Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
In a communication switching system having a central processor with a main memory therefor and having a peripheral adapter unit for transferring information to and from an input/output peripheral device, a device buffer for transferring information between the peripheral adapter and the main memory, a maintenance arrangement comprising: a plurality of input/output device error detecting units for sensing malfunctions occurring in the input/output peripheral device; a plurality of adapter bi-stable devices associated with peripheral adapter for generating input/output error signals in response to said peripheral device error detecting units sensing malfunctions; a plurality of device buffer error detecting units for sensing malfunctions occurring in the device buffer; a plurality of buffer bi-stable devices associated with the device buffer for generating device buffer error signals in response to said device buffer error detecting units sensing malfunctions occurring in the device buffer; an error bi-stable device responsive to said adapter bi-stable device and to said buffer bi-stable devices generating their error signals for requesting the services of the central processor for maintenance purposes; and control means responsive to said error bi-stable device for monitoring said buffer bi-stable devices to determine whether the malfunction occurred in the device buffer and for monitoring subsequently said adapter bi-stable devices if the malfunction did not occur in the device buffer to determine the source of the malfunction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a communication switching system having a central processor with a main memory therefor and having a peripheral adapter unit for transferring information to and from an input/output peripheral device, a device buffer for transferring information between the peripheral adapter and the main memory, a maintenance arrangement comprising: a plurality of input/output device error detecting units for sensing malfunctions occurring in the input/output peripheral device; a plurality of adapter bi-stable devices associated with peripheral adapter for generating input/output error signals in response to said peripheral device error detecting units sensing malfunctions; a plurality of device buffer error detecting units for sensing malfunctions occurring in the device buffer; a plurality of buffer bi-stable devices associated with the device buffer for generating device buffer error signals in response to said device buffer error detecting units sensing malfunctions occurring in the device buffer; an error bi-stable device responsive to said adapter bi-stable device and to said buffer bi-stable devices generating their error signals for requesting the services of the central processor for maintenance purposes; and control means responsive to said error bi-stable device for monitoring said buffer bi-stable devices to determine whether the malfunction occurred in the device buffer and for monitoring subsequently said adapter bi-stable devices if the malfunction did not occur in the device buffer to determine the source of the malfunction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A maintenance arrangement according to claim 1, further including buffer gating means for controlling the outputs of said bufFer bi-stable devices for determining their status.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A maintenance arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said control means activates said buffer gates in response to said error signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A maintenance arrangement according to claim 3, further including adapter gating means for controlling the outputs of said adapter bi-stable devices for determining their status.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A maintenance arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said control means activates said adapter gates after determining that none of said buffer bi-stable devices have been activated by their sensing units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A maintenance arrangement according to claim 5, further including adapter error means for activating said buffer error device in response to any one of said adapter bi-stable devices indicating the occurrence of a malfunction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A maintenance arrangement according to claim 6, further including OR gating means for activating said error bi-stable device in response to said adapter error means or to any one of said buffer bi-stable devices indicating a malfunction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A maintenance arrangement according to claim 7, wherein each one of said bi-stable devices is a latch.