Programmable modular network interface for coupling a computer and a plurality of workstation consoles

• US 5,388,210 A
• Filed: 05/17/1993
• Issued: 02/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Lepp, Andrew W., Clayton, Terry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEKY, MOUSTAFA M
• Application Number:
  US08/063,227
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200, 370/56, 370/60, 370/94.1, 370/94.2, 370/94.3, 370/92, 364/222.2, 364/239.4, 364/284.1
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A modular system for interfacing between a Navy standard UYK-43 computer a plurality of workstation consoles connected to a control data bus is provided. A first conversion processor is functionally connected to the computer and functionally connected to a backplane. A second conversion processor is functionally connected to the computer and functionally connected to the backplane. The second conversion processor also includes memory for storing status and action information associated with each of the consoles. A system processor is functionally connected to the backplane and a local area network (LAN) processor is functionally connected to the backplane and to the consoles,

Claims

1. A modular system for interfacing between a computer and a plurality of workstation consoles connected to a control data bus, said computer having serial input and output ports that receive and send, respectively, data in accordance with a predetermined format, said consoles having input and output ports that receive and send, respectively, data in a format other than said predetermined format, said system comprising:

a backplane for passing transistor-transistor-logic (TTL) format data;

first conversion processor means connected to said output port of said computer and to said backplane for classifying said predetermined format data received from said computer as an interrogation message or a console designated message which includes a corresponding console destination address indicative of one of Said plurality of consoles, said first conversion processor means further converting said console designated message or said interrogation message into the TTL format data passed by said backplane;

second conversion processor means connected to said input port of the computer and to said backplane for retrieving said interrogation message from said backplane and accessing information associated with each of the consoles to output a response to the interrogation message to said computer in accordance with said predetermined format;

a system processor connected to said backplane, including buffer memory means for providing indexed buffering of said console designated message based on said corresponding console designated address and passing said console designated message onto said backplane in accordance with programmable timing;

local area network (LAN) processor means connected to said backplane and connected to said consoles via said control data bus for converting said console designated message from said buffer memory means into said format other than said predetermined format and distribution thereof on said control data bus to a designated one of said plurality of consoles based upon said corresponding console destination address;

said LAN processor means further converting said data sent from said plurality of consoles to said TTL format, said data sent from said plurality of consoles including a corresponding console origination address identifying a particular one of said plurality of consoles as a source of said data sent from said plurality of consoles;

said system processor further having means for providing indexed buffering of said data sent from said plurality of consoles in said TTL format based on said corresponding console origination address and passing said data sent from said plurality of consoles in said TTL format from said buffer memory means onto said backplane in accordance with programmable timing; and

said second conversion processor means including memory means for storing said information associated with each of the consoles being accessed and updating said stored information using said data sent from said plurality of consoles from said buffer memory means.

2. A modular system for interfacing between a computer and a plurality of workstation consoles connected to a control data bus, said computer having U.S. Navy tactical data system (NTDS) serial input and output ports that receive and send, respectively, NTDS level serial format data, said consoles having input and output ports that receive and send, respectively, data in a format other than NTDS level serial format, said system comprising:

a backplane for passing transistor-transistor-logic (TTL) level parallel format data;

a first conversion processor, connected to said output port of said computer and to said backplane, for classifying NTDS level serial format data received from said computer as being one of a console designated message or an interrogation message, said console designated message including a corresponding console destination address indicative of one of said plurality of consoles, said first conversion processor converting said one of said console designated message or said interrogation message into TTL, level parallel format for output onto said backplane;

a second conversion processor, connected to said input port of said computer and to said backplane, said second conversion processor including memory for storing information associated with each of said consoles, said second conversion processor retrieving said interrogation message from said backplane and accessing said information stored in said memory to output a response to said interrogation message to said computer, said response being NTDS level serial format;

a system processor connected to said backplane, said system processor including buffer memory for providing indexed buffering of said console designated message based on said corresponding console designated address, said system processor passing said console designated message from said buffer memory onto said backplane in accordance with programmable timing;

a local area network (LAN) processor connected to said backplane and connected to said consoles via said control data bus, said LAN processor converting said console designated message from said buffer memory into said format other than NTDS level serial format data for distribution on said control data bus to a designated one of said plurality of consoles based upon said corresponding console destination address;

said LAN processor further converting said data sent from said plurality of consoles to said TTL level parallel format, said data sent from said plurality of consoles including a corresponding console origination address identifying a particular one of said plurality of consoles as the source of said data sent from said plurality of consoles;

said system processor providing indexed buffering of said data sent from said plurality of consoles in said TTL level format based on said corresponding console origination address, said system processor passing said data sent from said plurality of consoles in said TTL level format from said buffer memory onto said backplane in accordance with programmable timing; and

said second conversion processor updating said information in said memory using said data sent from said plurality of consoles from said buffer memory.

3. A modular system as in claim 2 wherein said first and second conversion processors, said system processor and said LAN processor are programmable.