Multifunction routing network

Claim 2

A multifunction routing network comprising: multistable means having a plurality of states including an initial state; means for changing the state of said multistable means operatively associated with said multistable means; and function control means having a plurality of input conditions and a plurality of output conditions, said output conditions including a data control signal output condition and a non-data execute control signal output condition, said function control means including condition responsive logic means and means for providing a clock pulse for enabling said condition responsive logic means operatively connected to said logic means, said multistable means being operatively connected to said logic means for providing an input condition indicative of the state of said multistable means to said function control logic means, said function control output conditions being determined by said input conditions and said state of said multistable means; said condition responsive logic means being responsive to said clock pulse, the state of said multistable means and at least one of said plurality of function control means input conditions for providing at least said data control signal output condition or said non-data execute control signal output condition dependent on said input condition, and for also providing a change state execute control signal output condition; said state changing means being responsive to said change state execute control signal to change said multistable means to a different state, said condition responsive logic means being responsive to at least a different one of said input conditions in said different state for providing a different control signal output condition than in said previous state.

Claim 3

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said function control output conditions are determined by said input conditions and said state of said multistable means in an iterative multifunction control loop, said multistable means being changed to said different state in said iterative multifunction control loop in response to said change state execute control signal.

Claim 4

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network includes a source of video displayable data and a video display means operatively connected to said function control logic means for providing a video display of said data in response to the provision of said data control signal output condition, said source providing at least one of said signal input conditions to said function control means.

Claim 5

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 3 wherein said video displayable data source comprises computer means.

Claim 6

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 3 wherein said video displayable data source comprises a video tape playback means.

Claim 7

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 3 wherein said video displayable data source comprises a keyboard input device having a plurality of input keys.

Claim 8

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 1 wherein said network includes a source of data and a data output means operatively connected to said function control means for providing an output of said data in response to the provision of said Data control signal output condition, said source providing at least one of said signal input conditions to said function control means.

Claim 9

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 7 wherein said data source comprises computer means.

Claim 10

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 8 wherein said data output means comprises hard copy display means.

Claim 11

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 7 wherein said data source comprises a magnetic tape playback means.

Claim 12

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 7 wherein said data source comprises a multitrack storage medium playback means, said data being selected from at least one of said tracks.

Claim 13

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 11 wherein one of said tracks comprises audio data and another of said tracks comprises video data, said data output means comprising a video and audio data output means.

Claim 14

A multifunction routing network for controlling interaction of a plurality of information handling means comprising: multistable means having a plurality of states including an initial state; means for changing the state of said multistable means operatively associated with said multistable means; and function control means having a plurality of input conditions and a plurality of output conditions, said output conditions including a data control signal output condition and a non-data execute control signal output condition, said function control means including condition responsive logic means and means for providing a clock pulse for enabling said condition responsive logic means operatively connected to said logic means, said multistable means being operatively connected to said logic means for providing an input condition indicative of the state of said multistable means to said function control logic means, said function control output conditions being determined by said input conditions and said state of said multistable means; said condition responsive logic means being responsive to said clock pulse, the state of said multistable means and at least one of said plurality of function control means input conditions for providing at least said data control signal output condition or said non-data execute control signal output condition dependent on said input condition, and for also providing a change state execute control signal output condition; said state changing means being responsive to said change state execute control signal to change said multistable means to a different state, said condition responsive logic means being responsive to at least a different one of said input conditions in said different state for providing a different control signal output condition than in said previous state; said plurality of information handling means including a source of video displayable data and a video display means operatively connected to said function control logic means for providing a video display of said data in response to the provision of said data control signal output condition, said source providing at least one of said signal input conditions to said function control means.

Claim 15

A multifunction routing network for controlling interaction of a plurality of information handling means comprising: multistable means having a plurality of states including an initial state; means for changing the state of said multistable means operatively associated with said multistable means; and function control means having a plurality of input conditions and a plurality of output conditions, said output conditions including a data control signal output condition and a non-data execute control signal output condition, said function control means including condition responsive logic means and means for providing a clock pulse for enabling said condition responsive logic means operatively connected to said logic means, said multistable means being operatively connected to said logic means for providing an input condition indicative of the state of said multistable means to said function control logic means, said function control output conditions being determined by said input conditions and said state of said multistable means; said condition responsive logic means being responsive to said clock pulse, the state of said multistable means and at least one of said plurality of function control means input conditions for providing at least said data control signal output condition or said non-data execute control signal output condition dependent on said input condition, and for also providing a change state execute control signal output condition; said state changing means being responsive to said change state execute control signal to change said multistable means to a different state, said condition responsive logic means being responsive to at least a different one of said input conditions in said different state for providing a different control signal output condition than in said previous state; said plurality of information handling means including a source of video displayable data and a video display means operatively connected to said function control logic means for providing a video display of said data in response to the provision of said data control signal output condition, said source providing at least one of said signal input conditions to said function control means.

Claim 16

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 13 wherein said video displayable data source comprises a video data storage medium playback means.

Claim 17

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 13 wherein said plurality of information handling means further includes a computer means operatively connected to said function control means for providing an input condition to said function control logic means, said data control signal output condition being provided in response to said computer means input condition.

Claim 18

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 15 wherein said video displayable data source comprises a video data storage medium playback means.

Claim 19

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 16 wherein said storage medium is video tape.

Claim 20

A multifunCtion routing network in accordance with claim 13 wherein said function control output conditions are determined by said input conditions and said state of said multistable means in an iterative multifunction control loop, said multistable means being changed to said different state in said iterative multifunction control loop in response to said change state execute control signal.

Claim 21

A multifunction routing network in accordance with claim 13 wherein said plurality of information handling means further includes a computer means operatively connected to said function control logic means for providing an input condition to said function control logic means, said non-data execute control signal output condition being provided in response to said computer means input condition, the operation of said data source being controllable in response to said non-data execute control signal output condition.