Patent US4707694A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4707694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Telephone system port communication method and apparatus
Assignee: NEW MODICON Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-06
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Granted: 1987-11-17
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Expires: 2006-06-06
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a port communication method and apparatus for controlling system controller communications with port circuits of the system. The port communication apparatus generates commands to port module interfaces, interposed between the controller and port circuits, in a predetermined order and receives acknowledgement signals therefrom. Thereafter, the port interfaces concurrently collect data from the associated port circuits and transmit this data in response to a subsequent read command from the port communication apparatus. In one embodiment the port communication apparatus includes a programmable microcode routine which generates the commands using input parameters which are specified in various registers and in the microcode program call.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Bauer
- 👤 Larry D. Bowyer
- 👤 David M. Ruby
- 👤 Richard A. Windhausen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A communication system for serving a plurality of communication devices each of which is connected to an associated port circuit, said system including a system controller for transmitting commands to control said port circuits and for receiving data transmitted from said port circuits, said system further comprising a plurality of port interfaces each interposed between said system controller and one of said port circuits wherein each port interface sends a command received acknowledgement signal in response to a received interface command from said system controller requesting data from an associated port circuit and wherein each port interface sends said data as an interface response to a subsequent read command from said system controller and said system controller including first means for transmitting a separate interface command to each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order and for receiving a separate command received acknowledgement signal from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces and second means operational after said first transmitting means for transmitting a separate read command to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order and for receiving a separate interface response from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A communication system for serving a plurality of communication devices each of which is connected to an associated port circuit, said system including a system controller for transmitting commands to control said port circuits and for receiving data transmitted from said port circuits, said system further comprising a plurality of port interfaces each interposed between said system controller and one of said port circuits wherein each port interface sends a command received acknowledgement signal in response to a received interface command from said system controller requesting data from an associated port circuit and wherein each port interface sends said data as an interface response to a subsequent read command from said system controller and said system controller including first means for transmitting a separate interface command to each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order and for receiving a separate command received acknowledgement signal from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces and second means operational after said first transmitting means for transmitting a separate read command to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order and for receiving a separate interface response from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
The communication system of claim 1 further including a plurality of port processors each interposed between an associated one of said port interfaces and a group of port circuits and responsive to a port command from said associated port interface for collecting data from said group of ports cicuits and transmitting said collected port data to said associated port interface and wherein said associated port interface generates said port command in response to a separte interface command and wherein said associated port interface generates said interface response including said collected port data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The communication system of claim 1 wherein said system controller further includes means associated with said first transmitting means for storing the addresses of each of said preselected number of said port interfaces to establish said predetermined order to transmitting said interface commands.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The communication system of claim 1 wherein said system controller further includes means associated with said first transmitting means for selecting each of said preselected number of said port interfaces by specifying a first port interface and a last port interface of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The communication system of claim 1 wherein said system controller further includes means for indicating whether a specific port interface is equipped in said system and wherein said system controller communicates only with said equipped port interfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The communication system of claim 1 wherein said system controller further includes means for storing comparison data, means for comparing each port interface response against said comparison data and means for summarizing the results of said comparing means from said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The communication system of claim 6 wherein said system controller further includes means for storing multiple port interface commands, wherein said comparison data storing means includes comparison data associated with each interface command, and said comparing means compares each port interface response against the comparison data associated with the interface command sent to each port interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The communication system of claim 1 wherein said system controller further includes means for establishing a time limit, means for signaling when said time limit has expired before the completion of the operations of said first transmitting and receiving means and said second transmitting and receiving means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A port communication apparatus for use with a communication system for controlling communications between a system controller and a number of port interface circuits each of which interfaces a communication device to said system, said port communication apparatus including first means for transmitting a separate interface command to each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order requesting data from an associated communication device and for receiving command received acknowledgement signals from each of said port interfaces and second means operational after said first transmitting means for transmitting a read command to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order and for receiving an interface response including said requested data from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A port communication apparatus for use with a communication system for controlling communications between a system controller and a number of port interface circuits each of which interfaces a communication device to said system, said port communication apparatus including first means for transmitting a separate interface command to each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order requesting data from an associated communication device and for receiving command received acknowledgement signals from each of said port interfaces and second means operational after said first transmitting means for transmitting a read command to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order and for receiving an interface response including said requested data from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The port communication apparatus of claim 9 further including means associated with said first means for storing the addresses of each of said preselected number of said port interfaces to establish said preselected order for transmitting said interface commands.