MULTIPLEXED INTELLIGENCE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 3,798,610 A
• Filed: 12/20/1972
• Issued: 03/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruce D. Pung, Burtt E. Bliss, James T. Dervan III, Leroy E. Griffith, Norman A. Vogel, Robert A. Thorpe
• Original Assignee: Bruce D. Pung, Burtt E. Bliss, James T. Dervan III, Leroy E. Griffith, Norman A. Vogel, Robert A. Thorpe
• Inventors: Bliss, Burtt E., Dervan, James T. III, Griffith, Leroy E., Thorpe, Robert A., Pung, Bruce D., Vogel, Norman A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henon, Paul J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, James D.
• Application Number:
  US05/316,787
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5,324A,324AD 179/2TV,15AL,15BE 178/6.8,58,DIG.23,69.5,5.6,DIG.22
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/153 using cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/40 characterised by the way in which both a pattern determined by character code and another pattern are displayed simultaneously, or either pattern is displayed selectively, e.g. with character code memory and APA, i.e. all-points-addressable, memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/42 characterised by the display of patterns using a display memory without fixed position correspondence between the display memory contents and the display position on the screen

Abstract

Time multiplexed signal communications between a host computer and subordinate data processing terminals include coded and noncoded information. Coded information originated by the host includes entry-separation marker signals. Individual marker signals are used at terminals to control access to associated particular time spaces of the multiplex frame. The host signals are serially stored by addressed terminals in the time sequence of transmission. The stored marker signals are protected from modification at terminals and control write-in access to storage spaced allocated to the associated time segments; thereby controlling terminal editing operations. Edited information in unprotected terminal storage spaces is easily segregated -- e.g., for compact transmission to the host -- by reference to the stored marker signals. When the non-coded signals comprise raster scanned picture information displayable at terminal display apparatus the markers are used to generate cursors indicating edit-accessible positions (e.g., character entry spaces). A distinct displaced cursor provides unique indication of the space next accessible for entry in a normal keying (i.e., typing) sequence.

Claims

1. In an information processing network including first and second stations linked for communication in combination:

means in said first station for transmitting composed multiplex signal messages to said second station;

individual messages being subject to including a line scan representation of graphic (i.e., non-coded) information interlaced with discrete lines of control information and coded data;

particular said control lines including discrete access marker signals individually associated with discrete segments of a particular group of other said lines of the same message;

means in said second station for receiving said transmitted messages;

means in said second station for extracting representations of said marker signals from said message for delayed presentation in association with said particular group of other lines of the same message; and

means in said second station responsive to said delayed marker signal representations presented by said extracting means for selectively processing associated signal portions of said other lines.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively prOcessing includes means for forming a compact reply message out of the said processed signal portions and means for transmitting said reply message to said first station subject to format association at said first station with said same message originally transmitted to said second station.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively processing includes means for keying-in data and means for entering representations of successive said keyed-in data into successive said associated signal portions of said message marked by said delayed marker signal representations.

4. In a conversational information processing system in combination:

dominant and subordinate information processing stations linked for full duplex communication;

the dominant station organized to supply messages of predetermined format to the subordinate station in time multiplex message frames of predetermined duration each frame corresponding to a video display raster scan;

said messages being subject ot including lines of discrete access marker signals having selective timing associated with the raster positions of corresponding discrete segments of predetermined groups of other lines of the same message and distinguishing said associated segments thereby as accessible for modification and/or selective process handling in said subordinate station;

said subordinate station including;

means for receiving said messages;

means for extracting marker signals from the received message for delayed presentation in coincidence with said associated segments;

a source of locally originated information signals;

first means conditionally responsive to said delayed marker signals to insert representations of said locally originated signals into said associated segments of the received message; and

second means conditionally responsive to said marker signals to separate said locally originated representations from said associated segments in order to effect further processing of said representations, such as associated with said received message.

5. In a picture-oriented duplex communication system for handling various forms of information besides picture (e.g., voice, digital data, etc.) in combination:

a dominant transceiving station providing composite message transmissions in time multiplex intervals synchronous with line and frame intervals of a predetermined flying spot raster sweep;

said signals including interlaced lines of entry-separation marker signals, video signals and data signals;

said lines including inactive (retrace) and active segments;

said marker signal and data signal lines distinguished by distinctly coded identification tag signals located in respective inactive segments;

said marker signal lines each including at least one selectively timed marker pulse; and

a subordinate transceiving station linked with said dominant station in a full duplex conversational processing network;

said subordinate station including;

means for selectively receiving and storing representations of individual said messages transmitted by said dominant station;

first means responsive to the tag and marker signals of said stored message for inserting representations of data signals originated at said subordinate station into said storing means at storage spaces designated uniquely by the positions of said marker signals in said message; and

second means responsive to said stored tag and marker signals for locating said inserted data signal representations for composing compact reply messages for transmission to said dominant station.

6. In a display terminal having an information processing unit and a display unit operated by a raster scanned selectively illuminated spot, the improvement comprising:

means providing discrete selectively timed entry-separation marker signals coinciding in time with the tracing of selected viewing areas of said display unit and protected against modification by said terminal;

the presence and absence of discrete marker signalS at particular trace time segments effectively designating corresponding trace segments of other lines as accessible and inaccessible in respect to alteration of intelligence presented in said corresponding segments by said processing unit; and

means selectively responsive to said marker signals for enabling transfers of information from said processing means to occur exclusively during said corresponding accessible segments.

7. A display terminal in accordance with claim 6 including:

means responsive to said marker signals for producing next access cursor indications exclusively in viewing areas associated with said accessible trace segments.

8. A display terminal according to claim 7 including:

means responsive to successive entry transfer operations of said processing means to operate said crusor producing means to index the position of said next access cursor indication to successive viewing areas associated with groups of successive said accessible trace segments.

9. A data processing terminal for handling intermixed picture intelligence, data and control intelligence comprising:

a cyclic buffer store having capacity to store composite picture intelligence representing a page of displayable information including at an arbitrary position therein a group of associated contiguous lines of picture information, non-displayable data code signals and entry-separation marker signals, said associated groups of lines being distinguishable from each other by distinct tag signals preceding each line;

input means for originating picture and data signal representations; and

means responsive to tag and marker signals received from said store for inserting representations of the signals originated by said input means into segments of the storage space occupied by the picture and data signals associated with said marker signals;

said segments having positional association with individual said marker signals.

10. A terminal according to claim 9 wherein said means for inserting includes:

first (A) and second (B) counters;

said B counter being cumulatively incremented after individual insertion operations of said inserting means;

said A counter being incremented in response to successive said marker signals during each cycle of operation of said buffer store and reset to a predetermined reference count condition between cycles;

comparison means coupled to said counters for partially conditioning operation of said inserting means at occurrences of matching conditions (count compare) of said counters.

11. Terminal according to claim 10 wherein said inserting means includes:

sources of control signals (K,NPE) indicating present availability of signals to be inserted in said store and non-occurrence of previous insertion operation during the present cycle of said store; and

means responsive to coincidence of said control signals (K,NPE) and said count compare signal to provide an entry enabling signal (EE) permitting insertion of said available signals into a coincident position of said store.

12. Terminal according to claim 10 including:

a raster display unit coupled to said store and directly responsive to readout of the said picture information to produce a corresponding cyclically refreshed picture display; and

means coupled between said comparison means and said display unit for producing a cursor on said display indicating next accessible viewing and storage areas in response to occurrences of said count compare condition.

13. Terminal according to claim 11 including:

a source of clocking signals for tracking readout of said associated line group;

a shift register for recirculating individual said marker signal lines in correspondence with said associated line group in response to said clocking signals; and

means responsive to said clocking signals and said marker signals in said shift register to produce viewable cursors on said display adjacent all viewing spaces mapped as accEssible to modification by said marker signals.

14. In a display terminal having a display unit operated by a raster swept trace and having a serial cyclic buffer store adaptive to retain signal representations of video spot intensity in either analog or digital form and to present the same to said unit repeatedly for display in synchronism with the sweep trace thereof, the improvement of:

means for entering externally originated edit control lines into said store at time positions interlaced between lines of said stored video representations and distinguishable therefrom by coded tag signals coinciding in time positioning with the retrace (dead time) tracing segments of corresponding sweep lines of the display unit;

means for selectively blanking said display unit during active sweep tracing intervals coinciding with readout of said edit control lines;

means responsive to readout of a selected edit control line from said store to produce a viewable next-access marking display cursor at a discrete trace position trace of the display unit associated with a particular marker signal in said selected line;

shift means for storing said selected edit control line for use subsequent to said readout;

means responsive to the recirculated edit control lines provided by said shift means for controlling insertion of new information signals into corresponding storage spaces of said buffer store marked said particular marker signal and later for controlling separation of said inserted signals for segregated process handling apart from other signals stored in said buffer store; and

means for operating said cursor producing means to select a successive particular marker signal in order to index the position of said cursor following each said insertion or separation operation.

15. In a display terminal having an information input unit and a display unit scanned by a raster spot trace in combination:

a source of entry-separation control marking signals each having selective timing corresponding to passage of said spot trace across a respective viewing area portion of said display, said source being capable of selectively providing or withholding a marking signal in each raster frame each of a plurality of timing intervals corresponding to a plurality of said viewing area portions, and thereby capable of arbitrarily mapping said viewing area portions into accessible and inaccessible sets;

first logical gating means responsive to a selected one of the marker signals provided by said source in each frame for operating said display unit iteratively to produce a visible cursor in a respective selected one of said viewing area portions;

second logical gating means responsive to said selected marker signal to enable transfer of information from said input unit into the video input signal stream of said display in synchronism with the tracing of said selected viewing area; and

third logical gating means operating in coordination with the transfer of said information representation by said second gating means to condition said first gating means to index said cursor to another viewing area position associated with another different one of said marker signals when other said marker signals are provided by said source in the same frame.

16. In a duplex video communication system:

a source of raster video line signals interlaced with selectively positioned lines of selectively timed entry-separation marker signals mapping discrete character area portions of the raster space into distinct accessible and inaccessible sets;

said marker lines distinguished by a distinct edit tag signal in the initial libe segment coinciding with an inactive (retrace) segment of the raster;

a plurality of terminals linked to said source and designatable selectively as recipients of said signals by address intelligence preceding said signals;

each terminal including;

a serial buffer store synchronized with said source and having capacity to record a complete video-marker frame;

said store comprising a compliant disc having a record/ reproduce head subject to switching between read and write modes of operation only during storage cycle intervals between active line segments (i.e. only during line and frame retrace);

a flying spot raster display unit synchronized with readout of said buffer store for displaying the video portion of the store readout;

input means for originating character text signals subject to assimilation in the stored frame; and

means responsive to marker signals in the store readout for effecting transfer of signals from said input means to select character spaces in said store marked as accessible by respective said marker signals.

17. A method of carrying out conversational video communication processes comprising:

distributing framed display-synchronous video in composite with entry-separation marker information from a host computer retaining a record copy of the information to plural subordinate terminals;

said marker information providing a select mapping of the video frame into discrete unprotected (accessible) and protected (inaccessible) sub-intervals;

arranging for said terminals to selectively receive and synchronously record the distributed information frame and to synchronously display the video portion of the recorded information;

arranging further for said terminals to originate intelligence signals and to record representations thereof compositely meshed in the recorded frame only in said unprotected intervals by means of references to said marker signals; and

arranging for said terminals to separate said recorded terminal originated representations for processing and segregated transmission to said host by means of reference to said marker signals;

enabling the host computer to reconstruct the composite information of the terminal record from said retained copy.