Scannerless message concentrator and communications multiplexer
First Claim
1. Data communications controller apparatus for concentrating messages destined to or from a plurality of relatively lower speed users'"'"' communications ports from or to a lesser plurality of relatively higher speed communications ports, comprising:
- a plurality of communications ports; and
a plurality of communications ports interface adapters, each said adapter being connectable with a said port;
means for connecting each said port to a said adapter;
each said adapter comprising a microprocessor for handling communications to or from a port in the port format and protocol and for initiating and controlling direct memory accesses to main memory of another processor;
a control unit;
said control unit comprising a microprocessor, main memory and a direct memory access input/output interface for handling communications between said adapters and said main memory;
address and data busses respectively interconnecting said adapters, said control unit and said main memory for communication therebetween; and
said main memory being accessible through said busses via direct memory accesses initiated and controlled by said adapters utilizing said DMA interface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications concentrator and message multiplexer featuring direct access from the communications adapters to main memory via direct memory access means which eliminates the usual scanner or polling facility in a concentrator or multiplexer is described. A control microprocessor manages the allocation of memory, the conversion of message protocols and the servicing of interrupts to a plurality of port interface adapter microprocessors. The interface adapter microprocessors directly set up and control the DMA operation instead of having the DMA operation controlled by the control processor. One of the port adapters serves as a service adapter over a dedicated interface allowing a remote disgnostician access to internal registers in the control processor system, access to a dedicated read only storage for servicing, and logical interface to the main control processor for the purpose of entering instructions and directing functional operations to test each component of the system.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. Data communications controller apparatus for concentrating messages destined to or from a plurality of relatively lower speed users'"'"' communications ports from or to a lesser plurality of relatively higher speed communications ports, comprising:
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a plurality of communications ports; and a plurality of communications ports interface adapters, each said adapter being connectable with a said port; means for connecting each said port to a said adapter; each said adapter comprising a microprocessor for handling communications to or from a port in the port format and protocol and for initiating and controlling direct memory accesses to main memory of another processor; a control unit; said control unit comprising a microprocessor, main memory and a direct memory access input/output interface for handling communications between said adapters and said main memory; address and data busses respectively interconnecting said adapters, said control unit and said main memory for communication therebetween; and said main memory being accessible through said busses via direct memory accesses initiated and controlled by said adapters utilizing said DMA interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification