DATA RETRIEVAL AND QUOTE BOARD MULTIPLEX SYSTEM

• US 3,689,872 A
• Filed: 03/09/1970
• Issued: 09/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank W. Sieracki
• Original Assignee: Frank W. Sieracki
• Inventors: Frank, W. Sieracki
• Primary Examiner(s): John W. Caldwell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Michael Slobasky
• Application Number:
  US05/022,730
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 340/154,152
• US Class Current: 340/4.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/22 using successive scanning, e.g. polling G06F13/24 takes precedence

Abstract

Updating quote board (QB) messages are transmitted on reply lines connecting respective data retrievers and data terminus units of a request/reply data retrieval system serving respective pluralities of request units. A reply to any line initiates a QB message in the next bit interval and the message has a single bit sync section. During a QB message, a reply (if ready) is inhibited. QB data is stored until a plurality of QB units transmitting independently on respective reply lines are simultaneously ready to receive it. Each data terminus sends a sync section to a quote board during a respective reply and distinctively terminates it in the next bit interval. The QB message data is sent thereafter as it is received. Reception of a reply enables transmission of the next request and vice versa. Reception of a QB message delays enabling reception of a reply.

Claims

1. A multiplex system for multiplexing replies in a request/reply data retriever system with updating messages in a quote board display system, said request/reply system including a memory for storing data, a plurality of request units, a plurality of data retriever and data terminus means connected by respective request and reply transmission circuits, said data retriever means including respective means responsive to requests from the respective data terminus means for obtaining reply data from said memory and transmitting corresponding replies, said data terminus means including respective means responsive to respective request units for transmitting requests to the respective data retriever means and means for supplying data in corresponding replies to corresponding request units;

said quote board system including a plurality of quote boards and a source of updating quote board message data;

said multiplex system comprising a. a first unit for receiving and storing updating quote board message data from said source, b. a plurality of second units including respective storage means for receiving and storing message data, c. means for transferring message data from said first unit simultaneously to said plurality of second units, d. said second units being connected to respective reply transmission circuits of said plurality of data retriever means, e. said second units including respective means responsive to the end of a reply at the respective data retriever means for transmitting respective quote board messages containing said message data, f. means jointly responsive to the absence of message data in said second units for enabling the transfer thereto of message data from said first unit, g. and means at respective data terminus means for supplying the datA in respective received quote board messages to respective quote boards.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which message data is transferred from said first unit to said second units in a substantially shorter time than messages are transmitted from said second units to respective reply transmission circuits.

3. A system according to claim 1 in which said quote board messages have an initial predetermined sync section and the transmission of quote board messages begins a predetermined interval after the end of replies at respective data retriever means.