Modular interface
First Claim
1. In a packet-based communications system for linking a peripheral unit (PU) to an external system via a communications link, a modular interface unit (MIU) coupled between said PU and said communications link, said MIU including memory shared by processors in both said PU and MIU, said system employing control packets, read packets for transferring data from said external system to said PU and write packets for transferring data from said PU to said external system, and performing a method for allocating space within said shared memory for storage of said read and write packets, said method comprising:
- (a) determining a ratio of read to write packets required in the operation of said PU and whether said communications link will transmit write packets; and
(b) ignoring the ratio determined in (a) if said communications link will not transmit write packets and, in such case, allocating space within said shared memory without regard to said determined ratio, but if said communications link will transmit write packets, allocating space within said shared memory for storage of said read and write packets in accordance with said determined ratio.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A packet-based communication system is described for linking a peripheral unit (PU) to the outside world via a communications link. The system includes a modular interface unit (MIU) which has a memory shared by processors in both the PU and MIU. The system employs control packets, read packets and write packets and performs a method for allocating the shared memory that optimizes memory utilization. The system determines a ratio of read to write packets required in the operation of the PU, and it ignores that ratio if the communications link will not transmit write packets. If the communication link will transmit write packets, it allocates read and write packet space within the shared memory in accordance with the ratio. The system also includes apparatus for enabling MIU configuration via user/keyboard inputs through the PU with the MIU providing the question and answer messages. This feature allows the PU to adapt to many different communication links, simply by replacement and user configuration of the MIU. The system further includes apparatus for rapidly handling network protocol headers. Those headers are stored along with the data packets and when the packet is accessed by the PU from shared memory, pointers are employed to enable access of only the data portions of such packets while ignoring the network protocol header portions.
49 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a packet-based communications system for linking a peripheral unit (PU) to an external system via a communications link, a modular interface unit (MIU) coupled between said PU and said communications link, said MIU including memory shared by processors in both said PU and MIU, said system employing control packets, read packets for transferring data from said external system to said PU and write packets for transferring data from said PU to said external system, and performing a method for allocating space within said shared memory for storage of said read and write packets, said method comprising:
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(a) determining a ratio of read to write packets required in the operation of said PU and whether said communications link will transmit write packets; and (b) ignoring the ratio determined in (a) if said communications link will not transmit write packets and, in such case, allocating space within said shared memory without regard to said determined ratio, but if said communications link will transmit write packets, allocating space within said shared memory for storage of said read and write packets in accordance with said determined ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system including a peripheral unit (PU) and a modular interface unit (MIU) that provides communications between said PU and other means, said MIU requiring initial configuration to enable said communications to said other means, said system comprising:
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a display and keyboard in said PU, said PU further including non-volatile memory associated with a PU processor; an MIU processor in said MIU, responsive to a user input to said keyboard indicating a configuration instruction, to access data stored in a memory associated with said MIU processor, so as to present a series of questions and answers to said display in said PU for viewing by said user; storage means in said MIU, accessible by both said MIU and said PU, for receiving signals resulting from a user'"'"'s actuation of said keyboard indicating a selection of an answer, a said answer indicating a communication interface specification to be adhered to by said MIU; and means for storing said answers in said non volatile memory associated with said PU processor, whereby said answers become available for implementation by said MIU through said storage means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A packet-based system including a peripheral unit (PU) and a modular interface unit (MIU) for enabling communications between said PU and a communications network, said network imposing network protocol headers on data packets, said MIU including a shared memory accessible from both said MIU and said PU, said system further comprising:
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interface means in said MIU for receiving network packets consisting of a network protocol header, data, and a network protocol trailer from said network and storing said packets in said shared memory; processor means in said MIU for assembling an MIU header for each said received data packet, said MIU header including fields that indicate at least a start data address and a data length indication of data in a received data packet in said shared memory; and processor means in said PU for accessing said MIU header and for further accessing, in accordance with said field indications, only data commencing at said data address and extending for said data length, whereby said network protocol headers in said shared memory are ignored. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification