selected program instructions from the program storing portion to the operational portion for execution in the carrying out of the program, and means responsive to predetermined instructions in the operational portion for causing said transferring means to transfer different instructions depending on the occurrence of preselected jump conditions.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
76 words
A stored program electronic computer comprising: means for serially interpreting and executing the instructions of the stored program, a magnetic tape cartridge program memory interchangeably coupled to said interpreting and executing means, and means for transferring the instructions of the program from the memory to the interpreting and executing means, said transferring means being responsive to the interpreting of a jump instruction for next transferring different instructions depending on the occurrence of a corresponding jump condition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
76 words
A stored program electronic computer comprising: means for serially interpreting and executing the instructions of the stored program, a magnetic tape cartridge program memory interchangeably coupled to said interpreting and executing means, and means for transferring the instructions of the program from the memory to the interpreting and executing means, said transferring means being responsive to the interpreting of a jump instruction for next transferring different instructions depending on the occurrence of a corresponding jump condition.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer according to claim 20 wherein said program storiNg portion comprises an interchangeable magnetic tape cartridge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |