New line processing apparatus for a data processing printout system

Claim 2

Processing apparatus for processing characters in a message including new-line characters and other characters, each new-line character indicating the start of a new-line operation, said processing apparatus comprising: first means operative to receive and store in succession the characters of the message; second means for receiving and storing selected characters stored in the first means; new line detection means operative to detect the presence of each new-line character in the first means and operative to add a new line control item of information to the next character received by and stored in the first means which is not a newline character; control means operative to inhibit the receipt of each new-line character by the second means and to enable the receipt by the second means of the next character which is not a new-line character and having the new line control item of information added thereto, whereby the new-line character is not stored in the second means and the said next character is stored in the second means; and means responsive to each character stored in the second means having a new line control item of information added thereto to initiate a new line operation.

Claim 3

Processing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the new line detection means is operative to add a bit to each character following a new-line character which is not a new-line character.

Claim 4

Processing apparatus for processing characters in a message including successive new-line characters and other characterS, each new-line character indicating the start of a new line operation, said processing apparatus comprising: first means operative to receive and store in succession the characters of the message; second means for receiving and storing selected characters stored in the first means; successive new-line detection means for detecting the presence of successive new-line characters in the first means, said new-line detection means including first circuit means operative in response to the detection of each of the successive new-line characters, with the exception of the last new-line character in the succession, to cause the next new-line character stored in the first means to be replaced in the first means by a special character and to add a new line control item of information to the special character, and including second circuit means operative in response to the detection of the last new-line character in the succession of new-line characters to add a new line control item of information to the next character applied to and stored in the first means which is not a new-line character; control means operative to inhibit the receipt of the new-line characters by the second means and to enable the receipt by the second means of each special character having a new line control item of information added thereto and the said next character having the new line control item of information added thereto, whereby the new-line characters are not stored in the second means and the special characters and the said next character are stored in the second means; and means responsive to each character stored in the second means having a new line control item of information added thereto to initiate a new line operation.

Claim 5

Processing apparatus for processing characters in a message including successive new-line characters and other characterS, each new-line character indicating the start of a new line operation, said processing apparatus comprising: first means operative to receive and store in succession the characters of the message; second means for receiving and storing selected characters stored in the first means; successive new-line detection means for detecting the presence of successive new-line characters in the first means, said new-line detection means including first circuit means operative in response to the detection of each of the successive new-line characters, with the exception of the last new-line character in the succession, to cause the next new-line character stored in the first means to be replaced in the first means by a special character and to add a new line control item of information to the special character, and including second circuit means operative in response to the detection of the last new-line character in the succession of new-line characters to add a new line control item of information to the next character applied to and stored in the first means which is not a new-line character; control means operative to inhibit the receipt of the new-line characters by the second means and to enable the receipt by the second means of each special character having a new line control item of information added thereto and the said next character having the new line control item of information added thereto, whereby the new-line characters are not stored in the second means and the special characters and the said next character are stored in the second means; and means responsive to each character stored in the second means having a new line control item of information added thereto to initiate a new line operation.

Claim 6

Processing apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein: the first circuit means is operative in response to the detection of each of the successive new-line characters, with the exception of the last new-line character in the succession, to cause the next new-line character stored in the first means to be replaced in the first means by a space character.

Claim 7

Processing apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein: the first circuit means is operative to add a bit to each special character in the first means; and the second circuit means is operative to add a bit to the character following the last new-line character in the succession which is not a new-line character.

Claim 8

Processing apparatus for processing characters in a message including new-line characters and other characters, comprising: input data register means operative to receive and store in succession the characters of the message; buffer means for receiving and storing selected characters stored in the input data register means; new line decoder means operative to detect the presence of a new-line character in the input data register means and operative in response thereto to produce an output signal, said new line decoder means continuing its output signal if the next character in the input data register means is another new-line character and terminating its output signal if the next character in the input data register means is not another new-line character; new line flip-flop means operative in a set condition when an output signal is produced by the new line decoder means; multiple new line flip-flop means operative in a set condition when an output signal is produced by the new line decoder means and the new line flip-flop means is in the set condition, thereby indicating that successive new-line characters have been received and stored in the input data register means; enabling and inhibit means operative when the new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to inhibit the receipt of the new-line character then present in the input data register means by the buffer means, whereby the new-line character is not stored in the buffer means; circuit means operative when the multiple new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to replace the new-line character then present in the input data register means with a special character; insert means operative when the new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to insert a new line control item of information in the input data register means, said new line control item of information being added to the next character present in the input data register means, said next character being either a character applied to and stored in the input data register means or a special character if the multiple new line flip-flop means has been operated in a set condition, and operative when the multiple new line flip-flop means is in the set condition and when a special character is present in the input data register means to add a new line control item of information to the special character; and said enabling and inhibit means being further operative after a new line control item of information has been added to a character which is not a new-line character in the input data register means to enable that character to be received by the buffer means, whereby the character is stored in the buffer means.

Claim 9

Processing apparatus for processing characters in a message including new-line characters and other characters, comprising: input data register means operative to receive and store in succession the characters of the message; buffer means for receiving and storing selected characters stored in the input data register means; new line decoder means operative to detect the presence of a new-line character in the input data register means and operative in response thereto to produce an output signal, said new line decoder means continuing its output signal if the next character in the input data register means is another new-line character and terminating its output signal if the next character in the input data register means is not another new-line character; new line flip-flop means operative in a set condition when an output signal is produced by the new line decoder means; multiple new line flip-flop means operative in a set condition when an output signal is produced by the new line decoder means and the new line flip-flop means is in the set condition, thereby indicating that successive new-line characters have been received and stored in the input data register means; enabling and inhibit means operative when the new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to inhibit the receipt of the new-line character then present in the input data register means by the buffer means, whereby the new-line character is not stored in the buffer means; circuit means operative when the multiple new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to replace the new-line character then present in the input data register means with a special character; insert means operative when the new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to insert a new line control item of information in the input data register means, said new line control item of information being added to the next character present in the input data register means, said next character being either a character applied to and stored in the input data register means or a special character if the multiple new line flip-flop means has been operated in a set condition, and operative when the multiple new line flip-flop means is in the set condition and when a special character is present in the input data register means to add a new line control item of information to the special character; and said enabling and inhibit means being further operative after a new line control item of information has been added to a character which is not a new-line character in the input data register means to enable that character to be received by the buffer means, whereby the character is stored in the buffer means.

Claim 10

Processing apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein: the insert means is operative when the new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to insert a control bit in the input data register means to be added to the next character present in the input data register means, and operative when the multiple new line flip-flop means is in the set condition and when a special character is present in the input data register means to add a control bit to the special character.

Claim 11

Processing apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein: the circuit means is operative when the multiple new line flip-flop means is in the set condition to replace the new-line character then present in the input data register means with a space character.