Expansion interface board system for connecting several personal computers to an electronic typesetter connected to a host personal computer

Claim 1

A personal computer/electronic typesetter interface for a personal computer having at least one expansion slot for accommodating additional circuit boards in an electronic typesetting network including a plurality of such interconnected personal computers, each personal computer including a main circuit board having a microprocessor, memory, a data input device and logic for preparing text files in a first coded format, and at least one electronic typesetting machine connected to one of the personal computers, said electronic typesetting machine including logic for typesetting text from text files in a second coded format, the personal computer/electronic typesetter interface including: an expansion board including means for insertion in an expansion slot on each personal computer and means for electronic interconnection to the main circuit board, said expansion board including, a microprocessor; a first input for receiving text files transmitted over the network to the personal computer in which the expansion board is inserted, a first output for transmitting text files from this personal computer to another selected personal computer in the network, a second output for transmitting text files received from other personal computers in the network or from this personal computer for output to the electronic typesetter connected to this personal computer, memory for storing text files to be transmitted via the first output in a first queue, memory for storing the files to be transmitted via the second output in a second queue; logic for continuously monitoring the status of the files in each of the first and second queues; logic for interrupting the operation of the microprocessor on the main circuit board of the personal computer and displaying the first and second queues of text files upon receipt of a preselected command by the data input device; and logic for converting the data contained in a text file from the the first coded format to the second coded format accepted by the typesetter connected to the personal computer to which the file is directed for output.