Line searching arrangement having priority sequence

Claim 2

An arrangement for determining when any of a plurality of conductors are exhibiting a preselected signal comprising: a control unit for transmitting information request signals; means responsive to said information request signals and the signals on said conductors for transmitting coded signals defining the location of one of said conductors which exhibits said preselected signal to said control unit; and indicating means responsive to said information request signals and signals on said conductors for transmitting a common reaccess signal to said control unit when more than one of said conductors is exhibiting said preselected signal.

Claim 3

The arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control unit transmits an additional information request signal each time it receives a reaccess signal from said indicating means.

Claim 4

An arrangement for searching a plurality of conductors, each having an address assigned in accordance with a predetermined address sequence, to determine when a preselected signal exists on any of said conductors, comprising: a control unit for transmitting information request signals, which include the address of a selected conductor; selector means responsive to said information request signals and signals on said conductors for transmitting to said control unit the address of the first of said conductors, after said selected conductor in accordance with said address sequence, exhibiting said preselected signal; and indicating means responsive to said information request signals and signals on said conductors for transmitting a reaccess signal to said control unit when more than one conductor after said selected conductor exhibits said preselected signal.

Claim 5

An arrangement for searching a plurality of conductors, each having an address assigned in accordance with a predetermined address sequence, to determine when a preselected signal exists on any of said conductors, comprising: a control unit for transmitting information request signals, which include the address of a selected conductor; selector means responsive to said information request signals and signals on said conductors for transmitting to said control unit the address of the first of said conductors, after said selected conductor in accordance with said address sequence, exhibiting said preselected signal; and indicating means responsive to said information request signals and signals on said conductors for transmitting a reaccess signal to said control unit when more than one conductor after said selected conductor exhibits said preselected signal.

Claim 6

The arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein said control unit transmits an additional information request signal each time it receives a reaccess signal from said indicating means.

Claim 7

The arrangement in accordance with claim 4 wherein said additional information request signal includes the last address transmitted by said selector means.

Claim 8

A line search arrangement comprising: a plurality of input lines each having an address assigned in accordance with a predetermined address sequence, for receiving signals representing logical 0''s and logical 1''s; a state change indicator connected to each of said input lines for generating an output signal when the signals on said lines have changed; a control unit for transmitting information request signals which include the address of a selected line; selector means connected to said state change indicators and responsive to said information request signals and output signals from said state change indicators for transmitting to said control unit the address of the first of said lines after said selected line in accordance with said address sequence having signals which have changed, wherein said selector means further transmits a reaccess signal to said control unit when the signals on more than one line after said selected Line have changed; and wherein said control unit responds to said reaccess signals by transmitting an additional information request signal including the address of said selected line.

Claim 9

A line search arrangement comprising: a plurality of input lines each having an address assigned in accordance with a predetermined address sequence, for receiving signals representing logical 0''s and logical 1''s; a state change indicator connected to each of said input lines for generating an output signal when the signals on said lines have changed; a control unit for transmitting information request signals which include the address of a selected line; selector means connected to said state change indicators and responsive to said information request signals and output signals from said state change indicators for transmitting to said control unit the address of the first of said lines after said selected line in accordance with said address sequence having signals which have changed, wherein said selector means further transmits a reaccess signal to said control unit when the signals on more than one line after said selected Line have changed; and wherein said control unit responds to said reaccess signals by transmitting an additional information request signal including the address of said selected line.

Claim 10

The arrangement in accordance with claim 6 wherein said selector means further transmits to said control unit the signal on the line whose address is transmitted to said control unit.