Multifunctional coupler for connecting a central processing unit of a computer to one or more peripheral devices
First Claim
1. A multifunctional coupler for connecting a computer central processing unit (CPU) and a plurality of peripherals, for storing at least one application microprogram, each application program operative to control a transfer of data between a peripheral and the CPU, and for executing each of the at least one application microprograms, the coupler comprising:
- a mother-board coupled to at least one daughter-board, the mother-board including;
at least one daughter interface connected to an output bus of the central processing unit;
a control and command microprocessor connected to each of the at least one daughter interfaces;
a random access memory connected to an output bus of said microprocessor; and
a first read-only memory connected to said output bus of said microprocessor, said first read-only memory for storing a first application program segment that is common to each of the at least one application microprograms stored in the multifunctional coupler; and
each daughter-board including;
a second read-only memory for storing a second application program segment of a first one of the at least one application microprograms wherein the second application program segment is for controlling a peripheral connected to the respective daughter-board, and wherein the second application program segment is not executable until it is transferred to said random access memory of said mother-board;
a peripheral interface, connected to said second read-only memory, for connection to a peripheral; and
a mother interface, connected to said second read-only memory, for connection to said mother board;
wherein said control and command microprocessor includes a transfer means for transferring the second application program segment of the first one of the at least one application microprograms from said second read-only memory to said random access memory of said mother-board;
wherein said transfer means comprises means for shifting addresses of the application microprogram in the second read-only memory so as to render the application microprogram executable in the random access memory; and
means for executing the application microprogram by the CPU after the application microprogram is rendered executable in the random access memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multifunctional coupler for connecting a central processing unit of a computer to one or more peripheral devices and for storing at least one portion of an application microprogram that is operative to control transfer of data between a peripheral and the CPU. The coupler includes a mother-board with at least a first and second interface for connecting an output bus of the CPU to at least first and second daughter-boards, respectively. The mother-board also includes a control and command microprocessor that is connected to both the first and second interfaces, a RAM and a first ROM, all connected to an output bus of the microprocessor. The daughter-boards each include a second ROM for storing an application microprogram that includes a first program segment common to all application microprograms run by the microprocessor, that is read from the first ROM, and a second segment that is read from a second ROM, the second segment being specific to a particular application executed by a peripheral.
38 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A multifunctional coupler for connecting a computer central processing unit (CPU) and a plurality of peripherals, for storing at least one application microprogram, each application program operative to control a transfer of data between a peripheral and the CPU, and for executing each of the at least one application microprograms, the coupler comprising:
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a mother-board coupled to at least one daughter-board, the mother-board including; at least one daughter interface connected to an output bus of the central processing unit; a control and command microprocessor connected to each of the at least one daughter interfaces; a random access memory connected to an output bus of said microprocessor; and a first read-only memory connected to said output bus of said microprocessor, said first read-only memory for storing a first application program segment that is common to each of the at least one application microprograms stored in the multifunctional coupler; and each daughter-board including; a second read-only memory for storing a second application program segment of a first one of the at least one application microprograms wherein the second application program segment is for controlling a peripheral connected to the respective daughter-board, and wherein the second application program segment is not executable until it is transferred to said random access memory of said mother-board; a peripheral interface, connected to said second read-only memory, for connection to a peripheral; and a mother interface, connected to said second read-only memory, for connection to said mother board; wherein said control and command microprocessor includes a transfer means for transferring the second application program segment of the first one of the at least one application microprograms from said second read-only memory to said random access memory of said mother-board; wherein said transfer means comprises means for shifting addresses of the application microprogram in the second read-only memory so as to render the application microprogram executable in the random access memory; and means for executing the application microprogram by the CPU after the application microprogram is rendered executable in the random access memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of operating a multifunctional coupler for coupling a CPU to a plurality of peripherals, the coupler including a mother-board and a plurality of daughter-boards wherein the mother-board includes a control and command microprocessor, a random access memory, and a first read-only memory for storing a first segment of an application microprogram, the first segment being common to each of a plurality of application microprograms for controlling a corresponding plurality of peripherals, wherein each of the daughter-boards includes a second read-only memory for storing a second segment of the application microprogram for controlling a peripheral coupled to each of the daughter-boards wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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(a) loading a node microprogram of an application microprogram corresponding to a selected peripheral into the random access memory of the mother-board by the control and command microprocessor; (b) under control of the node microprogram, loading the first segment of the application microprogram into the random access memory of the mother-board by the control and command microprocessor; (c) under control of the node microprogram, loading a second segment of the application microprogram from a second read-only memory of a daughter-board into the random access memory of the mother-board, by the control and command microprocessor wherein the step of loading the second segment of the application microprogram includes the steps of; (i) preparing the random access memory of the mother-board to receive the second segment of the application microprogram from a second read-only memory; (ii) testing for the presence and correct operation of a first daughter-board of said plurality of daughter-boards; (iii) if the testing step indicates that the first daughter-board is not present or is not correctly operating, loading the application microprogram from an alternate daughter-board; (iv) in response to the testing step indicating that the first daughter-board is present and that the first daughter-board is operating correctly, verifying the contents of the second read-only memory on the first daughter-board, wherein the verifying step includes the step of verifying relocation parameters stored in the second read-only memory of the first daughter-board, and if the step of verifying fails, loading the application microprogram from an alternate daughter-board, and if the step of verifying does not fail transferring the contents of the second read-only memory on said first daughter-board into the random access memory of the mother-board; (v) shifting addresses of the application microprogram int he second read-only memory of the first daughter-board so as to render the application microprogram executable in the random access memory of the mother-board; and (vi) loading the addresses provided in the shifting step from the read-only memory of the first daughter-board to the random access memory of the mother-board; and (d) executing the application microprogram by the CPU. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification