Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of detecting a frame word in a multiplexed serial data stream, comprising word-interleaved frames each comprising n words each of m consecutive bits, where n and m are integers, comprising the steps of: monitoring groups each of m consecutive bits of the data stream thereby to detect the frame word; and controlling the relative displacement of the successive monitored groups of m consecutive bits in dependence upon detection of the frame word, said relative displacement being m bits for at least one frame following detection of the frame word, and otherwise being a predetermined displacement of p bits, where p is a plural integer which is not an integral multiple of m; wherein m, n, and p are such that the lowest common multiple of p and the integer remainder of mn/p is the product of p and said remainder.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of detecting a frame word in a multiplexed serial data stream, comprising word-interleaved frames each comprising n words each of m consecutive bits, where n and m are integers, comprising the steps of: monitoring groups each of m consecutive bits of the data stream thereby to detect the frame word; and controlling the relative displacement of the successive monitored groups of m consecutive bits in dependence upon detection of the frame word, said relative displacement being m bits for at least one frame following detection of the frame word, and otherwise being a predetermined displacement of p bits, where p is a plural integer which is not an integral multiple of m; wherein m, n, and p are such that the lowest common multiple of p and the integer remainder of mn/p is the product of p and said remainder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 and including the step of latching each monitored group of m consecutive bits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the difference between p and m is one.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein p=m+1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the integer remainder of mn/p is one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the difference between p and m is one and the integer remainder of mn/p is one.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein m=8.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein p=9.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
A frame find circuit for detecting a frame word in a multiplexed serial data stream, comprising word-interleaved frames each comprising n words each of m consecutive bits, the circuit comprising: storage means for storing from the data stream a group of m consecutive bits; comparison means for detecting the frame word in the bits stored in the storage means; and control means for controlling in dependence upon such detection the displacement in the data stream of groups of m consecutive bits successively stored in the storage means, said displacement being m bits for at least n words following detection of the frame word, and otherwise being a predetermined displacement of p bits; wherein m, n, and p are plural integers, m and p have no common prime factor greater than one, and p and the integer remainder of mn/p have no common prime factor greater than one.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
A frame find circuit for detecting a frame word in a multiplexed serial data stream, comprising word-interleaved frames each comprising n words each of m consecutive bits, the circuit comprising: storage means for storing from the data stream a group of m consecutive bits; comparison means for detecting the frame word in the bits stored in the storage means; and control means for controlling in dependence upon such detection the displacement in the data stream of groups of m consecutive bits successively stored in the storage means, said displacement being m bits for at least n words following detection of the frame word, and otherwise being a predetermined displacement of p bits; wherein m, n, and p are plural integers, m and p have no common prime factor greater than one, and p and the integer remainder of mn/p have no common prime factor greater than one.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the storage means comprises a shift register for receiving bits of the serial data stream, latching means for latching m consecutive bits from the shift register, and frequency divider means for frequency dividing a clock signal at the bit rate of the serial data stream selectively by m or p under the control of the control means for controlling the latching of said m consecutive bits by the latching means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 10 and including a counter responsive to the frequency-divided clock signal from the frequency divider means for counting the n words in each frame of the serial data signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein there is a difference of one between p and m.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein p=m+1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A circuit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the integer remainder of mn/p is one.