Communications network for communicating with computers provided with disparate protocols

• US 4,688,170 A
• Filed: 09/22/1983
• Issued: 08/18/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tau Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tau Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Waite, David P., Riddell, Horace G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Jr., Archie E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/534,687
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 340/722, 340/717, 340/750, 340/802, 340/814
• US Class Current: 703/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A global data network communication system for communicating between diverse computer systems, each system provided with different protocols used to transmit, receive and understand information. At least one of the computer systems contains a memory into which a directory of information is stored to recognize the various protocols which are received from diverse computers and/or to transmit information to these diverse computers. This information contains the specific protocol which is being utilized by the diverse computer systems. A channel selector is provided which allows operator selection of the specific protocol characteristics of the particular station with which you wish to communicate.

Claims

1. In a communications network involving a plurality of diverse stand-alone computers, each computer provided with an input/output port and communicating via data lines in synchronous or asynchronous modes, and each computer utilizing protocols including but not limited to a data format and bit rate specific to that computer, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of first initiating diverse stand-alone computers provided in the communications network;

a plurality of second remote diverse stand-alone computers communicating with said first computers via the communications network;

a single memory unit physically provided in each of said plurality of first initiating diverse stand-alone computers containing data information stored therein indicating the protocols, including the data format and bit rate of each of said plurality of first and second diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network, said data information including a data packet indicating the nature of, the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asynchronous mode, said memory unit connected to the input/output port of its respective computer; and

emulation means physically provided in said plurality of first computers and connected to said memory unit of each of said first computers for sending and receiving data utilizing the protocols of said plurality of first computers and said plurality of said second computers, including the data format and the bit rates of both said plurality of first and said plurality of second computers in the communications network, said data information including a data packet indicating the nature of, the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asynchronous mode to the input, whereby each of said first computers can automatically communicate with computers in both of said plurality of first and said plurality of second computers in the communications network based upon the storage, in the memory unit of each of said plurality of first computers, of the protocols, including the data format and the bit rate utilized by said plurality of first and said plurality of second computers in the communications network and regardless of whether said plurality of second computers is provided with said single memory unit or said emulation means.

2. In the communications network of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of first computers further includes:

a capture buffer means provided in each of said plurality of first computers and in communication with said emulation means for receiving data from one of said plurality of first computers or one of said plurality of second computers in the communications network at a first data rate;

a visual display;

a first logical means connected between said display and said capture buffer for displaying data on said display at a second data rate different than said first data rate;

a permanent data storage device for storing the data simultaneously with the data being displayed by said visual display; and

a second logical means connected between said permanent data storage device and said capture buffer for inputting data into said permanent data storage device at a third data rate different than said first and second data rates.

3. In the communications network of claim 1, wherein said permanent data storage device is a printer.

4. In the communications network of claim 1, wherein said single memory unit is programmable.

5. A computer for communicating via a synchronous or asynchronous communications network with additional diverse stand-alone computers each utilizing particular protocols including but not limited to specific data formats and bit rates, said computer including:

an input/output port in communication with the communications network;

a single memory unit physically provided in said computer containing data information stored therein indicating the protocols, including the data format and bit rate of additional diverse stand-alone computers in the communication network, said data information including a data packet indicating the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asynchronous mode; and

emulation means physically provided in said computer and connected to said memory unit for sending and receiving data utilizing the protocols, including but not limited to the data format and the bit rate of the additional diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network said data information including a data packet indicating the nature of, the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asynchronous mode to the input;

whereby said computer can automatically communicate with the additional diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network based upon the storage, in the memory unit of the computer, of the protocols, including the data format and the bit rate utilized by said diverse stand-alone computers, and regardless of whether the additional diverse stand-alone computers include said memory unit or said emulation means.

6. The computer in accordance with claim 5, further including:

a capture buffer means in communication with said emulation means for receiving data from diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network at a first data rate;

a visual display;

a first logical means connected between said display and said capture buffer for displaying data on said display at a second data rate different than said first data rate;

a permanent data storage device for storing the data simultaneously with the data being displayed on said visual display; and

a second logical means connected between said permanent data storage device and said capture buffer for inputting data into said permanent data storage device at a third data rate, different than said first and second data rates.

7. The computer in accordance with claim 6 wherein said permanent data storage device is a printer.

8. The computer in accordance with claim 5, wherein said single memory unit is programmable.

9. In a communications network involving a plurality of diverse stand-alone computers, each computer provided with an input/output port and communicating via data lines in synchronous or asynchronous modes, and each computer utilizing protocols including but not limited to a data format and bit rate specific to that computer, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of first initiating diverse stand-alone computers provided in the communications network;

a plurality of second remote diverse stand-alone computers communicating with said first computers via the communications network;

a single programmable memory unit physically provided in each of said plurality of first initiating diverse stand-alone computers containing data information stored therein indicating the protocols, including the data format and bit rate of each of said plurality of first initiating diverse stand-alone computers each of said plurality of second remote diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network, said data information including a data packet indicating the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asynchronous mode, said memory unit connected to the input/output port of its respective computer; and

emulation means physically provided in said plurality of first computers and connected to said memory unit of each of said first computers for sending and receiving data utilizing the protocols of said plurality of first computers and said plurality of said second computers, including the data format and the bit rates of both said plurality of first and said plurality of second computers in the communications network, said data information including a data packet indicating the nature of, the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asychronous mode to the input, whereby each of said first computers can automatically communicate with computers in both of said plurality of first and said plurality of second computers in the communications network based upon the storage, in the single programmable memory unit of each of said plurality of first computers, of the protocols, including the data format and the bit rate utilized by said plurality of first and said plurality of second computers in the communications network and regardless of whether said plurality of second computers is not provided with said memory unit or said interpretation and emulation means.

10. A computer for communicating via a synchronous or asynchronous communications network with additional diverse stand-alone computers each utilizing particular protocols including but not limited to specific data formats and bit rates, said computer including:

an input/output port in communication with the communications network;

a single programmable memory unit physically provided in said computer containing data information stored therein indicating the protocols, including the data format and bit rate of additional diverse stand-alone computers in the communication network, said data information including a data packet indicating the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asynchronous mode; and

diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network, and

emulation means physically provided in said computer and connected to said memory unit for emulating the protocols, including but not limited to the data format and the bit rate of the additional diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network said data information including a data packet indicating the nature of, the absence or presence of a parity bit, the word length of said data information, the absence or presence of a cyclic redundancy check and whether said data information is in a synchronous or asynchronous mode to the input;

whereby said computer can automatically communicate with the additional diverse stand-alone computers in the communications network based upon the storage, in the single programmable memory unit of the computer, of the protocols, including the data format and bit rate utilized by the additional diverse stand-alone computers, and regardless of whether the additional diverse stand-alone computers include said memory unit.