Interface device for interfacing a network station to a physical network medium
First Claim
1. An interface device for interfacing a network station to a physical network medium, comprising:
- a demodulator for converting network signals into an input bit stream;
a modulator for converting an output bit stream into further network signals;
protocol means connected to said modulator/demodulator;
a communication memory communicating with said protocol means over a communication memory bus, said communication memory comprising a first part for storing communication software as a primary program, and a second part for storing process software at least partly as a secondary program for a process to be executed in the station connected to the interface device;
the protocol means comprising;
modem control means for writing the bit stream received into and reading the bit stream to be transmitted from the communication memory;
communication control means connected to the modem control means for controlling the execution of the primary and the secondary programs; and
communication memory bus control means for assigning time slots for access to the communication memory to the modem control means and the communication control means upon receiving a request from the modem control means and the communications control means respectively;
the modem control means further comprising means for interrupting the execution of the secondary program in the communication control means when a communication instruction is to be executed for the station, after which the communication control means executes the primary program but continues the execution of the secondary program during waiting periods in the execution of the primary program, andfurther memory means for memorizing the location where and the circumstances in which the primary and the secondary program have been interrupted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface for a connection network between individual stations and a physical medium used for the message traffic between these stations, where signals supplied via the physical medium are converted into a bit stream by means of a demodulator, such a bit stream being converted into signals to be transmitted via the physical medium by means of a modulator, a protocol control unit is connected thereto and communicates, via a communication memory bus, with a communication memory a first part of which is reserved for the communication software which is stored as the primary program. A second part of the communication memory is reserved for the process control software which is stored at least partly as the secondary program for the process to be executed in the station connected to the interface, the protocol control unit consisting of a modem control unit for writing and reading the bit stream received and to be transmitted, respectively, into and from the communication memory, a communication control unit for coordinating the operations of the modem control unit and for ensuring the execution of the primary and the secondary program, and a communication memory bus control unit for assigning time slots for access to the communication memory in response to relevant requests from the modem control unit and the communication control unit, the modem control unit interrupting the execution of the secondary program in the communication control unit each time when a communication instruction is to be executed for the relevant station, after which the communication control unit executes the primary program but continues the execution of the secondary program during waiting periods in the execution of the primary program, for which purpose there is provided a further memory for memorizing the location where and the circumstances under in the primary and the secondary program have been interrupted.
37 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An interface device for interfacing a network station to a physical network medium, comprising:
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a demodulator for converting network signals into an input bit stream; a modulator for converting an output bit stream into further network signals; protocol means connected to said modulator/demodulator; a communication memory communicating with said protocol means over a communication memory bus, said communication memory comprising a first part for storing communication software as a primary program, and a second part for storing process software at least partly as a secondary program for a process to be executed in the station connected to the interface device; the protocol means comprising; modem control means for writing the bit stream received into and reading the bit stream to be transmitted from the communication memory; communication control means connected to the modem control means for controlling the execution of the primary and the secondary programs; and communication memory bus control means for assigning time slots for access to the communication memory to the modem control means and the communication control means upon receiving a request from the modem control means and the communications control means respectively; the modem control means further comprising means for interrupting the execution of the secondary program in the communication control means when a communication instruction is to be executed for the station, after which the communication control means executes the primary program but continues the execution of the secondary program during waiting periods in the execution of the primary program, and further memory means for memorizing the location where and the circumstances in which the primary and the secondary program have been interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A protocol control unit for an interface device for a connection network between individual stations and a physical medium used for the message traffic between the individual stations, comprising:
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modem means for converting signals supplied via the physical medium into a bit stream and for converting a bit stream into signals to be transmitted via the physical medium, the protocol control unit being connected to the modem means and communicating, via a communicating memory bus, with a communication memory, the protocol control unit comprising a modem control unit for writing the reading the bit stream received and to be transmitted into and from of the communication memory, respectively; a communication control unit connected to the modem control unit for controlling the execution of a process to be carried out as a primary program stored in a first part of the communication memory as communication software and of a process control software at least partly included as a secondary program in a second part of the communication memory in the station connected to the interface; and a communication memory bus control unit for assigning time slots for access to the communication memory to the modem control unit and the communication control unit, the modem control unit further comprising means for interrupting the execution of the secondary program in the communication control unit when a communication instruction is to be executed after which the communication control unit executes the primary program but continues the execution of the secondary program during waiting periods in the execution of the primary program; and
,further memory means for memorizing the location where the circumstances in which the primary and the secondary program have been interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A device for interfacing a network station to a physical network and comprising:
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modem means for bidirectional conversion between network signals and a corresponding internal bit stream; protocol control means connected to said modem means; communication memory means; a communication memory bus connected to said communication memory means and to said network station, said communication memory means having a first part for storing a primary communication program and a second part for storing a secondary process control program executable by said network station, said protocol control means comprising; a modem control means connected to the communication memory means for bidirectional access control of said communication memory means with respect to said bit stream and having first request generating means; a communication control means for ensuring execution of the first and second programs respectively and having second request generating means; bus control means responsive to said first and second requests generating means for allowing access by said modem control means and said communication control means, respectively, to said communication memory means, in respective time slots, while granting priority to said first request generating means, and conceding to said second request generating means for continuing the execution of the secondary program during waiting periods in executing said primary program; a second memory, for upon interruption of said secondary program by said granting priority, storing an actual location and circumstance data of said secondary program.
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Specification