Display system for an electronic business machine

Claim 1

In aN electronic business transaction system having keyboard means with a plurality of manually operable keys for producing both numeric and functional data signals, read-only memory means for storing addressable program instructions, random access memory means for storing addressable working transaction data, display means for visually displaying multiple characters indicating transaction data, digital processing means, address means connecting said processing means to address locations in both said memory means, and instruction and data transfer means connecting said processing means with said keyboard means, said display means and both said memory means; and wherein said processing means is operable to obtain and execute said instructions to perform arithmetic and logical operations to produce and display said transaction data in response to said data signals from said keyboard means, said processing means being further operable to select message address locations in response to operating conditions to be indicated; a display system comprising: descriptor memory means connected to said address means and said transfer means and operable to store and provide at said transfer means addressable coded message character signals, and display control means connecting said transfer means with said display means and having register means for storing said character signals, said processing means being operable in response to certain of said instructions to transfer said character signals from said descriptor memory means to said register means by means of said transfer means, said display control means being operable to drivingly connect said stored character signals to said display means for visually displaying transaction messages; whereby said single display means is operable to visually display both numeric and message transaction data.