US3750110A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data transfer systems
Assignee: Ferranti International PLC
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Filing: 1971-11-24
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Granted: 1973-07-31
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Expires: 1991-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A data transfer system has a plurality of peripheral units each of which may be required to receive data from, or transmit data to, another such unit. Each peripheral unit is connected to each of at least two data highways, and each highway is provided with its own highway controller, which operates to send a sequence of control instructions over the highway. Means are provided at each peripheral unit for checking the received control instructions against one another, and for acting upon the selected instruction. Data source peripheral units are arranged to send the selected instruction back over the highways to maintain the highway controllers in synchronism with one another.
Inventors
- 👤 J Martin
- 👤 J Remmington
- 👤 J Bedford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007; G06F11/1608; G06F11/1625; G06F13/00; G06F13/14; G06F13/36; G06F13/362; G06F13/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A data transfer system having a plurality of peripheral units any one of which may be required to transmit data to or receive data from other such units in response to a designated control instruction, comprising at least two independent two-way data highways, means connecting each peripheral unit to each data highway, a separate controller for each data highway operable to transmit over its highway to all peripheral units a sequence of control instructions identical to the sequence transmitted by each other controller, checking means associated with each peripheral unit to check the control instruction received over each highway and including a control instruction selector operable to select one of the simultaneously-received designated control instructions and activate the peripheral unit in response to a selected one of the control instructions, means associated with each data-transmitting peripheral unit to re-transmit the selected designated control instruction over each highway to each controller, and synchronizing means included in each controller responsive to the re-transmitted instruction to maintain the sequence of control instructions transmitted by the controller in synchronism with the sequence transmitted by each other controller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A data transfer system having a plurality of peripheral units any one of which may be required to transmit data to or receive data from other such units in response to a designated control instruction, comprising at least two independent two-way data highways, means connecting each peripheral unit to each data highway, a separate controller for each data highway operable to transmit over its highway to all peripheral units a sequence of control instructions identical to the sequence transmitted by each other controller, checking means associated with each peripheral unit to check the control instruction received over each highway and including a control instruction selector operable to select one of the simultaneously-received designated control instructions and activate the peripheral unit in response to a selected one of the control instructions, means associated with each data-transmitting peripheral unit to re-transmit the selected designated control instruction over each highway to each controller, and synchronizing means included in each controller responsive to the re-transmitted instruction to maintain the sequence of control instructions transmitted by the controller in synchronism with the sequence transmitted by each other controller.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control instruction selector includes means for checking that the selected control instruction is one to which the peripheral unit should respond.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the checking means further includes an instruction store containing all control instructions to which the peripheral unit should respond, and a comparator operable to compare the selected control instruction with the stored instructions to allow the peripheral unit to respond only when the two instructions applied to the comparator are in agreement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the peripheral unit includes a data source operable to originate data to be applied to the data highways, an output register connected to all of the data highways and arranged to receive the data from the data source, gating means controlled by the comparator to control the application of data from the data source to the output register, and means for applying the selected control instruction to said output register.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 including means for re-transmitting the control instruction which activated the peripheral unit to each highway controller before the transmission of the relevant data to other peripheral units in response to that control instruction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 in which the peripheral unit includes a receiving register connected to all of said data highways, a data sink operable to use data applied to the highways, and gating means controlled by the comparator to apply data from the receiving register to the data sink.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 in which each highway controller includes a control instruction generator operable to generate the required sequence of control instructions and to apply these to the data highway and to the synchronising means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 in which the synchronising means includes a highway instruction register to which each out-going control instruction is applied, an incoming register to which each control instruction re-transmitted by a peripheral unit is applied, and a comparator operable to compare the said two control instructions, and means for inhibiting the operation of the control instruction generator when the two compared instructions are not identical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 8 including means for applying the output of the comparator to a control unit which controls the operation of the control instruction generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claiMed in claim 7 including a clock pulse generator for transmitting clock pulses by each highway controller to all peripheral units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 10 including a separate clock highway connected to each highway controller, each peripheral unit being connected to all clock highways.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
194 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 in which the checking means further includes an instruction store containing all control instructions to which the peripheral unit should respond, and a comparator operable to compare the selected control instruction with the stored instructions to allow the peripheral unit to respond only when the two instructions applied to the comparator are in agreement, said peripheral unit including a data source operable to originate data to be applied to the data highways, an output register connected to all of the data highways and arranged to receive the data from the data source, gating means controlled by the comparator to control the application of data from the data source to the output register, and means for applying the selected control instruction to said output register, means for transmitting the control instruction which activated the peripheral unit to each highway controller before the transmission of the relevant data to other peripheral units in response to that control instruction and each high controller including a control instruction generator operable to generate the required sequence of control instructions and to apply these to the data highway and to the synchronising means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 in which the synchronising means includes a highway instruction register to which each out-going control instruction is applied, an incoming register to which each control instruction re-transmitted by a peripheral unit is applied, and a comparator operable to compare the said two control instructions, the operation of the control instruction generator being inhibited when the two compared instructions are not identical.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 13 including means for applying the output of the comparator to a control unit which controls the operation of the control instruction generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 14 including a clock pulse generator for transmitting clock pulses by each highway controller to all peripheral units.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 15 including a separate clock highway connected to each highway controller, each peripheral unit being connected to all clock highways.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 in which the peripheral unit includes a receiving register connected to all of said data highways, a data sink operable to use data applied to the highways, and gating means controlled by the comparator to apply data from the receiving register to the data sink.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 including a clock pulse generator for transmitting clock pulses by each highway controller to all peripheral units.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 including a separate clock highway connected to each highway controller, each peripheral unit being connected to all clock highways.
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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) | 1976-07-30 | 1977-01-29 | 1977-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-30 | 1981-01-29 | 1981-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-30 | 1985-01-29 | 1985-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |