US3829841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Computer monitoring device
Assignee: Computer Performance Instrumentation Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-08
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1992-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A device for generating a histogram from a varying digital input word and for displaying the histogram as a series of vertical segments on a television monitor. The input word may be any word existing in a computer, e.g. it may be the program counter, thus to produce a histogram showing the frequency of occurrence of addresses of instructions used by the computer. The device includes a memory having a number of discrete memory addresses. One or more input words are assigned to each memory address, as preset by base address and resolution controls, and each time such word or words occur, the memory location at that address is incremented to produce a histogram. To display on a television monitor the histogram in memory, an X-axis position counter produces a series of counts during each horizontal scan of the monitor beam, to address successive memory locations during counting, so that each count corresponds to one memory location and also to a discrete X-axis position of the beam. A Y-axis position counter generates a count representing the Y-axis position of the beam. For each X-axis position, the content of the memory location associated therewith is read into a comparison circuit and compared with the Y-axis beam position. If the memory content of the addressed location is sufficiently great relative to the beam Y-axis position, the comparison circuit produces a pulse used to create a spot on the screen at the X and Y coordinates in question, so that as scanning progresses, the histogram segments are traced out on the screen.
Inventors
- 👤 W Steinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3409; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/06; G09G1/14; G09G1/16; G09G1/162; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/328; G06F11/3452; G06F11/3466; G06F11/348; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A monitoring device for generating a histogram from a varying digital input word, said device comprising: 1. an input buffer, 2. means for periodically gating said input word into said input buffer, 3. a memory having a predetermined number of addresses, 4. means connected to said input buffer for computing a said address in said memory for each input word in a selected range of input words, so that a said address is associated with each input word in said range, 5. and means connected to said means (4) for incrementing a said memory address by a constant quantity each time an input word associated with such address is received in said input buffer, whereby the total content of each memory address is representative of the total number of occurrences of all the input words associated with such memory address.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A monitoring device for generating a histogram from a varying digital input word, said device comprising: 1. an input buffer, 2. means for periodically gating said input word into said input buffer, 3. a memory having a predetermined number of addresses, 4. means connected to said input buffer for computing a said address in said memory for each input word in a selected range of input words, so that a said address is associated with each input word in said range, 5. and means connected to said means (4) for incrementing a said memory address by a constant quantity each time an input word associated with such address is received in said input buffer, whereby the total content of each memory address is representative of the total number of occurrences of all the input words associated with such memory address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for periodically gating said input word into said input buffer,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for periodically gating said input word into said input buffer,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
an X-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the X-axis position of said beam, and means for resetting said X-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each horizontal scan line of said beam,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
an X-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the X-axis position of said beam, and means for resetting said X-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each horizontal scan line of said beam,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1 wherein said means (4) includes adjustable limit means for setting adjustable upper and lower boundaries for said range, said limit means including resolution means dividing the data words between said boundaries into a number of groups, the number of said groups being equal to said predetermined number, one group associated with each memory address, whereby the number of data words in each group is the resolution of said device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A monitoring device according to claim 2 wherein said limit means includes base number means for setting a lower boundary for said range, and wherein said means for setting said upper boundary is constituted by said base number means and said resolution means together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
a Y-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the Y-axis position of said beam, and means responsive to said vertical drive pulses for resetting said Y-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each field,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
a Y-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the Y-axis position of said beam, and means responsive to said vertical drive pulses for resetting said Y-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each field,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
8 words
a memory having a predetermined number of addresses,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
8 words
a memory having a predetermined number of addresses,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
means connected to said input buffer for computing a said address in said memory for each input word in a selected range of input words, so that a said address is associated with each input word in said range,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
means connected to said input buffer for computing a said address in said memory for each input word in a selected range of input words, so that a said address is associated with each input word in said range,
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
means connecting one of said counters to said memory to address successive memory locations therein, so that each addressed memory location is associated with a discrete location of said beam along one of said axes,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
means connecting one of said counters to said memory to address successive memory locations therein, so that each addressed memory location is associated with a discrete location of said beam along one of said axes,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
206 words
A monitoring device according to claim 3 wherein said input buffer is a binary register containing said input word as a binary word of M bits, said memory addresses being expressable as binary words of not more than N bits, where N is less than M, said base address means including a base address register containing said base address as a binary word of M bits, means for loading a selected base address into said base address register, said resolution means including a resolution register containing a binary word representative of said resolution, means for loading a resolution value equal to 2p into said resolution register, where p is a number between 0 and M-N and each resolution is double the next smaller resolution, said means (4) including means for subtracting said base address from said input word to produce a modified input word of M bits, said means (4) further including multiplexor means for receiving said modified input word and for receiving said binary word representative of said resolution and for computing a said memory address of N bits therefrom by selecting the N rightmost bits of said modified input word commencing at bit p + N and ending at bit p + 1 inclusive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
A monitoring device according to claim 1 including a television monitor having a screen, and display circuit means for displaying on said screen the content of a selected group of said memory addresses as a series of parallel segments, one segment for each memory address, spaced apart on said screen with the magnitude Of each segment being representative of the content of the memory address corresponding thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
comparison means conNected to said memory, and means for successively reading the content of addressed memory locations into said comparison means as such locations are addressed,
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
comparison means conNected to said memory, and means for successively reading the content of addressed memory locations into said comparison means as such locations are addressed,
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
and means connected to said means (4) for incrementing a said memory address by a constant quantity each time an input word associated with such address is received in said input buffer, whereby the total content of each memory address is representative of the total number of occurrences of all the input words associated with such memory address.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
and means connected to said means (4) for incrementing a said memory address by a constant quantity each time an input word associated with such address is received in said input buffer, whereby the total content of each memory address is representative of the total number of occurrences of all the input words associated with such memory address.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
a synchronizing pulse generating circuit for generating horizontal and vertical sync pulses to control the scan of the beam of said monitor, and for supplying horizontal and vertical drive pulses synchronized with and having the same frequency as said horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively,
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
a synchronizing pulse generating circuit for generating horizontal and vertical sync pulses to control the scan of the beam of said monitor, and for supplying horizontal and vertical drive pulses synchronized with and having the same frequency as said horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively,
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
a synchronizing pulse generating circuit for generating horizontal and vertical sync pulses to control the scan of the beam of said monitor, and for supplying horizontal and vertical drive pulses synchronized with and having the same frequency as said horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively,
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
a synchronizing pulse generating circuit for generating horizontal and vertical sync pulses to control the scan of the beam of said monitor, and for supplying horizontal and vertical drive pulses synchronized with and having the same frequency as said horizontal and vertical sync pulses respectively,
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
A monitoring device according to claim 2 including a first counter, and means connecting said first counter to record the total number of input words gated into said input buffer, a second counter, and means connecting said second counter to record the number of input words received in said range, whereby the number of words received in said range can be compared with the total number of input words received.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
82 words
said comparison means including means connected to the other of said counters for comparing the content of such read-out memory location with the count of said other counter and for producing a visible mark on said screen when the content of such read-out memory location bears a selected relation to the count of said other counter, whereby to generate a series of spaced parallel segments on said screen, each segment representing the content of a separate one of said addressed memory locations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
82 words
said comparison means including means connected to the other of said counters for comparing the content of such read-out memory location with the count of said other counter and for producing a visible mark on said screen when the content of such read-out memory location bears a selected relation to the count of said other counter, whereby to generate a series of spaced parallel segments on said screen, each segment representing the content of a separate one of said addressed memory locations.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
139 words
A monitoring device according to claim 2 including a television monitor having a screen, display circuit means for displaying on said screen the content of a selected group of said memory addresses as a series of parallel segments, one segment for each memory address, spaced apart on said screen with the magnitude of each segment being representative of the content of the memory address corresponding thereto, said device further including cursor generating means for generating on said screen a cursor movable to point to a selected segment, and means connected to said cursor generating means and to said display circuit means for identifying the memory address associated with the segment pointed to by said cursor, said device further including calculating means for computing from such memory address the input word or range of words associated with such memory address.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
an X-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the X-axis position of said beam, and means for resetting said X-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each horizontal scan line of said beam,
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
an X-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the X-axis position of said beam, and means for resetting said X-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each horizontal scan line of said beam,
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
a dynamic X-axis position counter operative to produce a series of counts corresponding to respective memory addresses in said memory,
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
a dynamic X-axis position counter operative to produce a series of counts corresponding to respective memory addresses in said memory,
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
a Y-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the Y-axis position of said beam, and means responsive to said vertical drive pulses for resetting said Y-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each field,
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
56 words
a Y-axis position counter connected to said synchronizing pulse generating circuit for receiving said horizontal drive pulses and for producing a series of counts indicative of the Y-axis position of said beam, and means responsive to said vertical drive pulses for resetting said Y-axis position counter to an initial count at the commencement of each field,
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
47 words
A monitoring device according to claim 7 including character generating means coupled to said calculating means for generating on said screen a character display indicative of the value of the input word or range of input words associated with the vertical segment pointed to by said cursor.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
58 words
means coupled to said dynamic X-axis position counter and responsive to said horizontal drive pulses for setting said dynamic X-axis position counter to an initial count substantially at the commencement of each horizontal scan line of said beam and for driving said dynamic X-axis position counter to count as said beam scans along the X-axis of said screen,
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
58 words
means coupled to said dynamic X-axis position counter and responsive to said horizontal drive pulses for setting said dynamic X-axis position counter to an initial count substantially at the commencement of each horizontal scan line of said beam and for driving said dynamic X-axis position counter to count as said beam scans along the X-axis of said screen,
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
means connecting said dynamic X-axis position counter to said memory for said dynamic X-axis position counter to address successive memory locations corresponding to successive counts of said counter, so that each addressed memory location is associated with a discrete X-axis location of said beam,
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
means connecting said dynamic X-axis position counter to said memory for said dynamic X-axis position counter to address successive memory locations corresponding to successive counts of said counter, so that each addressed memory location is associated with a discrete X-axis location of said beam,
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
60 words
A monitoring device according to claim 7 including readout means for reading the content of the memory address of the segment pointed to by said cursor, and character generating means coupled to said readout means for generating on said screen a character display indicative of the content of the memory address associated with the segment pointed to by said cursor.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
means connecting one of said counters to said memory to address successive memory locations therein, so that each addressed memory location is associated with a discrete location of saiD beam along one of said axes,
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
means connecting one of said counters to said memory to address successive memory locations therein, so that each addressed memory location is associated with a discrete location of saiD beam along one of said axes,
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
comparison means connected to said memory, and means for successively reading the content of addressed memory locations into said comparison means as such locations are addressed,
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
comparison means connected to said memory, and means for successively reading the content of addressed memory locations into said comparison means as such locations are addressed,
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
99 words
A monitoring device according to claim 7 wherein said memory addresses in said selected group are numbered in sequence and are fewer in number than said predetermined number, said device including means for sequentially changing the memory address associated with each segment from a first memory address to a second memory address, said second memory address differing by one memory address from said first memory address, so that said segments together may represent sequentially the contents of all said addresses of said memory, and whereby said segments appear to move across said screen from one side to the other.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
69 words
a Y-axis position counter, and means coupled to said Y-axis position counter and responsive to said horizontal and vertical drive pulses for setting said Y-axis position counter to an initial count substantially at the commencement of each field and for driving said Y-axis position counter to count each horizontal line in such field, so that the count in said Y-axis position counter represents the Y-axis position of said beam,
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
69 words
a Y-axis position counter, and means coupled to said Y-axis position counter and responsive to said horizontal and vertical drive pulses for setting said Y-axis position counter to an initial count substantially at the commencement of each field and for driving said Y-axis position counter to count each horizontal line in such field, so that the count in said Y-axis position counter represents the Y-axis position of said beam,
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for determining a base Y-axis position of said beam on said screen,
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for determining a base Y-axis position of said beam on said screen,
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
13 words
A monitoring device according to claim 7 wherein said display circuit means includes:
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
82 words
said comparison means including means connected to the other of said counters for comparing the content of such read-out memory location with the count of said other counter and for producing a visible mark on said screen when the content of such read-out memory location bears a selected relation to the count of said other counter, whereby to generate said series of spaced parallel segments on said screen, each segment representing the content of a separate one of said addressed memory locations.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
82 words
said comparison means including means connected to the other of said counters for comparing the content of such read-out memory location with the count of said other counter and for producing a visible mark on said screen when the content of such read-out memory location bears a selected relation to the count of said other counter, whereby to generate said series of spaced parallel segments on said screen, each segment representing the content of a separate one of said addressed memory locations.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
44 words
A monitoring device according to claim 11 and including crawl counter means connected to said one counter for incrementing said initial count in said one counter by one at selected intervals, whereby to cause said segments on said screen to appear to shift sideways.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
comparison means having a first input for receiving counts from said Y-axis position counter and a second input for receiving data from said memory,
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
comparison means having a first input for receiving counts from said Y-axis position counter and a second input for receiving data from said memory,
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
40 words
means associated with said dynamic X-axis position counter and connected to said memory for effecting successive read-outs of the content of the successive memory locations addressed by said dynamic X-axis position counter into said second input of said comparison means,
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
40 words
means associated with said dynamic X-axis position counter and connected to said memory for effecting successive read-outs of the content of the successive memory locations addressed by said dynamic X-axis position counter into said second input of said comparison means,
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
59 words
A monitoring device according to claim 3 and including a television monitor having a screen, said device further including synchronizing and display circuit means connected between said memory and said monitor for displaying at least a portion of the contents of said memory as a histogram of vertical segments spaced across said screen, said synchronizing and display circuits including:
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
85 words
said comparison means including means for comparing the content of each such read-out memory location with the count of said Y-axis position counter and for causing said beam to generate a visual dot on said screen at the beam X-axis position associated with such read-out location of the content of said memory for such read-out location exceeds the difference between the Y-axis position of said beam and said base position, such dot therEby forming a portion of the segment associated with such read-out memory location.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
85 words
said comparison means including means for comparing the content of each such read-out memory location with the count of said Y-axis position counter and for causing said beam to generate a visual dot on said screen at the beam X-axis position associated with such read-out location of the content of said memory for such read-out location exceeds the difference between the Y-axis position of said beam and said base position, such dot therEby forming a portion of the segment associated with such read-out memory location.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
79 words
A monitoring device according to claim 13 and including crawl counter means coupled to said means (8) and responsive to said vertical drive pulses for incrementing said initial count of said dynamic X-axis position counter by one upon receipt of each vertical drive pulse by said crawl counter means, whereby the memory address associated with each X-axis position of said beam is incremented by one, thereby causing said histogram to appear to move to the left on said screen.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
205 words
A monitoring device according to claim 14 including cursor generating means for generating on said screen a cursor to point to a selected segment, said cursor generating means including a. a cursor position counter, and means for loading a selected count into said cursor position counter, said selected count representing the memory address for the vertical segment to which said cursor is to point, b. a cursor position decoder, means connecting said cursor position decoder to said cursor position counter to receive said selected count therefrom, and means connecting said cursor position decoder to said dynamic X-axis counter to receive counts therefrom, c. said cursor position decoder including means for comparing the counts received from said cursor position counter and from said dynamic X-axis counter and for producing pulses only when said counts are equal, said pulses thereby occurring at the X-axis position of the vertical segment to which said cursor is to point, d. and video generating means for receiving said pulses from said cursor position decoder and for generating therefrom a vertical cursor line on said screen, below said Y-axis of said beam, as an extension of the vertical segment to which said cursor is to point, such vertical line constituting said cursor.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
A monitoring device according to claim 15 including means for incrementing and decrementing said selected count in said cursor position counter, whereby to shift the position of said cursor.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
55 words
A monitoring device according to claim 15 including means for incrementing said selected count in said cursor position counter by one each time said initial count in said dynamic X-axis position counter is incremented by one, whereby to maintain said cursor motionless on said screen as said display shifts to the left on said screen.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
41 words
A display device including a television monitor having a screen, for displaying on said screen a histogram representing the content of a selected group of locations of a memory, said memory having a predetermined number of locations, said display device comprising:
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
41 words
A display device including a television monitor having a screen, for displaying on said screen a histogram representing the content of a selected group of locations of a memory, said memory having a predetermined number of locations, said display device comprising:
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
175 words
A display device according to claim 18 and including cursor generating means for generating on said screen a cursor to point to a selected segment, said cursor generating means including a. a cursor position counter, and means for loading a selected count into said cursor position counter, said selected count representing the memory address for the vertical segment to which said cursor is to point, b. a cursor position decoder, means connecting said cursor position decoder to said cursor position counter to receive said selected count therefrom, and means connecting said cursor position decoder to said one counter to receive counts therefrom, c. said cursor position decoder including means for comparing the counts received from said cursor position counter and from said one counter and for producing pulses only when said counts are equal, d. and video geneating means for receiving said pulses from said cursor position decoder and for generating therefrom a line on said screen as an extension of the segment to which said cursor is to point, such extension constituting said cursor.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
29 words
A display device according to claim 19 including means for incrementing and decrementing said selected count in said cursor position counter, whereby to shift the position of said cursor.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
44 words
A display device according to claim 20 and including crawl counter means connected to said one counter for incrementing said initial count in said one counter by one at selected intervals, whereby to cause said segments on said screen to appear to shift sideways.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
51 words
A display device according to claim 21 including means for incrementing said selected count in said cursor position decoder by one each time said initial count in said one counter is incremented by one, whereby to maintain said cursor motionless on said screen as said display is shifted on said screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |