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US3924240A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System for controlling processing equipment

Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1973-04-09
•
Granted: 1975-12-02
•
Expires: 1993-04-09
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Abstract

Abstract A control system for use with processing equipment includes a controller and a plurality of addressable terminal devices including means for transferring data between the processing equipment and the controller over a common bus.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arthur P Given

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 13:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/06; G06F13/14; G06F13/36; G06F13/368; G06F13/37

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim 261 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for, 1. generating system address signals, 2. generating functions signals, and 3. conveying data between the data processor and the remote processing equipment; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurAlity of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising, 1. at least one data transfer unit for directing the transfer of data between the data processor and processing equipment, 2. decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifiying an individual data transfer unit, and 3. routing logic interconnecting said bus and said data transfer unit, said routing logic responsive to said selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to each individually identified data transfer unit during a first time period as defined by a first one of said function signals to thereby address each identified data transfer unit and further responsive to additional function signals during time periods subsequent to said first time period for routing data over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment, via an identified data transfer unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 261 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for, 1. generating system address signals, 2. generating functions signals, and 3. conveying data between the data processor and the remote processing equipment; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurAlity of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising, 1. at least one data transfer unit for directing the transfer of data between the data processor and processing equipment, 2. decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifiying an individual data transfer unit, and 3. routing logic interconnecting said bus and said data transfer unit, said routing logic responsive to said selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to each individually identified data transfer unit during a first time period as defined by a first one of said function signals to thereby address each identified data transfer unit and further responsive to additional function signals during time periods subsequent to said first time period for routing data over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment, via an identified data transfer unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 4 words
generating functions signals, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 4 words
generating functions signals, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifying an individual data transfer unit, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifying an individual data transfer unit, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifiying an individual data transfer unit, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifiying an individual data transfer unit, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 5 words
selectively generating function signals, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 5 words
selectively generating function signals, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals from a connected bus interface means to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifying an individual data transfer unit,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals from a connected bus interface means to generate selection signals, each of said selection signals identifying an individual data transfer unit,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 5 words
passing the function signals, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 5 words
passing the function signals, and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 5 words
selectively generating function signals, and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 5 words
selectively generating function signals, and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 58 words
at least one data transfer unit for directing the transfer of data between the data processor and The processing equipment, said data transfer unit having a select means for enabling the selection thereof in response to a selection signal and a first enable signal at a first time period defined by a first one of the functon signals,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 58 words
at least one data transfer unit for directing the transfer of data between the data processor and The processing equipment, said data transfer unit having a select means for enabling the selection thereof in response to a selection signal and a first enable signal at a first time period defined by a first one of the functon signals,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 4 words
generating function signals, and
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 4 words
generating function signals, and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 77 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 1 further including a plurality of bus interface means each serving to connect at least one of said terminal devices to said bus for passing said system address signals to said decoding means during said first time period and responsive to a one of said function signals to allow data to be selectively transferred in either direction over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 84 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 1 wherein each of said terminal devices further comprises, enabling means responsive to function signals on said bus and to said selection signals provided by said decoding means for selectively providing enabling signals to said decoding means, said routing logic and said data transfer unit to control the generation of said selection signals to thereby address a data transfer unit and to effect the transfer of data between the processing equipment and the data processor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 61 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals and to the first function signal to provide the selection signals to said enabling means, each of said selection signals identifiying an individual data transfer unit and further serving to enable the generation of the other enabling signals at time periods defined by the other function signals applied to said enabling means, and
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 61 words
decoding means responsive to prescribed system address signals and to the first function signal to provide the selection signals to said enabling means, each of said selection signals identifiying an individual data transfer unit and further serving to enable the generation of the other enabling signals at time periods defined by the other function signals applied to said enabling means, and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 75 words
conveying data between the data processor and the remote processing equipment; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurality of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 75 words
conveying data between the data processor and the remote processing equipment; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurality of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 108 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus interface means and said data transfer unit, said routing logic responsive to said selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to the individually identified data transfer unit during the first time period as defined by the first one of said function signals to thereby address a data transfer unit and for selectively and sequentially routing data in either direction through those identified like types of input or output data transfer units as controlled by a series of the additional function signals selectively and repetitively applied to the data transfer units during time periods subsequent to said first time period.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 108 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus interface means and said data transfer unit, said routing logic responsive to said selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to the individually identified data transfer unit during the first time period as defined by the first one of said function signals to thereby address a data transfer unit and for selectively and sequentially routing data in either direction through those identified like types of input or output data transfer units as controlled by a series of the additional function signals selectively and repetitively applied to the data transfer units during time periods subsequent to said first time period.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 42 words
conveying data between the processing equipment and the data processor; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; c. a plurality of bus interface means connected in parallel to said bus for,
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 42 words
conveying data between the processing equipment and the data processor; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; c. a plurality of bus interface means connected in parallel to said bus for,
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 95 words
selectively transferring data in either direction over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment in response to a one of additional ones of the function signals during time periods subsequent to the first time period; d. a plurality of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to a corresponding one of said bus interface means and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data between the processing equipment and the data processor via a connected bus interface means and said bus, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 95 words
