Method and apparatus for communicating devices each performing preprocessing operations on data autonomously of the central processor

Claim 2

In a data processing system of the type having a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having storeunit data items stored therein including a first instruction set, a central processor for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations on the store-unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer having an arithmetic unit for performing operations in response to a second instruction set, the second instruction having discrete instructions each including a data command field and a conditional interrupt command field, and a communicating device connected to said input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items and for supplying input data items, said communicating device having a discrete-instruction generator for generating the second instruction set, a method for preprocessing input data items, comprising the steps of: a. transferring a store-unit data item comprising a broadfunction command from the store unit to the communicating device; b. establishing in the discrete-instruction generator operating parameters for the communicating device in response to information contained in the broad-function command; c. generating in the discrete-instruction generator a first discrete instruction and a first associated store-unit address in response to the established operating parameters; d. transferring from the store-unit to the arithmetic unit a store-unit data item specified by the first associated storeunit address, and from the communicating device an input data item; e. performing in the arithmetic unit the operation specified by the data-command field of the first discrete instruction upon the store-unit data item specified by the first associated store-unit address and upon the input data item to generate an altered data item and indicator signals; f. storing the altered data item in the store-unit; g. transferring the indicator signals to the discreteinstruction generator; h. generating in the discrete-instruction generator a subsequent discrete instruction and a subsequent associated store-unit address in response to the transferred indicator signals and to the established operating parameters; i. transferring from the store-unit to the arithmetic unit a store-unit data item specified by the subsequent associated store-unit address and from the communicating device, a subsequent input data item; j. performing in said arithmetic unit the operation specified by the data-command field of the subsequent discrete instruction upon the store-unit data item specified by the subsequent associated store-unit address, and upon the subsequent input data item to generate a subsequent altered data item and indicator signals; k. storing the subsequent altered data item in the store unit; l. transferring the indicator signals to the discrete instruction generator; m. testing the generated indicator signals to determine if the condition specified by the conditional interrupt command field of the subsequent discrete instruction is satisfied; n. executing the interrupt command of the subsequent discrete instruction when the specified condition is satisfied.

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 further comprising between steps (m) and (n) the step of: repeating steps (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m) until the established operating parameters have been exceeded as determined in the testing step, thereby satisfying the condition specified by the conditional interrupt-command field of the subsequent discrete instruction.

Claim 4

In a data processing system of the type having a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items stored therein including a first instruction set, a central processor for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations on the store unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer having an arithmetic unit for performing operations in response to a second instruction set, the second instruction set having discrete instructions each including a data command field and a conditional interrupt command field, a system controller connected to the central processor, to the store unit, and to the input-output multiplexer for controlling the transfeR of data items therebetween, and a communicating device connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items and supplying input data items, the communicating device having a discrete-instruction generator for generating the second instruction set, a method for preprocessing input data items, comprising the steps of: a. transferring a store-unit data item comprising a broad-function command from the store unit to the communicating device; b. establishing in the discrete instruction generator operating parameters for the communicating device in response to information contained in the broad-function command; c. generating in the discrete-instruction generator a first discrete instruction and a first associated store-unit address in response to the established operating parameters; d. transferring from the store-unit to the arithmetic unit a store-unit data item specified by the first associated store-unit address, and from the communicating device an input data item; e. performing in the arithmetic unit the operation specified by the data-command field of the first discrete instruction upon the store-unit data item specified by the first associated store-unit address and upon an input data item to generate an altered data item and indicator signals; f. storing the altered data item in the store-unit; g. transferring the indicator signals to the discrete-instruction generator; h. generating in the discrete-instruction generator a subsequent discrete instruction and a subsequent associated store-unit address in response to the transferred indicator signals and to the established operating parameters; i. transferring from the store-unit to the arithmetic unit a store-unit data item specified by the subsequent associated store-unit address and from the communicating device, a subsequent input data item; j. performing in said arithmetic unit the operation specified by the data-command field of the subsequent discrete instruction upon the store-unit data item specified by the subsequent associated store-unit address, and upon the subsequent input data item to generate a subsequent altered data item and the indicator signals; k. storing the subsequent altered data item in the store unit; l. transferring the indicator signals to the discrete-instruction generator; m. testing the generated indicator signals to determine if the condition specified by the conditional interrupt command field of the subsequent discrete instruction is satisfied; n. executing the interrupt command of the subsequent discrete instruction when the specified condition is satisfied.

Claim 5

In a data processing system of the type having a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items stored therein including a first instruction set, a central processor for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations on the store unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer having an arithmetic unit for performing operations in response to a second instruction set, the second instruction set having discrete instructions each including a data command field and a conditional interrupt command field, a system controller connected to the central processor, to the store unit, and to the input-output multiplexer for controlling the transfeR of data items therebetween, and a communicating device connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items and supplying input data items, the communicating device having a discrete-instruction generator for generating the second instruction set, a method for preprocessing input data items, comprising the steps of: a. transferring a store-unit data item comprising a broad-function command from the store unit to the communicating device; b. establishing in the discrete instruction generator operating parameters for the communicating device in response to information contained in the broad-function command; c. generating in the discrete-instruction generator a first discrete instruction and a first associated store-unit address in response to the established operating parameters; d. transferring from the store-unit to the arithmetic unit a store-unit data item specified by the first associated store-unit address, and from the communicating device an input data item; e. performing in the arithmetic unit the operation specified by the data-command field of the first discrete instruction upon the store-unit data item specified by the first associated store-unit address and upon an input data item to generate an altered data item and indicator signals; f. storing the altered data item in the store-unit; g. transferring the indicator signals to the discrete-instruction generator; h. generating in the discrete-instruction generator a subsequent discrete instruction and a subsequent associated store-unit address in response to the transferred indicator signals and to the established operating parameters; i. transferring from the store-unit to the arithmetic unit a store-unit data item specified by the subsequent associated store-unit address and from the communicating device, a subsequent input data item; j. performing in said arithmetic unit the operation specified by the data-command field of the subsequent discrete instruction upon the store-unit data item specified by the subsequent associated store-unit address, and upon the subsequent input data item to generate a subsequent altered data item and the indicator signals; k. storing the subsequent altered data item in the store unit; l. transferring the indicator signals to the discrete-instruction generator; m. testing the generated indicator signals to determine if the condition specified by the conditional interrupt command field of the subsequent discrete instruction is satisfied; n. executing the interrupt command of the subsequent discrete instruction when the specified condition is satisfied.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3 further comprising between steps (m) and (n), the step of: repeating steps (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m) until the established operating parameters have been exceeded as determined in the testing step, thereby satisfying the condition specified by the conditional interrupt-command field of the subsequent discrete instruction.

Claim 7

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including a first instruction set stored therein, a central processor converted to said store unit for processing the store-unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer connected to said store unit, a communicating device connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli from the central processor for transferring a broad-function command from the store unit to the communicating device, wherein the improvement comprises: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations on the input data items; and a discrete-instruction Generator within the communicating device responsive to information in the broad-function command and to the data-altering means to generate a second instruction set, said data-altering means performing said preprocessing operations in response to said second instruction set.

Claim 8

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including a first instruction set stored therein, a central processor converted to said store unit for processing the store-unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer connected to said store unit, a communicating device connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli from the central processor for transferring a broad-function command from the store unit to the communicating device, wherein the improvement comprises: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations on the input data items; and a discrete-instruction Generator within the communicating device responsive to information in the broad-function command and to the data-altering means to generate a second instruction set, said data-altering means performing said preprocessing operations in response to said second instruction set.

Claim 9

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including a first instruction set stored therein, a central processor connected to the store unit for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations on the store-unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer connected to the store unit, a plurality of communicating devices connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli from the central processor for transferring a broad-function command from the store unit to a selected one of the plurality of communicating devices, wherein the improvement comprises: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations including arithmetic operations on the store-unit data items and the input data items; a discrete-instruction generator within the selected communicating device responsive to information in the broad-function command and to the data-altering means to generate a second instruction set comprising a plurality of discrete instructions, said data-altering means performing said preprocessing operations in response to said second instruction set.

Claim 10

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including a first instruction set stored therein, a central processor connected to the store unit for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations on the store-unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer connected to the store unit, a plurality of communicating devices connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli from the central processor for transferring a broad-function command from the store unit to a selected one of the plurality of communicating devices, wherein the improvement comprises: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations including arithmetic operations on the store-unit data items and the input data items; a discrete-instruction generator within the selected communicating device responsive to information in the broad-function command and to the data-altering means to generate a second instruction set comprising a plurality of discrete instructions, said data-altering means performing said preprocessing operations in response to said second instruction set.

Claim 11

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including a first instruction set stored therein, a central processor connected to the store unit for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations on the store-unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer connected to the store unit, a plurality of communicating devices connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli transferred from the central processor for transferring a broad-function command having operating parameters from the store unit to a selected one of the communicating devices, wherein the improvement comprising: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations including arithmetic operations on the input data items; an indicator register within the input-output multiplexer responsive to the arithmetic results of the preprocessing operation for generating indicator signals; and a discrete-instruction generator within the communicating device for generating a plurality of discrete instructions having an interrupt command field, said discrete-instruction generator responsive to the operating parameters in the broad-function command and to the indicator signals to generate the plurality of discrete instructions for transmission to said data-altering means, said data-altering means performing the preprocessing operation in response to the discrete instructions.

Claim 12

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including a first instruction set stored therein, a central processor connected to the store unit for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations on the store-unit data items in response to the first instruction set, an input-output multiplexer connected to the store unit, a plurality of communicating devices connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli transferred from the central processor for transferring a broad-function command having operating parameters from the store unit to a selected one of the communicating devices, wherein the improvement comprising: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations including arithmetic operations on the input data items; an indicator register within the input-output multiplexer responsive to the arithmetic results of the preprocessing operation for generating indicator signals; and a discrete-instruction generator within the communicating device for generating a plurality of discrete instructions having an interrupt command field, said discrete-instruction generator responsive to the operating parameters in the broad-function command and to the indicator signals to generate the plurality of discrete instructions for transmission to said data-altering means, said data-altering means performing the preprocessing operation in response to the discrete instructions.

Claim 13

An improved data processing system as described in claim 7 wherein the data-altering means further includes means responsive to the indicator signals for executing the command in the conditional interrupt command field of one of the plurality of discrete instructions to notify the central processor of a need for new operating parameters.

Claim 14

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including associated instruction set stored thereiN, a central processor for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations called a program on the store-unit data items in response to the instruction set and having means for interrupting the program, an input-output multiplexer, a system controller connected to the central processor, to the store unit, and to the input-output multiplexer for controlling the transfer of data items therebetween, a plurality of communicating devices connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli transferred from the central processor to the input-output multiplexer for transferring a broad-function command having operating parameters from the store unit to a selected one of the plurality of communicating devices, wherein the improvement comprises: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations including arithmetic operations on the input data items, the preprocessing operations producing arithmatic results; means connected to said data-altering means responsive to the arithmatic results of the preprocessing operations for generating indicator signals; a discrete-instruction generator within the selected communicating device for generating a plurality of discrete instructions, each having an instruction part and a store-unit address part, the instruction part including a data command field and a conditional interrupt command field, said discrete-instruction generator responsive to the operating parameters in the broad-function command and to the indicator signal generating means to generate discrete instructions for transfer to the data-altering means, said data-altering means performing the preprocessing operation in response to the discrete instructions.

Claim 15

An improved data processing system of the type including a store unit with a plurality of addressable storage locations having store-unit data items including associated instruction set stored thereiN, a central processor for sequentially performing a series of prescribed operations called a program on the store-unit data items in response to the instruction set and having means for interrupting the program, an input-output multiplexer, a system controller connected to the central processor, to the store unit, and to the input-output multiplexer for controlling the transfer of data items therebetween, a plurality of communicating devices connected to the input-output multiplexer for receiving the processed store-unit data items from the store unit and supplying input data items for storage in the store unit, and means in said input-output multiplexer responsive to stimuli transferred from the central processor to the input-output multiplexer for transferring a broad-function command having operating parameters from the store unit to a selected one of the plurality of communicating devices, wherein the improvement comprises: data-altering means within the input-output multiplexer for performing preprocessing operations including arithmetic operations on the input data items, the preprocessing operations producing arithmatic results; means connected to said data-altering means responsive to the arithmatic results of the preprocessing operations for generating indicator signals; a discrete-instruction generator within the selected communicating device for generating a plurality of discrete instructions, each having an instruction part and a store-unit address part, the instruction part including a data command field and a conditional interrupt command field, said discrete-instruction generator responsive to the operating parameters in the broad-function command and to the indicator signal generating means to generate discrete instructions for transfer to the data-altering means, said data-altering means performing the preprocessing operation in response to the discrete instructions.

Claim 16

An improved data processing system as described in claim 9 wherein the data-altering means further includes means responsive to the indicator signals for executing the command in the conditional interrupt command field of one of the plurality of discrete instructions to notify the central processor of a need for new operating parameters.