Microprocessor support system
First Claim
1. A processor support system for providing maintenance and software development for an application system which is controlled by an application processor via data, address, and control buses, wherein said processor support system comprises:
- computer means for running an operating system to generate and store software for said application system;
field test unit means connected between said computer means and said application system for interfacing said computer means with said application system, wherein said field test unit means comprises;
program store means for storing control instructions generated by said computer means for regulating the operation of said field test unit means;
processor means for controlling the operation of said application system;
memory means for storing said software generated by said computer means and written in said memory means by said computer means;
interface means responsive to said processor means and directly connectable to said application system data, address, and control buses for connecting said application processor to said memory means;
field test unit bus means connected to said program store means and to said processor means for applying said control instructions to said processor means; and
wherein said processor means is responsive to said control instructions for directing said application processor via said interface means to execute said software stored in said memory means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed microprocessor support system provides a total "laboratory" environment for developing and testing application software as well as for debugging the microprocessor-based application machine itself. The microprocessor support system contains a time shared minicomputer equipped with a full set of peripherals which functions as the main or operating system. A data link connects this operating system with test equipment located at the site of the application machine. This test equipment consists of a field test unit which provides an interface between the application machine, a local keyboard terminal and the operating system such that an engineer at the site of the application machine has access through the field test unit to both the microprocessor-based application machine and the operating system with its sophisticated hardware and software resources to assist in developing and testing application software, as well as debugging the application machine itself.
52 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A processor support system for providing maintenance and software development for an application system which is controlled by an application processor via data, address, and control buses, wherein said processor support system comprises:
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computer means for running an operating system to generate and store software for said application system; field test unit means connected between said computer means and said application system for interfacing said computer means with said application system, wherein said field test unit means comprises; program store means for storing control instructions generated by said computer means for regulating the operation of said field test unit means; processor means for controlling the operation of said application system; memory means for storing said software generated by said computer means and written in said memory means by said computer means; interface means responsive to said processor means and directly connectable to said application system data, address, and control buses for connecting said application processor to said memory means; field test unit bus means connected to said program store means and to said processor means for applying said control instructions to said processor means; and wherein said processor means is responsive to said control instructions for directing said application processor via said interface means to execute said software stored in said memory means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A processor support system for providing hardware debugging and software development capabilities for an application system which contains both a memory device and an application processor which processor drives data, address, and control buses of said application system, wherein said microprocessor support system comprises:
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computer means responsive to control signals input from a user terminal for running an operating system to generate control instructions and to manipulate data; field test unit means connected to said computer means by a data link and directly connected to said application system for ordering the flow of said data between said computer means and said application system; wherein said field test unit means includes; field test unit data, address, and control bus means for interconnecting the various circuits of said field test unit means; program store means connected to said field test unit data, address, and control bus means for storing said control instructions generated by said computer means to regulate the operation of said field test unit means; data receiver means connected to both said data link and said field test unit data, address, and control bus means, wherein said data receiver means are responsive to said computer means transmitting said control instructions to said field test unit means via said data link for writing said control instructions into said program store means via said field test unit data, address, and control bus means; processor means connected to said field test unit data, address, and control bus means and responsive to said control instructions stored in said program store means for driving said field test unit data, address, and control bus means; memory means connected to said field test unit data, address, and control bus means for storing data generated by said application system; interface means connected to said field test unit data, address, and control bus means and directly connectable to said application system data, address, and control buses for providing bidirectional data transfer between said application system data, address, and control buses and said memory means via said field test unit data, address, and control bus means in response to control signals transmitted to said processor means to said interface means via said field test unit data, address, and control bus means; and data transmission means connected to both said data link and said field test unit data, address, and control bus means and responsive to said processor means for transmitting said data from said memory means to said computer via said data link. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification