Data transmission/receiving device having parallel/serial and serial parallel character conversion, particularly for data exchange between communicating data processing systems

• US 4,388,683 A
• Filed: 03/27/1980
• Issued: 06/14/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Beifuss, Wolfgang, Geitz, Gerhard, Birzele, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US06/134,482
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 710/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/124 where hardware is a sequential transfer control unit, e.g. microprocessor, peripheral processor or state-machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

In a data transmitting/receiving device having parallel/serial and serial/parallel character conversion, particularly for data exchange between communicating data processing systems, and being arranged between a local data processing system and a data modem terminating a data communication line for the purpose of controlling data transmission and/or reception procedures and containing a procedure store, and in which a random access storage is provided as a data buffer for intercepting data jams is provided along with an interrupt control for interrupting processing operations in a microprocessor in respect of higher processing priority, and in which a timer is provided for setting optimum transmission speed, first and second modem connection lines are provided and data messages to be transmitted are converted bit-oriented or character-oriented by the microprocessor from data groups supplied thereto by means of corresponding input switching commands. In addition, the optional transmission of bit-oriented data messages according to the synchronous data link control (SDLC) method or according to the high-level data link control (HDLC) method is provided.

Claims

1. In a data transmitting/receiving device of the type having parallel/serial and serial/parallel character conversion and connected via a data transmission line to a local data processing system and connected to a data modem terminating a data communication line for controlling the transmitting and receiving procedures, in which an address bus and a data bus are provided, and in which a procedure memory and a random access memory as a data buffer are connected to the address bus and to the data bus for intercepting data jams, and which includes an interrupt control connected to the address bus and to the data bus for interrupting processing operations of a microprocessor means which is also connected to the address bus and to the data bus in response to processing operations of a higher priority, and in which a timer is connected to the address bus and to the data bus and is operable to set the data transmission speed, the improvement therein comprising:

first and second modem connection lines;

first means in the microprocessor means responsive to corresponding input switching commands to convert data messages into a correspondingly-selected bit or character orientation; and

second means connected to said first and second modem connection lines and to said first means and operable to transmit data selectively in accordance with the synchronous data link control method and the high-level data link control method over a selected modem connection line.

2. In a data transmitting/receiving device, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising

a local data exchange line for connection to a local data processing system;

and

a parallel character interface connected to the microprocessing means and to a local data processing system via said local data exchange line.

3. The data transmitting/receiving device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said parallel character interface is a programmable interface for adapting to different designs of local data exchange lines.

4. A data transmission system comprising:

a plurality of data transmission lines;

a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices each comprising an input/output connected to a respective data transmission line, first and second modem connection lines, data transmission means connected to said first and second modem connection lines and selectively operable to transmit or receive data via said modem connection lines in accordance with the synchronous data link control method or the high-level data link control method, and microprocessing means connected between the respective data transmission line and said data transmission means for receiving, and operable in response to, switching commands to control the operation of said data transmission means;

a first computer;

said transmitting/receiving devices connected in a chain which includes first and last transmitting/receiving devices with said first modem connection line of the first device of said chain connected to said first computer for data exchange therebetween, said second modem connection line of the last device of said chain connected to said computer for data exchange therebetween, and the remaining ones of said first and second modem connection lines interconnected with a second modem connection line connected to a first modem connection line down through the chain for data exchange between adjacent transmitting/receiving devices; and

a plurality of second computers each connected to a respective transmitting/receiving device via a respective data transmission line and operable to transmit and receive data via the respective data transmission line.

5. The data transmission system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of second computers comprises three computers.

6. A data transmission system comprising:

a plurality of data transmission lines;

a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices each comprising an input/output connected to a respective data transmission line, first and second modem connection lines, data transmission means connected to said first and second modem connection lines and selectively operable to transmit or receive data via said modem connection lines in accordance with the synchronous data link control method or the high-level data link control method, and microprocessing means connected between the respective data transmission line and said data transmission means for receiving, and operable in response to, switching commands to control the operation of said data transmission means;

said transmitting/receiving devices arranged in first, second and third groups with each group including first, second and third transmitting/receiving devices with said first and second modem connection lines of said first device respectively connected to said second and third devices via respective data transmission lines and said second modem connection line of said second device connected to said first modem connection line of said third device for data transmission therebetween;

a first computer connected to said first transmitting/receiving device of said first group via a respective data transmission line for data exchange therebetween;

a second computer connected between said first modem connection line of said second transmitting/receiving device of said first group and said first transmitting/receiving device of said second group via the respective data transmission line for data exchange therebetween;

a third computer connected between said second modem connection line of said third transmitting/receiving device of said first group and said first transmitting/receiving device of said third group via the respective data transmission line for data exchange therebetween; and

third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh computers, said fourth and sixth computers connected to said first modem connection lines of said second transmitting/receiving devices of said second and third groups, respectively, and said fifth and seventh computers connected to said second modem connection lines of said third transmitting/receiving devices of said second and third groups, respectively, whereby data exchange may occur between all of said computers.

7. A data transmission system comprising:

a plurality of data transmission lines;

a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices each comprising an input/output connected to a respective data transmission line, first and second modem connection lines, data transmission means connected to said first and second modem lines and selectively operable to transmit or receive data via said modem connection lines in accordance with the synchronous data link control method or the high-level data link control method, and microprocessing means connected between the respective data transmission line and said data transmission means for receiving, and operable in response to, switching commands to control the operation of said data transmission means;

a plurality of computers, each connected to a separate pair of said transmitting/receiving devices via respective data transmission lines; and

each of said data transmitting/receiving devices having its modem connection lines connected to the modem connection lines of two other of said transmitting/receiving devices which are connected to different computers.

8. The data transmission system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of computers comprises five computers.

9. A data transmission system comprising:

a plurality of data transmission lines;

a plurality of transmitting/receiving devices each comprising an input/output connected to a respective data transmission line, first and second modem connection lines, data transmission means connected to said first and second modem lines and selectively operable to transmit or receive data via said modem connection lines in accordance with the synchronous data link control method or the high-level data link control method, and microprocessing means connected between the respective data transmission line and said data transmission means for receiving, and operable in response to, switching commands to control the operation of said data transmission means;

a plurality of data terminals, each of said modem connection lines connected to a respective data terminal for data exchange therebetween; and

a computer connected to each of said data transmission lines for data exchange therebetween.