Interface control unit for transferring sets of characters between a peripheral unit and a computer memory

Claim 1

An electronic computer comprising: a working memory for recording instructions and data; a central processing unit for executing the instructions recorded in said memory, said instructions comprising input/output instructions; a peripheral unit for writing and reading information on a recording carrier; and a peripheral interface comprising: a control unit actuated by control signals generated by said processing unit by decoding said input/output instructions for controlling the transfer of sets of information characters of predefined length between said working memory and said peripheral unit, said control unit including a control circuit for generating a first command signal when a set of characters is ready to be transferred; a first channel for connecting said peripheral unit to said working memory by way of a connecting network including said central processing unit; a second channel for connecting said peripheral unit directly to said working memory; and switching means controlled by said control unit for transferring the first character of said sets over said first channel to the working memory and the remaining characters of the set over said second channel to said working memory, said switching means including means for connecting said first channel normally to said working memory and to actuate the connection of said second channel to said working memory.