Multi-processor communications system incorporating prioritized messaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multi-processor communications system comprising:
- a communication medium;
a plurality of processors each loaded with a plurality of application programs, coupled to the medium, where the processors exchange messages with the medium wherein the messages contain priority information and an application designation of at least one of the plurality of application programs that causes priority operation of the designated application program on selected processors which are incorporated into respective output devices, and wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon previous conditions in the system.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible multi-processor communications system supports variable message lengths and variable groups and application designations at respective processors. The receiving processors determine what action, if any, needs to be taken in response to the combination of group and application information in the messages. The receiving processors can include pluralities of pre-stored groups and applications along with associated priorities and the functions to perform.
48 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A multi-processor communications system comprising:
-
a communication medium; a plurality of processors each loaded with a plurality of application programs, coupled to the medium, where the processors exchange messages with the medium wherein the messages contain priority information and an application designation of at least one of the plurality of application programs that causes priority operation of the designated application program on selected processors which are incorporated into respective output devices, and wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon previous conditions in the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A multi-processor communications system comprising:
-
a communication medium; a plurality of processors each loaded with a plurality of application programs, coupled to the medium, where the processors exchange messages with the medium wherein some of the processors are associated with respective output devices and wherein at least some of the output devices contain priority information for priority operation of the output devices based upon a priority value and an application designation of one of the plurality of application programs identified within messages received from the medium wherein the priority information can be dynamically dependent upon selected previous conditions in the system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A multi-processor communication system comprising:
-
a communication medium; a plurality of processors each loaded with a plurality of application programs, coupled to the medium, where the processors exchange messages with the medium wherein the messages contain priority information and a designation of one of the plurality of application programs that causes priority access to the communication medium and wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon at least one previous condition in the system; wherein the at least one previous condition comprises the previous operating state of the device itself; and wherein a receiving processor compares a priority level from a received message to a highest previously received priority level, and, executes the received message only if its priority level exceeds that of the highest received priority level.
-
-
16. A multi-processor communication system comprising:
-
a communication medium; a plurality of processors each loaded with a plurality of application programs, coupled to the medium, where the processors exchange messages with the medium wherein the messages contain priority information and a designation of one of the plurality of programs that causes priority access to the communication medium and wherein the priority information can be changed dynamically dependent upon at least one previous condition in the system; wherein the at least one previous condition comprises the previous priority of the device itself; and wherein a receiving processor compares a priority level from a received message to a highest previously received priority level, and, executes the received message only if its priority level exceeds that of the highest received priority level.
-
-
17. A multi-processor communication system comprising:
-
a communication medium; a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, members of the plurality transmitting and receiving information on the communication medium and having a stored priority value; wherein some members of the plurality of processors include at least one executable routine selectively executed by the processor, based upon the message information; wherein at least one of the plurality of processors transmits message information that includes priority information and a designation of the at least one executable routine and that message information is received by at least another one of the plurality of processors; wherein the at least one of the plurality of processors that receive the message information including the priority information, compares the priority information included within the message information with the stored priority value, and executes the designated executable routine if the priority information transmitted with the message information is equal to or higher than the stored priority value. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
-
19. A multi-processor communication system comprising:
-
a communication medium; a plurality of processors, coupled to the medium, the members of the plurality transmitting and receiving information on the communication medium and storing at least one priority value; where some members of the plurality of processors include software selectively executed by the processor, based upon the message information; where at least one member of the plurality of processors transmits message information that includes priority information and an application designator and that message information is received by at least another one of the plurality of processors; where the at least one member of the plurality of processors that receive the message information including the priority information, compares the priority information included within the message information with the stored priority value, and responsive thereto executes a selected routine identified by the application designator, and where group information is specified in one of, the same or a different message. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A multi-processor communication system comprising:
-
a communication medium; a plurality of processors each loaded with a plurality of application programs coupled to the medium, where members of a plurality of pairs of processors transmit and receive messages between one another via the medium; where at least one member of the plurality of processors transmits message information that includes priority information and an application designator and that message information is received by at least another one of the plurality of processors; where the at least one member of the plurality of processors that receive the message information including the priority information, compares the priority information included within the message information with the stored priority value, and responsive thereto executes a selected routine identified by the application designator, and where group information is specified in one of, the same or a different message. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A multi-processor regional monitoring system comprising:
-
at least one communications medium; a plurality of processors each loaded with a plurality of application programs where some members of the plurality each include at least one ambient condition sensor; where the processors transmit messages using the medium and receive messages therefrom wherein the messages include priority information;
an application designator and group information;wherein a receiving processor compares a priority level from a received message to a highest priority previously received priority level, and, executes the received message including an application identified by the application designator of the plurality of application programs only if its priority level exceeds that of the highest previously received priority level. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
Specification