Communication processor for personal computer
First Claim
1. A communications processor for use with a personal computer having address and data busses connected to a female connector to receive a male edge connector formed on said communications processor comprising:
- a rectangular printed circuit board having said male edge connector formed on one of its long edges for mating with the female connector of the personal computer;
a line cord having a first end for connection to an AC electric power line and a second end connected to said printed circuit board;
electronic components supported on the printed circuit board and interconnected with one another by conductors formed on the printed circuit board to form a microcomputer, said components including an address/data bus, a microprocessor connected to said address/data bus, a random access memory connected to said address/data bus, a read only memory connected to said address/data bus, a line-powered power supply connected to said line cord, said microprocessor, said random access memory and said read only memory for powering said microcomputer via the AC electric power line and a battery operated power supply connected to said microprocessor, said random access memory, said read only memory and said line-powered supply for powering said microcomputer upon failure of the AC electric power line;
a second connector formed on a short edge of the printed circuit board;
electronic components forming two I/O ports supported on the printed circuit board and interconnected by conductors formed on the printed circuit board, the first of the I/O ports being connected to said male edge connector and to said address/data bus, and the second of the I/O ports being connected to said address/data bus and to said second connector;
wherein said communications processor receives commands from the personal computer via said first I/O port from said male edge connector, said communications processor further including;
means responsive to a first command for controlling said communications processor toreceive data via said first I/O port from said male edge connector,store said received data in a file within said random access memory, andinitiate communication via said second I/O port and transmit data stored in said file within said random access memory via said second I/O port to said second connector independent of whether the personal computer is performing other tasks or is de-energized,means responsive to a second command for controlling said communications processor to transmit data stored in an identified file within said random access memory via said first I/O port to said male edge connector, andmeans responsive to a third command for controlling said communications processor to enter a standby mode independent of whether the personal computer is performing other tasks or is de-energized torespond to communication initiated via said second I/O port from said second connector,receive data via said second I/O port from said second connector, andstore said received data in a file within said random access memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microcomputer is adapted to act as a communications processor for a personal computer of the type having its address and data busses supplied to a female connector forming part of a system expansion slot. The communications processor is formed on a printed circuit card and includes at least two I/O ports, one connected to its edge connector for insertion into the slot connector of the personal computer, and the other formed on its rear edge so as to be accessible to external connectors. The communications processor has a power supply energized through a connector on its rear edge and a back-up battery power supply. The communication processor can receive communications from and transmit to remote sources while the personal computer is being used for other purposes. Receiver messages are stored in the RAM of the communications processor and are unloaded to the personal computer under control of its keyboard at the operator'"'"'s convenience. Messages to be transmitted may also be loaded into the communication processor'"'"'s RAM from the personal computer along with instructions causing them to be transmitted at any convenient time, whether or not the personal computer is then energized or in alternate use.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A communications processor for use with a personal computer having address and data busses connected to a female connector to receive a male edge connector formed on said communications processor comprising:
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a rectangular printed circuit board having said male edge connector formed on one of its long edges for mating with the female connector of the personal computer; a line cord having a first end for connection to an AC electric power line and a second end connected to said printed circuit board; electronic components supported on the printed circuit board and interconnected with one another by conductors formed on the printed circuit board to form a microcomputer, said components including an address/data bus, a microprocessor connected to said address/data bus, a random access memory connected to said address/data bus, a read only memory connected to said address/data bus, a line-powered power supply connected to said line cord, said microprocessor, said random access memory and said read only memory for powering said microcomputer via the AC electric power line and a battery operated power supply connected to said microprocessor, said random access memory, said read only memory and said line-powered supply for powering said microcomputer upon failure of the AC electric power line; a second connector formed on a short edge of the printed circuit board; electronic components forming two I/O ports supported on the printed circuit board and interconnected by conductors formed on the printed circuit board, the first of the I/O ports being connected to said male edge connector and to said address/data bus, and the second of the I/O ports being connected to said address/data bus and to said second connector; wherein said communications processor receives commands from the personal computer via said first I/O port from said male edge connector, said communications processor further including; means responsive to a first command for controlling said communications processor to receive data via said first I/O port from said male edge connector, store said received data in a file within said random access memory, and initiate communication via said second I/O port and transmit data stored in said file within said random access memory via said second I/O port to said second connector independent of whether the personal computer is performing other tasks or is de-energized, means responsive to a second command for controlling said communications processor to transmit data stored in an identified file within said random access memory via said first I/O port to said male edge connector, and means responsive to a third command for controlling said communications processor to enter a standby mode independent of whether the personal computer is performing other tasks or is de-energized to respond to communication initiated via said second I/O port from said second connector, receive data via said second I/O port from said second connector, and store said received data in a file within said random access memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic, digital computer system comprising:
- a first computer including;
a first CPU, a first random access memory, a first read only memory, a secondary mass storage memory, a keyboard, all of said elements being interconnected by a first address and data bus, a first line-powered power supply connected to said first CPU, said first random access memory, said first read only memory, said secondary mass storage memory, and said keyboard for connection to an AC electric power line, said first line-powered power supply for powering said first computer via the AC electric power line; and
a second computer comprising;a second CPU, a second random access memory, a second read only memory, at least first and second input/output ports, all of said elements being interconnected by a second address and data bus, a second line-powered power supply connected to said second CPU, said second random access memory, and said second read only memory for connection to an AC electric power line separate from the connection of said first line-powered power supply, said second line-powered power supply for powering said second computer via the AC electric power line; and electrical interconnections between said first input/output port of the second computer and said first address and data bus of the first computer, and electrical interconnections between said second input/output port of the second computer and an outside data source, wherein the second computer receives commands via said first input/output port and said first address and data bus from the first computer, said including second computer further; means responsive to a first command for controlling the second computer to receive data via said first input/output port from the first computer, store said received data in a file within said second random access memory, and initiate communication via said second input/output port and transmit data stored in said file within said random access memory via said second input/output port to the outside data source independent of whether said first computer is performing other tasks or is de-energized, means responsive to a second command for controlling the second computer to transmit data stored in an identified file within said second random access memory via said first input/output port to the first computer, and means responsive to a third command for controlling the second computer independent of whether said first computer is performing other tasks or is deenergized to respond to communication initiated by the outside data source, receive data via said second input/output port from the outside data source, and store said received data in a file within said second random access memory. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a first computer including;
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16. A communications processor for use with a personal computer having address and data busses connected to a female connector to receive a male edge connector formed on said communications processor comprising:
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a rectangular printed circuit board having said male edge connector formed on one of its long edges for mating with the female connector of the personal computer; a line cord having a first end for connection to an AC electric power line and a second end connected to said printed circuit board; electronic components supported on the printed circuit board and interconnected with one another by conductors formed on the printed circuit board to form a microcomputer, said components including an address/data bus, a microprocessor connected to said address/data bus, a random access memory connected to said address/data bus, a read only memory connected to said address/data bus, a line-powered power supply connected to said line cord, said microprocessor, said random access memory and said read only memory for powering said microcomputer via the AC electric power line and a battery operated power supply connected to said microprocessor, said random access memory, said read only memory and said line-powered supply for powering said microcomputer upon failure of the AC electric power line; a second connector formed on a short edge of the printed circuit board; electronic components forming two I/O ports supported on the printed circuit board and interconnected by conductors formed on the printed circuit board, the first of the I/O ports being connected to said male edge connector and to said address/data bus, and the second of the I/O ports being connected to said address/data bus and to said second connector; and program means to enable the communication processor to respond to a first command from the personal computer to receive data via said first I/O port from said male edge connector, and store said received data in a file within said random access memory, and transmit data stored in said file within said random access memory via said second I/O port to said second connector independent of whether the personal computer is performing other tasks or is de-energized, to respond to a second command from the personal computer to transmit data in an identified file within said random access memory via said first I/O port to said male edge connector, and to respond to a third command from the personal computer to enter a standby mode independent of whether the personal computer is performing other tasks or is de-energized to respond to communication received via said second I/O port from said second connector, receive data via said second I/O port from said second connector; and store said received data in a file within said random access memory. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification