Scanning technique for multiplexer apparatus

Claim 2

Multiplexer apparatus for enabling a plurality of communication lines for transfer of data during a predetermined interval, said lines included in groups wherein a first group of said lines is capable of transferring data at a first maximum frequency, a second group of lines is capable of transferring data at a second maximum frequency, and a third group of lines is capable of transferring data at a third maximum frequency, wherein said first maximum frequency is less than said second maximum frequency and said third maximum frequency is greater than said second maximum frequency; said apparatus comprising: A. first means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said first group once during said predetermined interval; B. second means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said second group a number of times during said predetermined interval substantially equal to the ratio of said second maximum frequency to said first maximum frequency; and C. third means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said third group a number of times during said predetermined interval substantially equal to the ratio of said third maximum frequency to said first maximum frequency.

Claim 3

Multiplexer apparatus for enabling a plurality of communication lines for transfer of data during a predetermined interval, said lineS being divided into a plurality of grouped lines, said lines of a group coupled to transfer data at different maximum frequencies, said apparatus comprising: A. a first group of said lines for transferring data at a first maximum frequency; B. a second group of said lines for transferring data at a second maximum frequency; C. a third group of said lines for transferring data at a third maximum frequency, said first maximum frequency lower than said second maximum frequency and said third maximum frequency greater than said second maximum frequency; D. first means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said first group once during said predetermined interval; E. second means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said second group a number of times during said predetermined interval equal to the ratio of said second maximum frequency to said first maximum frequency; and F. third means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said third group a number of times during said predetermined interval equal to the ratio of said third maximum frequency to said first maximum frequency.

Claim 4

Multiplexer apparatus for enabling a plurality of communication lines for transfer of data during a predetermined interval, said lineS being divided into a plurality of grouped lines, said lines of a group coupled to transfer data at different maximum frequencies, said apparatus comprising: A. a first group of said lines for transferring data at a first maximum frequency; B. a second group of said lines for transferring data at a second maximum frequency; C. a third group of said lines for transferring data at a third maximum frequency, said first maximum frequency lower than said second maximum frequency and said third maximum frequency greater than said second maximum frequency; D. first means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said first group once during said predetermined interval; E. second means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said second group a number of times during said predetermined interval equal to the ratio of said second maximum frequency to said first maximum frequency; and F. third means for enabling the transfer of data over said lines of said third group a number of times during said predetermined interval equal to the ratio of said third maximum frequency to said first maximum frequency.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said predetermined interval includes a plurality of subintervals and wherein said third means for enabling the transfer of data includes means for enabling the transfer of data over each line of said third group of lines once during each of said subintervals.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising: A. first means for generating a line address; B. second means for generating a line address; C. third means for generating a line address; D. means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed by said first means for generating during the first of said subintervals; E. means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed by said second means for generating during each of said subintervals except said first subinterval, and if said line addressed is in said third group; and F. means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed by said third means for generating during the last of said subintervals if said line addressed is in said second group.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed by said first means for generating during the subintervals other than said first subinterval and if said line addressed is in said first group.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising: A. first means for generating a line address; B. second means for generating a line address; and C. fourth means responsive to one of said line addresses generated by either said first or second means for generating, for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising: A. first means coupled with said fourth means for enabling, for selecting said line address generated by said first means for generating when said line addressed is in said first group; and B. second means coupled with said fourth means for enabling, for selecting said line address generated by said second means for generating when said line addressed is in either said second group or said third group.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising means included in said second means for selecting, for selecting said line address generated by said second means for generating when said line addressed during the last of said subintervals is in said third group.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further comprising: A. third means for generating a line address; and B. fifth means, responsive to said line address generated by said third means for generating, for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed during the last of said sub-intervals when said line addressed is in said second group.

Claim 12

Multiplexer apparatus for enabling the Transfer of data over a plurality of communication lines during a predtermined time interval, said interval divided into four equal subintervals and said communication lines divided into groups of low speed lines, medium speed lines and high speed lines, said apparatus comprising: A. a clock source for generating repetitive clock pulses; B. a main counter; C. a sub scan counter; D. means for enabling said main counter in response to a first signal; E. means for coupling said clock pulses to increment said sub scan counter and to increment said main counter, said main counter incremented only when enabled by said first signal; F. means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed; G. means responsive to a second signal for selecting the count of said main counter to address said lines; and H. means responsive to a third signal for selecting the count of said sub scan counter to address said lines.

Claim 13

Multiplexer apparatus for enabling the Transfer of data over a plurality of communication lines during a predtermined time interval, said interval divided into four equal subintervals and said communication lines divided into groups of low speed lines, medium speed lines and high speed lines, said apparatus comprising: A. a clock source for generating repetitive clock pulses; B. a main counter; C. a sub scan counter; D. means for enabling said main counter in response to a first signal; E. means for coupling said clock pulses to increment said sub scan counter and to increment said main counter, said main counter incremented only when enabled by said first signal; F. means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed; G. means responsive to a second signal for selecting the count of said main counter to address said lines; and H. means responsive to a third signal for selecting the count of said sub scan counter to address said lines.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 further comprising means for generating said first signal and said second signal during the first of said four subintervals.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising means for inhibiting said first signal when said second signal is inhibited and means for inhibiting said first signal during the fourth of said subintervals if at the beginning of said fourth subinterval the line to be addressed is a high speed or medium speed line, said inhibiting of said first signal continuing during said fourth quadrant until the line to be next addressed is a low speed line.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising means for generating said third signal at the end of the first, second and third subintervals if one of said lines is a high speed line.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising means for generating said second signal in either said second quadrant or said fourth quadrant if the next line is to addressed is either a medium speed line or a low speed line.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising means for generating said second signal in said third quadrant if the next line to be addressed is a low speed line.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising means for inhibiting said first signal when said third signal is generated and comprising further means for inhibiting said first signal at the end of said third quadrant if the next line to be addressed is a medium speed or a high speed line.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 10 further comprising: A. a medium speed counter; B. means responsive to a fourth signal and said second signal for selecting the count of said medium speed counter to address said line; C. means for enabling said medium speed counter in response to a fifth signal; and D. means for coupling said clock pulses to increment said medium speed counter when said medium speed counter is enabled by said fifth signal.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 further comprising: A. means for generating said fifth signal; B. means for inhibiting the generation of said fifth signal at the end of said third quadrant if the next line to be addressed is a medium speed or a high speed line; and C. means for continuing the inhibiting of said fifth signal during said fourth quadrant until the next line to be addressed is a low speed line.

Claim 22

Multiplexer apparatus for enabling the transfer of data over a plurality of communication lines during a predetermined time interval, said interval divided into a plurality of subintervals and said communication lines capable of including groups of low speed lines, medium speed lines and high speed lines, said apparatus comprising: A. a memory comprising a plurality of storage locations equal in number to the number of said communications lines, each of said locations including sublocations for storing the data to be transmitted over the respective line, for receiving the data to be received oVer said respective line and for storing the line speed of the next sequentially numbered line; B. first and second counter means for generating respective addresses for addressing said lines; C. means, responsive to the number sequence of said subintervals and responsive to the line speed of said next line, for selecting the address generated by one of said counter means; and D. means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed by the counter means selected by said means for selecting.

Claim 23

Multiplexer apparatus for enabling the transfer of data over a plurality of communication lines during a predetermined time interval, said interval divided into a plurality of subintervals and said communication lines capable of including groups of low speed lines, medium speed lines and high speed lines, said apparatus comprising: A. a memory comprising a plurality of storage locations equal in number to the number of said communications lines, each of said locations including sublocations for storing the data to be transmitted over the respective line, for receiving the data to be received oVer said respective line and for storing the line speed of the next sequentially numbered line; B. first and second counter means for generating respective addresses for addressing said lines; C. means, responsive to the number sequence of said subintervals and responsive to the line speed of said next line, for selecting the address generated by one of said counter means; and D. means for enabling the transfer of data over the line addressed by the counter means selected by said means for selecting.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 further comprising: A. means for indicating the speed of the fastest line of said plurality of lines; and B. means for coupling said means for selecting to select the address generated by one of said counter means in response to the speed of said fastest line.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 20 further comprising: A. third counter means for generating an address for addressing said lines; and B. means for coupling said third counter means for selection by said means for selecting.