Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
In an information transmission network of the type comprising a plurality of information processing stations, each having a communications control means and an information processor, linked together by their parallel connection to an information bus line, a method of establishing orderly command over the utilization of said bus line without a special line controlling station, said method comprising, a. establishing at a given station i command over the use of the bus line, b. transmitting to said bus line from said given station i a command established signal ELS indicating that command is established and that said given station i has command, c. receiving at all other stations said command established signal ELS, d. communicating data between said given station i and any other station via said bus line, e. after said communication or where no communication is required by station i, relinquishing command and sending a transfer command signal SEL having a selected address m attached thereto to said bus line, f. receiving at all stations said transfer command signal SEL, and at the station having address m establishng command over the bus line, and g. repeating steps (b) thru (e) with station m being the command station, whereby command is continuously transferred from one station to the nest to give all stations command of the bus line consecutively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
In an information transmission network of the type comprising a plurality of information processing stations, each having a communications control means and an information processor, linked together by their parallel connection to an information bus line, a method of establishing orderly command over the utilization of said bus line without a special line controlling station, said method comprising, a. establishing at a given station i command over the use of the bus line, b. transmitting to said bus line from said given station i a command established signal ELS indicating that command is established and that said given station i has command, c. receiving at all other stations said command established signal ELS, d. communicating data between said given station i and any other station via said bus line, e. after said communication or where no communication is required by station i, relinquishing command and sending a transfer command signal SEL having a selected address m attached thereto to said bus line, f. receiving at all stations said transfer command signal SEL, and at the station having address m establishng command over the bus line, and g. repeating steps (b) thru (e) with station m being the command station, whereby command is continuously transferred from one station to the nest to give all stations command of the bus line consecutively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a method of detecting failure at the station presently commanding the bus line, said method of detectng comprising, a. monitoring at each station the SEL and ELS signals on the bus line, b. noting the absence of either of said latter signals for a first predetermined period of time longer than that required for any station to take command, communicate with another station and relinquish command; said predetermined period being different at each station, c. establishing command and sending to the bus line an ELS signal at the station where the said first predetermined period has been exceeded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising a method of detecting failure at the station to which command is to be transferred, said method comprising the steps of, a. starting a timer at the station presently in command when said station presently in command send a transfer command signal SEL with the address of the transferee station to the bus line, b. stopping said timer upon receipt of a signal ELS via the bus line, c. after a second predetermined time, longer than that required to send an SEL signal and receive an ELS signal, during which no ELS signal has been received at the station transferring command, retransmitting a transfer command SEL with the address of a different station to the bus line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a method of detecting failure at the station to which command is to be transferred, said method comprising the steps of, a. starting a timer at the station presently in command when said station presently in command sends a transfer command signal SEL with the address of the transferee station to the bus line, b. stopping said timer upon receipt of a signal ELS via the bus line, c. after a second predetermined time, longer than that required to send an SEL signal and receive an ELS signal, during which no ELS signal has been received at the station transferring command, retransmitting a transfer command SEL with the address of a different station to the bus line.