Data-pooling circuits

Claim 2

A pooling circuit that may be serially connected with other similar units to provide queuing of data blocks provided from separate data input systems, each providing request signals to indicate the availability of a data block and operating to transfer data in response to a select signal that is provided thereto, said pooling circuit comprising: at least one signal repeater coupled to receive input signals along the series and to provide reconstituted signals to the next unit in the chain, and priority selection means including switching means in the coupling to The signal repeater, and coupled to receive the request and select signals, said switching means coupling input signals and request signals from the coupled data input system into the chain, said priority selection means responding to request and select signals to enable the transfer of data from the coupled data input system when a select signal is present and no lower priority unit has provided a prior request signal, said switching means disconnecting all lower priority units from the chain when said priority selection means enables the transfer of data.

Claim 3

The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said pooling circuit comprises a pair of signal repeaters, one transferring data between lower priority and higher priority units and the other transferring data between higher priority units and lower priority units.

Claim 4

The invention as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein each pooling circuit is coupled to transfer data characters in parallel by bit form to and from the associated data input system, and wherein each pooling circuit additionally includes bidirectional parallel to serial converter means coupling the associated data input system to the signal repeaters therein.

Claim 5

The invention as set forth in claim 3 above, wherein the data signals are transferred serially at a selected frequency, and wherein the request and transmit signals are transferred at frequencies that are selected multiples relative to the data signal frequency, and wherein said signal repeaters include local frequency generator means, operating at the selected frequencies of the request and select signal, frequency-detecting means responsive to the frequencies of the request and select signals, and gating means responsive to the detection of the selected frequencies and coupled to pass the locally generated frequencies as output from the signal repeater in response thereto.

Claim 6

The invention as set forth in claim 4 above, wherein such signal repeaters include reference-timing means operating at the frequency of the data signals for generating a stable-timing reference signal, and means responsive to the presence of the data frequency and responsive to the data signal, and the stable-timing reference signal, for regenerating the data signal with respect to the stable-timing reference, said means being coupled to the output of said repeater.

Claim 7

A pooling circuit module for transferring command signals and data blocks from an associated individual data input unit along a queuing chain of variable length formed with other like pooling circuits arranged in priority sequence, comprising: bidirectional signal repeater means, including means for detecting selected different signal frequencies, local signal-generating means operating at the selected frequencies, and signal-gating means responsive to the means for detecting and the local frequency-generating means for reconstituting each detected signal; digital priority selection means responsive to command signals and data signals transferred along the queuing chain for controlling operation of the pooling circuit as a data transfer unit or a signal repeater; and means responsive to said digital priority selection means and data signals from the associated data input unit for controlling the signal-gating means of said signal repeater means to transfer command signals and data signals along the pooling chain.

Claim 8

A pooling circuit module for transferring command signals and data blocks from an associated individual data input unit along a queuing chain of variable length formed with other like pooling circuits arranged in priority sequence, comprising: bidirectional signal repeater means, including means for detecting selected different signal frequencies, local signal-generating means operating at the selected frequencies, and signal-gating means responsive to the means for detecting and the local frequency-generating means for reconstituting each detected signal; digital priority selection means responsive to command signals and data signals transferred along the queuing chain for controlling operation of the pooling circuit as a data transfer unit or a signal repeater; and means responsive to said digital priority selection means and data signals from the associated data input unit for controlling the signal-gating means of said signal repeater means to transfer command signals and data signals along the pooling chain.

Claim 9

The invention as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein the individual units provide data signals and command signals in parallel, and wherein in addition the pooling circuit module includes means responsive to the data signals from data input unit for generating serial data pulse trains at a frequency different from the selected frequencies, and said signal repeater means includes means for reconstituting the data signal.

Claim 10

The invention as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein the signals at different selected frequencies comprise rectangular waveforms, and wherein the system in addition includes a paIr of RF signal-coupling lines between each adjacent pooling circuit pair in the chain, and means for transferring the data signals at a selected frequency.

Claim 11

The invention as set forth in claim 8 above, in which the data input unit provides a request signal as a command signal, and in which a select signal is provided as a different command signal, and wherein said signal repeater means comprises a pair of signal repeaters, a first generating a request signal of a first selected frequency and the second generating a select signal at a different selected frequency, both of said frequencies differing from the data frequency, and wherein request signal is transferred along the queuing chain in order of ascending priority and said select signal frequency is transferred along the second repeater chain in order of descending priority.

Claim 12

The invention as set forth in claim 9 above, wherein the request and select signals differ from the data frequency by multiples of 4, and wherein each pooling circuit includes bidirectional parallel to serial converter means coupled to both of said repeaters, for transferring parallel characters to and from the associated data input system, and for transferring data characters along the first of the repeater chains and receiving returned data characters from the second of the repeater chains.

Claim 13

An input data preparation system for entry of data in computer-compatible form from a variable number of different data input systems comprising: at least two data input systems means, each including means for storage of a block of data comprising multiple characters, means for output transfer of the block of data with the characters being in parallel bit form, and means providing signals indicating the availability of a data block for transfer; data-processing means including storage means coupled to receive blocks of data as output transfers, and means for providing a signal to select data transfer; at least three pooling circuit means coupled in series, each of two being coupled to a different one of said data input system means, each of said two pooling circuit means including parallel to serial converter means and means for generating said data signals as serial signals at a selected RF frequency, means for transferring blocks of data from each data system means bidirectionally along the series between said data-processing means and the individual data input system means, the third pooling circuit means including serial to parallel converter means, each of said two pooling circuit means being responsive to said signals indicating the availability of a data block for transfer and said signal to select data transfer, to effect transfer in accordance with the highest priority position indicating availability when a signal to select data transfer is provided, thereby providing a queuing system, said pooling circuit means also including means for transferring signals indicating availability as RF signals at a frequency different from the selected frequency.

Claim 14

An input data preparation system for entry of data in computer-compatible form from a variable number of different data input systems comprising: at least two data input systems means, each including means for storage of a block of data comprising multiple characters, means for output transfer of the block of data with the characters being in parallel bit form, and means providing signals indicating the availability of a data block for transfer; data-processing means including storage means coupled to receive blocks of data as output transfers, and means for providing a signal to select data transfer; at least three pooling circuit means coupled in series, each of two being coupled to a different one of said data input system means, each of said two pooling circuit means including parallel to serial converter means and means for generating said data signals as serial signals at a selected RF frequency, means for transferring blocks of data from each data system means bidirectionally along the series between said data-processing means and the individual data input system means, the third pooling circuit means including serial to parallel converter means, each of said two pooling circuit means being responsive to said signals indicating the availability of a data block for transfer and said signal to select data transfer, to effect transfer in accordance with the highest priority position indicating availability when a signal to select data transfer is provided, thereby providing a queuing system, said pooling circuit means also including means for transferring signals indicating availability as RF signals at a frequency different from the selected frequency.

Claim 15

An input data preparation system for generation of a single computer-compatible record from a selectable number of data input systems comprising: a least two data input systems, each including storage means for a data block; and means for providing the characters of the data block in parallel bit form as output in response to a command; at least two pooling circuit means, each including serial to parallel converter means coupled to an individual data input system, and signal repeater and signal disconnect means, each pooling circuit further including RF coupling means for coupling to both higher and lower priority pooling circuit means in a series chain and means for reconstituting both data blocks and command signals at different frequencies coupled to said RF coupling means, the signal repeater and signal disconnect means being coupled to transfer both data blocks and control signals bidirectionally between the higher and lower priority poolIng circuit means, and disconnecting all lower priority pooling circuit means when transferring from the associated data input system; and computer-compatible recording means coupled to the highest priority pooling circuit means.

Claim 16

An input data preparation system for generation of a single computer-compatible record from a selectable number of data input systems comprising: a least two data input systems, each including storage means for a data block; and means for providing the characters of the data block in parallel bit form as output in response to a command; at least two pooling circuit means, each including serial to parallel converter means coupled to an individual data input system, and signal repeater and signal disconnect means, each pooling circuit further including RF coupling means for coupling to both higher and lower priority pooling circuit means in a series chain and means for reconstituting both data blocks and command signals at different frequencies coupled to said RF coupling means, the signal repeater and signal disconnect means being coupled to transfer both data blocks and control signals bidirectionally between the higher and lower priority poolIng circuit means, and disconnecting all lower priority pooling circuit means when transferring from the associated data input system; and computer-compatible recording means coupled to the highest priority pooling circuit means.