US3856984A — System for anticipating an impending loss of info…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 361 words

In a data transmission system including means for transmitting coded representations of characters in a stream of data, a pair of buffeR storage units for alternately and individually receiving a coded representation of a character, a rotating print element having a plurality of characters and a reference location on the periphery thereof, means for alternately and individually scanning said buffer storage units and means for comparing the coded representation of a character stored therein with the characters on the periphery of said printing element for utilizing the character in printing and wherein the transmission of said representations of characters, and the utilization of character representations stored in said buffer storage units, as timed to the operation of said rotating print element, normally exist in a state of synchronization, a logic circuit for preventing a loss of information due to a variance from said normal state of synchronization comprising: first means for detecting the satisfaction of a first logic condition wherein one of said pair of buffer storage units is scheduled to receive the next coded representation of a character to arrive and is simultaneously being scanned for comparing the coded representation stored therein with the characters on the periphery of said rotating print element; second means for detecting the satisfaction of a second logic condition, said second logic condition requiring the simultaneous occurrence of a pulse indicative of the frequency of rotation of said print element and a pulse indicative of the frequency of transmission of said coded representations; means responsive to the simultaneous detection of the satisfaction of said first and second logic conditions for generating a triggering pulse; first bistable means responsive to said triggering pulse for generating a restraint pulse and inhibiting the further transmission of said coded representations of characters; second bistable means for normally enabling said restraint pulse-generating means, said means being responsive to said triggering pulse for disenabling said generating means and preventing the generation of more than one restraint pulse until said normal state of synchronization is restored; and means responsive to conditions indicative of the restoration of said normal state of synchronization for returning said second bistable means to its normally enabling state.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 361 words

In a data transmission system including means for transmitting coded representations of characters in a stream of data, a pair of buffeR storage units for alternately and individually receiving a coded representation of a character, a rotating print element having a plurality of characters and a reference location on the periphery thereof, means for alternately and individually scanning said buffer storage units and means for comparing the coded representation of a character stored therein with the characters on the periphery of said printing element for utilizing the character in printing and wherein the transmission of said representations of characters, and the utilization of character representations stored in said buffer storage units, as timed to the operation of said rotating print element, normally exist in a state of synchronization, a logic circuit for preventing a loss of information due to a variance from said normal state of synchronization comprising: first means for detecting the satisfaction of a first logic condition wherein one of said pair of buffer storage units is scheduled to receive the next coded representation of a character to arrive and is simultaneously being scanned for comparing the coded representation stored therein with the characters on the periphery of said rotating print element; second means for detecting the satisfaction of a second logic condition, said second logic condition requiring the simultaneous occurrence of a pulse indicative of the frequency of rotation of said print element and a pulse indicative of the frequency of transmission of said coded representations; means responsive to the simultaneous detection of the satisfaction of said first and second logic conditions for generating a triggering pulse; first bistable means responsive to said triggering pulse for generating a restraint pulse and inhibiting the further transmission of said coded representations of characters; second bistable means for normally enabling said restraint pulse-generating means, said means being responsive to said triggering pulse for disenabling said generating means and preventing the generation of more than one restraint pulse until said normal state of synchronization is restored; and means responsive to conditions indicative of the restoration of said normal state of synchronization for returning said second bistable means to its normally enabling state.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 204 words

A logic system for preventing a loss of transmitted data which may occur whenever the rate at which data is transmitted to a remote data terminal having a plurality of buffer storage units, one of said plurality of buffer storage units normally operating to receive said transmitted data while one of said plurality of buffer storage units stores the data currently being utilized by said remote data terminal, exceeds the rate at which data is utilized at the remote data terminal, said logic system comprising: means for generating signals indicative of the rate of utilization of data at the remote data terminal; first means for determining which one of said plurality of buffer storage units is currently being loaded with the incoming data; second means for determining which one of said plurality of buffer storage units contains the data currently being utilized; means responsive to said first and second determining means, to said incoming data and to said signals indicative of the rate of utilization of said data for detecting the attainment of a predetermined logic state indicative of an impending loss of data; and means responsive to said detecting means for temporarily inhibiting further transmission of data so as to prevent said losses.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 204 words

A logic system for preventing a loss of transmitted data which may occur whenever the rate at which data is transmitted to a remote data terminal having a plurality of buffer storage units, one of said plurality of buffer storage units normally operating to receive said transmitted data while one of said plurality of buffer storage units stores the data currently being utilized by said remote data terminal, exceeds the rate at which data is utilized at the remote data terminal, said logic system comprising: means for generating signals indicative of the rate of utilization of data at the remote data terminal; first means for determining which one of said plurality of buffer storage units is currently being loaded with the incoming data; second means for determining which one of said plurality of buffer storage units contains the data currently being utilized; means responsive to said first and second determining means, to said incoming data and to said signals indicative of the rate of utilization of said data for detecting the attainment of a predetermined logic state indicative of an impending loss of data; and means responsive to said detecting means for temporarily inhibiting further transmission of data so as to prevent said losses.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The logic system of claim 2 wherein said means for temporarily inhibiting further transmission of data includes: first logic means for generating a restraint signal to temporarily inhibit said further transmission of data; and second logic means for preventing the generation of more than one restraint signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 367 words

An improved data system having a means for transmitting characters of information and a terminal means incLuding a plurality of buffer storage units for alternately and individually receiving and storing individual characters of information, each of said plurality of buffer storage units being capable of receiving and storing a single character of information before another of said plurality of buffer storage units begins to receive the next successively transmitted character of information, said terminal means further including means for alternately scanning the stored contents of individual ones of said plurality of buffer storage units, and cyclic printing means including a rotating printing element, hammer assembly means, means for sensing characters and a reference position on the rotating print element, and means responsive to said character sensing means and to said scanning means for comparing the characters on said rotating print element with the character stored in the individual one of said plurality of buffer storage units currently being scanned by said scanning means, and means responsive to said comparison means for actuating said hammer assembly means to print said stored character when a valid comparison exists, and wherein characters of information are normally being received by said plurality of buffer storage units at a rate approximately equal to the rate at which characters are being scanned by said scanning means for printing by said cyclic printing means, the improvement in said data system comprising logic circuit means for preventing a loss of one or more transmitted characters of information which may occur whenever characters are being received by said plurality of buffer storage units at a rate greater than the rate at which characters are being scanned by said scanning means for printing by said cyclic printing means, said logic circuit means comprising: means for determining if characters of data are being received by said plurality of buffer storage units at a rate greater than the rate at which characters are being scanned by said scanning means for printing by said cyclic printing means; and means responsive to said determining means for generating a restraint signal for temporarily inhibiting said means for transmitting characters so as to prevent said loss of one or more characters of information.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 367 words

An improved data system having a means for transmitting characters of information and a terminal means incLuding a plurality of buffer storage units for alternately and individually receiving and storing individual characters of information, each of said plurality of buffer storage units being capable of receiving and storing a single character of information before another of said plurality of buffer storage units begins to receive the next successively transmitted character of information, said terminal means further including means for alternately scanning the stored contents of individual ones of said plurality of buffer storage units, and cyclic printing means including a rotating printing element, hammer assembly means, means for sensing characters and a reference position on the rotating print element, and means responsive to said character sensing means and to said scanning means for comparing the characters on said rotating print element with the character stored in the individual one of said plurality of buffer storage units currently being scanned by said scanning means, and means responsive to said comparison means for actuating said hammer assembly means to print said stored character when a valid comparison exists, and wherein characters of information are normally being received by said plurality of buffer storage units at a rate approximately equal to the rate at which characters are being scanned by said scanning means for printing by said cyclic printing means, the improvement in said data system comprising logic circuit means for preventing a loss of one or more transmitted characters of information which may occur whenever characters are being received by said plurality of buffer storage units at a rate greater than the rate at which characters are being scanned by said scanning means for printing by said cyclic printing means, said logic circuit means comprising: means for determining if characters of data are being received by said plurality of buffer storage units at a rate greater than the rate at which characters are being scanned by said scanning means for printing by said cyclic printing means; and means responsive to said determining means for generating a restraint signal for temporarily inhibiting said means for transmitting characters so as to prevent said loss of one or more characters of information.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 146 words

The improved data system of claim 4 wherein said determining means includes: load control means for determining which one of said plurality of buffer storage units is currently receiving and storing the incoming character of information; scan control means associated with said cyclic printing means for determining which one of said plurality of buffer storage units is currently being scanned by said scanning means; logical gating means responsive to the parity of the character of information currently being received by said plurality of buffer storage units, to said load control means, to said scan control means and to said sensing means for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined set of logic conditions indicative of an impending loss of one or more characters of information and for passing a gated signal in response thereto; and bistable means responsive to said gated pulse for generating a restraint-triggering pulse.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The improved data system of claim 5 wherein said means for generating a restraint signal includes means responsive to said restraint-triggering pulse for generating said restraint signal and means for preventing the generation of more than one restraint signal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 199 words

The data system of claim 6 wherein said means for preventing the generation of more than one restraint signal includes: bistable flip-flop means responsive to said restraint-triggering pulse for generating an inhibit pulse for disenabling said restraint signal generating means to prevent the further generation of said restraint signal; second logical gating means responsive to the parity of the character of information currently being received by said plurality of buffer storage units, to said sensing means, to said load coNtrol means, and to said scan control means for detecting the occurrence of a second predetermined set of logic conditions indicating that characters of information are once more being received by said plurality of buffer storage units at a rate approximately equal to the rate at which characters are being scanned by said scanning means for printing by said cyclic printing means and for passing a second gated pulse in response thereto; and second bistable means responsive to said second gated pulse for generating a termination pulse, said means for generating an inhibit pulse being responsive to said termination pulse for terminating the generation of said inhibit pulse and for generating a pulse for re-enabling said restraint signal generating means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-12-23	1978-06-24	1978-12-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-12-23	1982-06-24	1982-12-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-12-23	1986-06-24	1986-12-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for anticipating an impending loss of information and for generating a restraint signal in response thereto

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