selectively transferring data in either direction over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment in response to a one of additional ones of the function signals during time periods subsequent to the first time period; d. a plurality of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to a corresponding one of said bus interface means and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data between the processing equipment and the data processor via a connected bus interface means and said bus, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 93 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus and said data transfer unit, said routing logic responsive to said selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to each individually identified data transfer unit during a first time period as defined by a first one of said function signals to thereby address each identified data transfer unit and further responsive to additional function signals during time periods subsequent to said first time period for routing data over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment, via an identified data transfer unit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 93 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus and said data transfer unit, said routing logic responsive to said selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to each individually identified data transfer unit during a first time period as defined by a first one of said function signals to thereby address each identified data transfer unit and further responsive to additional function signals during time periods subsequent to said first time period for routing data over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment, via an identified data transfer unit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 95 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus and said plurality of data transfer units, said routing logic responsive to the selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to the addressable selection means in each data transfer unit of the individually identified data transfer unit during the first time period to thereby address a data transfer unit, and further responsive to the additional function signals for selectively routing the data being sequentially transferred through the individually identified data transfer units of like type over said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 95 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus and said plurality of data transfer units, said routing logic responsive to the selection signals from said decoding means for routing a selection signal to the addressable selection means in each data transfer unit of the individually identified data transfer unit during the first time period to thereby address a data transfer unit, and further responsive to the additional function signals for selectively routing the data being sequentially transferred through the individually identified data transfer units of like type over said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 74 words
conveying data between the processing equipment and the data processor; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurality of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 74 words
conveying data between the processing equipment and the data processor; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurality of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 75 words
conveying data between the data processor and the remote processing equipment; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurAlity of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 75 words
conveying data between the data processor and the remote processing equipment; b. a bus connected to said controller for conveying the system address signals, the function signals and data; and, c. a plurAlity of simultaneously addressable terminal devices connected in parallel to said bus and further connected to the processing equipment for selectively directing the transfer of data via said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, each of said terminal devices comprising,
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 96 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus and said data transfer unit said routing logic responsive to the first function signal for routing a selection signal to the individually identified data transfer unit to enable said selection means in the data transfer unit of the individually selected data transfer unit in accordance with the system address signals applied to said decoding means and further responsive to additional enabling signals during time periods subsequent to said first time period for routing data over said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, via an identified data transfer unit.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 96 words
routing logic interconnecting said bus and said data transfer unit said routing logic responsive to the first function signal for routing a selection signal to the individually identified data transfer unit to enable said selection means in the data transfer unit of the individually selected data transfer unit in accordance with the system address signals applied to said decoding means and further responsive to additional enabling signals during time periods subsequent to said first time period for routing data over said bus between the processing equipment and the data processor, via an identified data transfer unit.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 103 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 1 wherein the data transfer unit of said terminal devices includes a priority means, the priority means of like input or output types of data transfer units being interconnected via their associated data transfer unit whereby each data transfer unit has a relative data transfer priority with respect to another data transfer unit of like type to sequentially effect the transfer of data through like types on a higher to lower priority basis in response to a corresponding one of the additional function signals repetitively applied to the priority means of said like types.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 36 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for,
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 36 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for,
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 100 words
A contol system of the type recited in claim 5 further including a plurality of bus interface means connected in parrallel to said bus and further connected in parallel to a plurality of terminal devices for: a. passing the system address signals during a first time period defined by a first one of the function signals; b. passing the function signals; and, c. selectively transferring data in either direction over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment in response to a one of the additional enabling signals during the time periods subsequent to the first time period.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 103 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 5 wherein the data transfer unit of said terminal devices includes a priority means, the priority means of like types of data transfer units being interconnected via their associated data transfer unit whereby each data transfer unit has a relative data transfer priority with respect to another data transfer unit of like input or output type to sequentially effect the transfer of data through like types on a higher to lower priority basis in response to a corresponding one of the additional enabling signals repetitively applied to the priority means of said like types.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 36 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for,
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 36 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for,
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 86 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 8 wherein each of said terminal devices further comprises, enabling means responsive to function signals from said bus interface means and to said selection signals provided by said decoding means for selectively providing enabling signals to said decoding means, said routing logic and said data transfer unit to control the generation of said selection signals to thereby address a data transfer unit and to effect the transfer of data between the processing equipment and the data processor.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 100 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 8 wherein the data transfer unit of said terminal devices includes a priority means, the priority means of like types of data transfer units being interconnected via their associated data transfer unit whereby each data transfer unit has a relative data transfer priority with respect to another data transfer unit of like type to sequentially effect the transfer of data through like types on a higher to lower priority basis in response to a corresponding one of the additional function signals repetitively applied to the priority means of said like types.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 36 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for,
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 36 words
In a data processing system including a data processor and remote processing equipment, a control system comprising: a. a controller in communication with the data processor and responsive to commands generated by the data processor for,
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 100 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 11 further including a plurality of bus interface means connected in parallel to said bus and further connected in parallel to a plurality of terminal devices for, a. passing the system address signals during a first time period defined by a first one of the function signals, b. passing the function signals, and c. selectively transferring data in either direction over said bus between the data processor and the processing equipment in response to a one of the additional function signals during the time periods subsequent to the first time period.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 84 words
A control system of the type recited in claim 11 wherein each of said terminal devices further comprises, enabling means responsive to function signals on said bus and to said selection signals provided by said decoding means for selectively providing enabling signals to said decoding means, said routing logic and said data transfer unit to control the generation of said selection signals to thereby address a data transfer unit and to effect the transfer of data between the processing equipment and the data processor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3345611A Cited
US3411143A Cited
US3432813A Cited
US3518632A Cited
US3710324A Cited
US3697959A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-12-01 1979-06-02 1979-12-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-12-01 1983-06-02 1983-12-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-12-01 1987-06-02 1987-12-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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