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The port communication apparatus of claim 9 further including means associated with said first transmitting means for selecting said number of said port interfaces by specifying a first port interface and a last port interface of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The port communication apparatus of claim 9 further including means for indicating whether a specific port interface is equipped in said system and wherein said port communication apparatus communicates only with said equipped port interfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The port communication apparatus of claim 9 further including means for storing comparison data, means for comparing each port interface response against said comparison data and means for summarizing the results of said comparing means for said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The port communication apparatus of claim 13 further including means for storing multiple port interface commands, wherein said comparison data storing means includes comparison data associated with each interface command, and said comparing means compares each port interface response against the comparison data associated with the interface command sent to each port interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The port communication apparatus of claim 9 further including means for establishing a time limit, means for signaling when said time limit has expired before the completion of the operations of said first transmitting and receiving means and said second transmitting and receiving means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of operating a communication system for serving a plurality of communication devices each of which is connected to an associated port circuit, said system including a system controller for transmitting commands to a plurality of port interfaces each interposed between said system controller and one of said port circuits and for receiving data transmitted from said port interfaces, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting from said system controller an interface command for requesting data from each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order, sending an acknowledgement signal from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in response to a received interface command from said system controller, transmitting from said system controller in response to receiving said acknowledgement signals from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces a read command to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order, sending data from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in response to a receive read command from said system controller and receiving at said controller said interface responses from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of operating a communication system for serving a plurality of communication devices each of which is connected to an associated port circuit, said system including a system controller for transmitting commands to a plurality of port interfaces each interposed between said system controller and one of said port circuits and for receiving data transmitted from said port interfaces, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting from said system controller an interface command for requesting data from each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order, sending an acknowledgement signal from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in response to a received interface command from said system controller, transmitting from said system controller in response to receiving said acknowledgement signals from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces a read command to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order, sending data from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in response to a receive read command from said system controller and receiving at said controller said interface responses from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said system controller interface and read command transmitting steps include the step of: getting prestored addresses of said port interfaces from a table to establish said predetermined order for command transmission.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said system controller interface and read command transmitting steps include the step of: selected said preselected number of said port interfaces for receiving command transmissions by specifying a first port interface and a last port interface of said preselected number of said port interfaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said system controller interface and read command transmitting steps include the step of: indicating from a table whether a specific port interface is equipped in said system and transmitting interface and read commands only to such equipped port interfaces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 further including the step of: comparing each interface response against stored comparison data and summarizing the results of said comparing step for said preselected number of said interfaces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16 futher including the step of: signaling when a pre-established time limit has expired before the completion of the steps of claim 14.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of operating a port communication apparatus for use with a communication system for controlling communications between a system controller and port interface circuits which interface communication devices to said system, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting separate interface commands to each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order requesting data from an associated communication device, receiving separate command received acknowledgement signals from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces, transmitting separate read commands to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order and receiving separate interface responses from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces, said responses including said requested data by said separate interface commands.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of operating a port communication apparatus for use with a communication system for controlling communications between a system controller and port interface circuits which interface communication devices to said system, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting separate interface commands to each of a preselected number of said port interfaces in a predetermined order requesting data from an associated communication device, receiving separate command received acknowledgement signals from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces, transmitting separate read commands to each of said preselected number of said port interfaces in said predetermined order and receiving separate interface responses from each of said preselected number of said port interfaces, said responses including said requested data by said separate interface commands.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-16 | 1991-05-18 | 1991-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-16 | 1995-05-18 | 1995-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-16 | 1999-05-18 | 1999-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |