Monitor and control apparatus
First Claim
1. In a command and monitoring system having a central station and a plurality of remote stations, a remote station comprising:
- counter means having a plurality of output states;
address means connected to a first plurality of said output states of said counter means for establishing a unique address for said remote station;
clock channel means connecting said counter means to said central station for supplying clock signals to said counter means for sequencing said counter means through its output states;
select channel means connected between said central station and said remote station, said central station supplying select signals onto said select channel means;
monitor means for receiving a plurality of monitor condition signals, said monitor means being connected to a second plurality of said output states of said counter means other than said first plurality of said output states;
transmitter means connected to said address means and to said monitor means for transmitting address and monitor data onto said select channel means;
control means connected to said select channel means and to said second plurality of said output states of said counter means and responsive to a select signal when said counter means has conditioned one of its respective second output states for operating a corresponding command function at said remote station;
disable means for selectively disabling said control means; and
selective means connected to said address means and said select channel means and responsive to the unique address for the remote station and to select signals on said select channel means to operate said disable means whenever such select signals correspond to an address other than the address for the respective remote station.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitor and control apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a configuration and environment monitor (CEM) connected to a plurality of remote station monitors of a computer system for executing commands at the remote stations and for monitoring abnormal conditions thereat. The remote monitors each include a Johnson counter responsive to clock signals from the CEM to sequentially step through its output positions. Address means is selectively connected to first output positions of the Johnson counter to provide a unique address for each remote monitor. Monitor means receives monitor condition signals and is arranged with a transmitter to transmit a signal to the CEM upon sensing a fault. The CEM then sequences the Johnson counters to cause the address and fault identification data in the operated monitor to be transmitted to the CEM. Control means is provided to perform selected control operations at the remote station, the control means being connected to second output positions of the Johnson counter. Selective means is responsive to address signals from the CEM on a select channel to disable all control means in remote stations whose address is other than that received. Control signals on the select channel then operates the selected command in the addressed monitor.
31 Citations
30 Claims
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1. In a command and monitoring system having a central station and a plurality of remote stations, a remote station comprising:
- counter means having a plurality of output states;
address means connected to a first plurality of said output states of said counter means for establishing a unique address for said remote station;
clock channel means connecting said counter means to said central station for supplying clock signals to said counter means for sequencing said counter means through its output states;
select channel means connected between said central station and said remote station, said central station supplying select signals onto said select channel means;
monitor means for receiving a plurality of monitor condition signals, said monitor means being connected to a second plurality of said output states of said counter means other than said first plurality of said output states;
transmitter means connected to said address means and to said monitor means for transmitting address and monitor data onto said select channel means;
control means connected to said select channel means and to said second plurality of said output states of said counter means and responsive to a select signal when said counter means has conditioned one of its respective second output states for operating a corresponding command function at said remote station;
disable means for selectively disabling said control means; and
selective means connected to said address means and said select channel means and responsive to the unique address for the remote station and to select signals on said select channel means to operate said disable means whenever such select signals correspond to an address other than the address for the respective remote station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- counter means having a plurality of output states;
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18. In a command and monitoring system having a central station and a plurality of remote stations, said central station being linked to each of said remote stations by first and second communications channels, the method of signalling between said central station and said remote stations comprising:
(a) at said central station, transmitting onto said first communication channel a clock signal having a predetermined series of spaced-apart pulses; - View Dependent Claims (20, 24)
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19. (b) at each receiving station, receiving said clock signal and advancing the state of a multi-state device with each pulse of said clock signal;
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(c) at said central station, transmitting onto said second communication channel an information signal having a predetermined series of pulses each occurring simultaneously with the transmission of either a pulse of said clock signal or the space between successive clock signal pulses; (d) at each of said receiving stations, receiving and decoding said information signal to selectively enable said receiving station to transmit a data signal onto said second communication channel; and (e) at said central station, selectively inhibiting the transmitting of portions of said information signal to permit receipt of a data signal from a remote station. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 30)
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26. In a command and monitoring system having a central station and a plurality of remote stations and first and second communications channels linking said central station to each of said remote stations, apparatus for signalling between said central stations and said remote stations comprising:
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(a) first transmitter means at said central station for transmitting a clock signal onto said first communication channel, said clock signal comprising a predetermined series of spaced-apart pulses; (b) second transmitter means at said central station for transmitting an information signal onto said second communication channel, said information signal comprising a predetermined series of pulses selectively occurring simultaneously with either a clock signal pulse or the space between successive clock signal pulses; (c) counter means at each of said remote stations, each of said counter means having a plurality of output states, said counter means each being connected to said first communication channel to receive said clock signal to sequentially advance said counter means through its output states by the pulses of said clock signal; (d) decoder means at each of said remote stations connected to said second channel to decode said information signal to perform a selected control function; and (e) inhibit means at said central station for selectively inhibiting said second transmitter means, whereby a portion of said information signal may be inhibited from being transmitted onto said second communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification