DATA STORAGE AND DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 3,579,196 A
• Filed: 02/14/1969
• Issued: 05/18/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Arnold S. Danberg, Kenneth N. Larson, Roland S. Gregg Jr
• Inventors: Gregg, Roland S. Jr., Danberg, Arnold S., Larson, Kenneth N.
• Application Number:
  US04/799,274
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• US Class Current: 715/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

A data storage and display system is provided with a control feature for selectively displaying stored message formats having fields into which data is to be entered by an operator. The feature includes means for insuring that the data entered into each field is of the numeric or alphabetic type if either has been specified on a character-by-character basis. If the operator attempts to enter any other type of character for a given specified character, an error is indicated and a correct character must be entered before proceeding to the next character in the same or different field. There is also provision for determining whether entries in all fields have been completed before the message format can be transferred to a file storage and control unit.

Claims

1. A data storage and display system comprising:

a display storage unit for storing display information representative of a data format and including at least one control symbol defining a character type;

means responsive to said information stored in said display storage unit for producing a visual representation thereof including said control symbol;

means for enabling an operator to selectively identify anyone of a plurality of characters, including characters of different types;

comparing means for indicating whether said identified character is of the type defined by said control symbol; and

means responsive to said comparing means indicating said identified character is of the type defined by said control symbol for storing information in said display storage unit representative of said selectively identified character in place of said information representative of said control symbol.

2. A data storage and display system as defined in claim 1 including:

error indicating means; and

means responsive to said comparing means indicating that said identified character is not of the type defined by said control symbol for energizing said error indicating means.

3. A data storage and display system comprising:

a display storage unit for storing display information representative of a data format and comprised of at least one control symbol defining a character type;

means responsive to said information stored in said display storage unit for producing a visual representative thereof including said control symbol;

means for enabling an operator to select an input character to be substituted for said control symbol;

comparing means for indicating whether said selected character is of the type defined by said control symbol;

a file storage unit for storing information including operator actuatable transfer initiating means for transferring thereto data from said display unit;

transfer means responsive to the actuation of said transfer initiation, means for transferring said display information from said display storage unit to said file storage unit; and

means resPonsive to said display storage unit storing a control symbol for terminating operation of said transfer means.

4. A data storage and display system comprising:

a display storage unit for storing display information representative of a data format and comprised of at least one control symbol defining a character type;

means responsive to said information stored in said display storage unit for producing a visual representation thereof including said control symbol;

means for enabling an operator to select an input character to be substituted for said control symbol;

comparing means for indicating whether said selected character is of the type defined by said control symbol;

a control unit for transmission of said display information to an external system including operator actuatable transfer initiating means;

transfer means responsive to the actuation of said transfer initiating means for transferring said display information from said display storage unit to said control unit for transmission to said external unit; and

means responsive to said display storage unit storing a control symbol for terminating operation of said transfer means.

5. In a data display system employing a CRT unit which displays a plurality of characters, each in a dot matrix consisting of a plurality of columns, each column having a series of dot positions at which a beam of said CRT unit is unblanked in response to selected binary digits of a video code serially read from a storage unit to display a character as the plurality of video codes are cyclically read for display, and which automatically blanks said CRT beam during the beam retrace between successive strokes, said beam retrace blanking taking place while a bit storage position is read in said storage unit in order to maintain synchronous operation between said CRT unit and said storage display unit, apparatus for displaying a message format with at least one field to be completed by entry of at least one character of a specified type in a designated position, said position being designated by a control symbol identifying the type of character to be entered, the video code of said control symbol including in predetermined retrace bit positions a control binary code specifying the type of character to be entered, and for enabling an operator to enter characters in positions designated by control symbols, comprising:

means for marking a given character position for selective entry of a new character;

means actuatable by an operator for selecting a character to be entered in a given position in which a given control symbol is displayed;

means responsive to said marking means and to said operator actuatable means for comparing the type of character selected for entry with the type of character specified by the control binary code of said given control symbol;

entry means responsive to said marking means for entering the selected character in said message format at the position designated by substituting a video code for the selected character in said display storage unit in place of the video code stored therein for said given control symbol; and

means responsive to said comparing means for inhibiting said entry means from entering the selected character if it is not of the type specified by said control binary code.

6. In a data display system, apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means responsive to said comparing means for indicating an error when said character selected is not of the type specified by the control character code of said given control symbol.

7. In a data display system, apparatus as defined in claim 6 including means for advancing said marking means to mark the next character position for selective entry of a new character;

and means responsive to said error indicating means for inhibiting said advancing means from advancing said marking means.

8. In a data display system, apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said error indicating means iNcludes a flip-flop set by said comparing means when the selected character is not of the type specified by said control character code, and an operator actuatable means for resetting said flip-flop.

9. In a data display system as defined in claim 5 wherein said system includes a file storage unit for storing information;

operator actuatable transfer initiating means;

transfer means responsive to the actuation of said transfer initiating means for transferring said display information from said display storage unit to said file storage unit; and

means for monitoring display information being transferred to said file storage unit and for terminating operation of said transfer means upon detecting a video code of a character being transferred having a control binary code.

10. In a data display system, apparatus as defined in claim 9 including means responsive to said monitoring means for indicating when said operation has been terminated.

11. In a data display system, apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said indicating means includes a flip-flop set by said monitoring means when said operation has been terminated, and an operator actuatable means for resetting said flip-flop.

12. In a data display system apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said system includes a control unit for transmission of said display information to an external system;

operator actuatable transfer initiating means;

transfer means responsive to the actuation of said transfer initiating means for transferring said display storage unit to said control unit for transmission to said external unit; and

means for monitoring display information being transferred to said control unit and for terminating operation of said transfer means upon detecting a video code of a character being transferred having a control binary code.

13. In a data display system apparatus as defined in claim 12 including means responsive to said monitoring means for indicating when said operation has been terminated.

14. In a data display system apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said indicating means includes a flip-flop set by said monitoring means when said operation has been terminated, and an operator actuatable means for resetting said flip-flop.