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US5774721A
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Method of communication between processors in a distributed processing system having a host processor and at least one object oriented processor
Assignee: IQ Systems Inc
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Filing: 1995-09-08
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2015-09-08
Abstract
Abstract Distributed processing systems having a host processor and at least one object oriented processor are disclosed. An object oriented processor according to the invention has a communications interface, an intelligent message handler, and a task-specific functionality. The communications interface is coupled to a host processor via a message based communications link. A high level command language is provided which is easily implemented in a host processor program. The command language includes subsets of commands which are understood by different object oriented processors having different functionality. According to one embodiment, the object oriented processor includes support for a broad array of input and output devices. The command language includes high level commands for initializing, reading from and/or writing to the peripherals supported by the object oriented processor. According to another embodiment, the object oriented processor of the invention is addressable and several object oriented processors having similar functionality can be coupled to a single host via the same comms link. According to yet another embodiment, an object oriented processor according to the invention further includes a linking table and a periodic message generator which allows one object oriented processor to communicate directly with another object oriented processor without supervision by the host processor.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey I. Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5005; G06F9/5027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for distributing processing tasks between a host processor and a first object oriented processor having a first task-specific functionality, said method comprising: a) providing a high level command language, said high level command language including a first subset of commands for use by the host processor to call on the first task-specific functionality of the first object oriented processor; b) programming the host processor to call on the first object oriented processor using messages composed from said first subset of commands to access the first task-specific functionality of the first object oriented processor; and c) programming the first object oriented processor to return results of the first task-specific functionality to the host processor using messages composed from said high level command language.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for distributing processing tasks between a host processor and a first object oriented processor having a first task-specific functionality, said method comprising: a) providing a high level command language, said high level command language including a first subset of commands for use by the host processor to call on the first task-specific functionality of the first object oriented processor; b) programming the host processor to call on the first object oriented processor using messages composed from said first subset of commands to access the first task-specific functionality of the first object oriented processor; and c) programming the first object oriented processor to return results of the first task-specific functionality to the host processor using messages composed from said high level command language.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
A method according to claim 1, for distributing tasks among the host processor, the first object oriented processor, and a second object oriented processor having a second task-specific functionality, further comprising: d) providing said high level command language with a second subset of commands for use by the host processor to call on the second task-specific functionality of the second object oriented processor; e) programming the host processor to call on the second object oriented processor using messages composed from said second subset of commands to access the second task-specific functionality of the second object oriented processor; and f) programming the second object oriented processor to return results of the second task-specific functionality to the host processor using messages composed from said high level command language.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said messages from the host to the first object oriented processor includes at least one command from said first subset of commands and at least one parameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said messages from the host to the first object oriented processor is followed by a checksum number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein: said checksum number is a modulo256 sum of the characters in said at least one of said messages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein: said at least one command is delimited from said at least one parameter with at least one delimiter character.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein: said at least one delimiter character includes a {prior to said at least one command and a } subsequent to said at least one command.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of said messages from the object oriented processor to the host is selected from the group consisting of data, an error message, and an acknowledgement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein: said data is delimited by a first pair of characters and said error message is delimited by a second pair of characters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein: said first pair of characters is and said second pair of characters is ().
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein: said acknowledgment is a single character.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein: said single character is .
Claim 14
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of distributing processing tasks in a distributed processing system having a host processor, a first object oriented processor having a first task-specific functionality, and a second object oriented processor having a second task-specific functionality, a linking table, and a periodic message generator, said method comprising: a) providing a high level command language including a first subset of commands to call on the first task-specific functionality, a second subset of commands to call on the second task-specific functionality, and a third subset of commands to call on the periodic message generator and the linking table; b) programming the host processor to call on the second object oriented processor using messages composed from the second subset of commands to access the second task-specific functionality of the second object oriented processor; c) programming the host processor to call on the linking table and the periodic message generator using the third subset of commands and the first subset of commands to direct the second object oriented processor to transmit a message to the first object oriented processor to call on the first task-specific functionality.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of distributing processing tasks in a distributed processing system having a host processor, a first object oriented processor having a first task-specific functionality, and a second object oriented processor having a second task-specific functionality, a linking table, and a periodic message generator, said method comprising: a) providing a high level command language including a first subset of commands to call on the first task-specific functionality, a second subset of commands to call on the second task-specific functionality, and a third subset of commands to call on the periodic message generator and the linking table; b) programming the host processor to call on the second object oriented processor using messages composed from the second subset of commands to access the second task-specific functionality of the second object oriented processor; c) programming the host processor to call on the linking table and the periodic message generator using the third subset of commands and the first subset of commands to direct the second object oriented processor to transmit a message to the first object oriented processor to call on the first task-specific functionality.
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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) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |