US3641508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission terminal
Assignee: Olivetti SpA
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Filing: 1969-12-31
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Granted: 1972-02-08
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Expires: 1989-12-31
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a transmission terminal unit responsive to transfer instructions from a computer for serially transferring a plurality of information segments one at a time between successive locations within a region of a serial memory of the computer and an external system. The transmission terminal comprises buffer means for temporarily storing an information segment presently being transferred, means for serially transferring the information segments between said buffer means and the successive locations in the serial memory. Furthermore the transmission terminal comprises means responsive to the instructions from the computer for controlling the direction of transfer of the information segments by said transferring means and to signals from said computer and said external system for controlling the timing of the transfer by enabling, after the receipt of a ready signal from the external system, said transferring means to operate to transfer the next successive information segment when the location within the region of the serial memory which is next to be operated upon is available for transfers.
Inventors
- 👤 Fabrizio Saltini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/163; G06F15/167; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F5/00; G06F5/06; G06F5/08; G06F5/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A transmission terminal unit responsive to transfer instructions from a computer for serially transferring a plurality of information segments one at a time between successive locations within a region of a serial memory of the computer and an external system, said unit comprising: a. buffer means for temporarily storing an information segment presently being transferred, b. transferring means for serially transferring the information segments between said buffer means and the successive locations in the serial memory, c. controlling means responsive to the instructions from the computer for controlling the direction of transfer of the information segments by said transferring means, said controlling means also being responsive to signals from said computer and said external system for controlling the timing of the transfer by enabling, after the receipt of a ready signal from the external system, said transferring means to operate to transfer the next successive information segment when said controlling means receives an indication provided by said buffer means that the location within the region of the serial memory which is next to be operated upon is available for transfers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A transmission terminal unit responsive to transfer instructions from a computer for serially transferring a plurality of information segments one at a time between successive locations within a region of a serial memory of the computer and an external system, said unit comprising: a. buffer means for temporarily storing an information segment presently being transferred, b. transferring means for serially transferring the information segments between said buffer means and the successive locations in the serial memory, c. controlling means responsive to the instructions from the computer for controlling the direction of transfer of the information segments by said transferring means, said controlling means also being responsive to signals from said computer and said external system for controlling the timing of the transfer by enabling, after the receipt of a ready signal from the external system, said transferring means to operate to transfer the next successive information segment when said controlling means receives an indication provided by said buffer means that the location within the region of the serial memory which is next to be operated upon is available for transfers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
171 words
The terminal unit of claim 1, wherein the region of the serial memory includes a plurality of zones each of said zones conditionable for storing one or more units of alphabetical or numerical information, each of said zones being preceded by a corresponding identifying code and including a plurality of cells, each of said units of alphabetical information being stored in a pair of mEmory cells in said zones and each of said units of numerical information being stored in a single memory cell in said zones, and wherein said terminal unit further comprises means for indicating in response to said identifying code whether a numerical or alphabetical zone is presently involved in an information transfer operation, said controlling means being responsive to said indicating means to enable successive information segment transfers between said buffer means and pairs of memory cells when the alphabetical zone is indicated and to enable the successive transfer of information segments between said buffer means and successive single memory cells when the numerical zone is indicated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The terminal unit of claim 2 wherein said numerical information units are each four-bit characters and wherein said transferring means further include means for inserting a three-bit code into said buffer means with the transmission of said numerical character for converting said numerical character into a seven-bit character.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The terminal unit of claim 2 wherein said controlling means further include means for causing the computer to skip to a subsequent zone when during transmission of the information segments the computer indicates that the next two cells are empty, and when during reception of information segments the external system indicates that the following information segments should be stored in said subsequent zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for transferring information between a computer for executing a program comprising a series of instructions and an external system, said computer having a serial memory, said transferring apparatus being interconnected between said computer and said external system, said transferring apparatus comprising: a. buffer means for temporarily storing an information segment presently being transferred, b. means for serially transferring successive information segments between said buffer means and successive locations in the serial memory, and c. controlling means responsive to predetermined program instructions from said computer for initiating and controlling the direction of transfer of the information segments, said controlling means also being responsive to signals from said computer and said external system for controlling the timing of the transfer of the successive information segments in response to the reception of signals from said computer and from said buffer means indicating that a subsequent segment of information is ready for processing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for transferring information between a computer for executing a program comprising a series of instructions and an external system, said computer having a serial memory, said transferring apparatus being interconnected between said computer and said external system, said transferring apparatus comprising: a. buffer means for temporarily storing an information segment presently being transferred, b. means for serially transferring successive information segments between said buffer means and successive locations in the serial memory, and c. controlling means responsive to predetermined program instructions from said computer for initiating and controlling the direction of transfer of the information segments, said controlling means also being responsive to signals from said computer and said external system for controlling the timing of the transfer of the successive information segments in response to the reception of signals from said computer and from said buffer means indicating that a subsequent segment of information is ready for processing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said external system is a central data processing system and said computer is a local terminal for said system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said computer includes means for carrying out the execution of subsequent instructions of its program while said information segments are being transferred to or from said central data processing system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
The terminal unit of claim 1, wherein the region of the memory includes a plurality of zones, each of said zones comprising a plurality of cells, each zone being conditionable for storing one or more units of alphabetical or numerical information and being headed by an identifying code comprising a beginning of zone code, and wherein said controlling means further include means for causing the computer to skip to a subsequent zone when during transmission of the information segments the computer indicates that the next two cells are empty, and when during reception of the information segments the external system indicates that the following information should be stored in said subsequent zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-07 | 1975-08-09 | 1976-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-07 | 1979-08-09 | 1980-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-07 | 1983-08-09 | 1984-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |