Interface system with memory map locations for holding flags indicating a priority for executing instructions held within messages received by the interface
First Claim
1. A method of operating an interface station located in series between a control station and a subsystem, the interface station being adapted to receive message from and to transmit messages to the control station, and to receive data from and to transmit data to the subsystem, each of the messages having an address field and an instruction field having instructions for the interface station, the interface station comprising a memory including a multitude of map locations, each of the map locations having a respective one address, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing each map location with a respective one descriptor field including a set of instruction flags, each of the flags having and being changeable between first and second states;
using the flags to indicate the conditions of a plurality of factors;
transmitting messages to the interface station from the control station, each of the messages having instructions for the interface station to perform a specific task, wherein the interface station has a predetermined procedure for responding to the instructions in each message;
assigning each message a priority;
associating each of the messages with one of the addressable map locations in the memory unit of the interface station; and
the interface station, upon receipt of each message from the control station,i) searching the instruction field of the message for instructions,ii) checking the states of the flags in the one descriptor field at the memory address associated with the message,iii) changing the predetermined procedure for responding to the instructions in the message, on the basis of the states of the flags in said one descriptor fields, andiv) responding to the message by performing said changed procedure;
wherein said set of flags includes a high priority flag, the checking step includes the step of checking the state of the high priority flag in the descriptor field of the map location associated with the message, and the interface station processes the messages received from the control station in an order determined by the priority assigned to each message; and
further wherein the step of assigning each message a priority includes the steps ofi) assigning the message a higher priority if the high priority flag in the descriptor field in the map location associated with the message is in the first state, andii) assigning the message a lower priority if the high priority flag in the descriptor field in the map location associated with the message is in the second state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention generally relates to data management in a data processing and communication station that acts as an interface station between a central or control terminal and a subsystem. The interface station is adapted to receive messages from and to transmit messages to a control station as well as to receive data from and to transmit data to a subsystem. The interface station comprises a memory unit with multiple map locations having an associated descriptor field including a set of one or more flags. The control station transmits messages to the interface station whereby each of the messages is associated with one of the map locations in the memory unit. The interface station checks the states of the flags in the descriptor field of the associated map location and responds to the message based on the states of the flags.
42 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of operating an interface station located in series between a control station and a subsystem, the interface station being adapted to receive message from and to transmit messages to the control station, and to receive data from and to transmit data to the subsystem, each of the messages having an address field and an instruction field having instructions for the interface station, the interface station comprising a memory including a multitude of map locations, each of the map locations having a respective one address, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing each map location with a respective one descriptor field including a set of instruction flags, each of the flags having and being changeable between first and second states; using the flags to indicate the conditions of a plurality of factors; transmitting messages to the interface station from the control station, each of the messages having instructions for the interface station to perform a specific task, wherein the interface station has a predetermined procedure for responding to the instructions in each message; assigning each message a priority; associating each of the messages with one of the addressable map locations in the memory unit of the interface station; and the interface station, upon receipt of each message from the control station, i) searching the instruction field of the message for instructions, ii) checking the states of the flags in the one descriptor field at the memory address associated with the message, iii) changing the predetermined procedure for responding to the instructions in the message, on the basis of the states of the flags in said one descriptor fields, and iv) responding to the message by performing said changed procedure; wherein said set of flags includes a high priority flag, the checking step includes the step of checking the state of the high priority flag in the descriptor field of the map location associated with the message, and the interface station processes the messages received from the control station in an order determined by the priority assigned to each message; and further wherein the step of assigning each message a priority includes the steps of i) assigning the message a higher priority if the high priority flag in the descriptor field in the map location associated with the message is in the first state, and ii) assigning the message a lower priority if the high priority flag in the descriptor field in the map location associated with the message is in the second state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An interface station located in series between a control station and a subsytem, the interface station comprising:
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first input-output means to transmit messages to and to receive messages from the control station, each of the messages having an address field and an instruction field having instructions for the interface station; second input-output means to transmit messages to and to receive messages from the subsystem; a memory unit connected to both the first and second input-output means and including a multitude of addressable map locations, each of the map locations including a descriptor field having a set of flags, each of the flags having and being changeable between first and second states to indicate conditions of a plurality of factors, wherein each of the messages transmitted to the interface station from the control station is associated with one of the map locations; and means for responding to messages transmitted to the interface station, wherein the responding means has a predetermined procedure for responding to the instructions in each message, and the responding means is adapted, upon receipt of each message from the control station, (i) to search the instruction field of the message for instructions, (ii) to check the states of the flags in the one descriptor field at the memory address associated with the message, (iii) to change the predetermined procedure for responding to the instructions in the message, on the basis of the states of the flags in said one descriptor field, and (iv) to respond to the message by performing said changed procedure; wherein each of said set of flags includes a high priority flag; and
the means for responded is adapted to assign each message a priority, and to process the messages received from the control station in an order determined by the priorities assigned to the messages; andwherein the means for responding is adapted, upon receipt of each message transmitted to the interface station, i) to check the state of the priority flag in the descriptor field in the map location associated with the message, ii) to assign the message a higher priority if the high priority flag in the descriptor field in the map location associated with the message is in the first state, and iii) to assign the message a lower priority if the high priority flag in the descriptor field in the map location associated with the message is in the second state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification