Plural processors-plural terminal devices interconnecting system

Claim 1

A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM HAVING A PLURALITY OF DATA PROCESSING DEVICES AND A PLURALITY OF TERMINAL DEVICES ARRANGED FOR INTERCONNECTION OVER A COMMON COMMUNICATION PATH CHARACTERICED IN THAT IN ORDER TO ENABLE INTERCONNECTION ON A MUTUALLY EXCULSIVE BASIS BETWEEN ANY ONE OF SAID DATA PROCESSING DEVICE SAND ANY ONE OF THE REMAINING DEVICES OVER SAID PATH, EACH OF SAID DEVICES IS IDENTIFIED BY A DISCRETE CODED NUMBER AND WHEN ONE OF SAID DATA PROCESSING DEVICES REQUIRES CONNECTION TO ANOTHER OF SAID DEVICES, SAID ONE DATA PROCESSING DEVICE GENERATES A DEMAND SIGNAL WHICH IS SENSED BY CONTROL EQUIPMENTAL ASSOCIATED WITH SAID COMMON COMMUNICATION PATH, SAID DEMAND SIGNALS BEING OF SUCH A FORM AS TO INDICATE TO SAID CONTROL EQUIPMENT THE CODED NUMBER AND PRIORITY ALLOCATION OF SAID DEMANDING DATA PROCESSING DEVICE SAID CONTROL EQUIPMENT BEING ARRANGED (A) TO SELECT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY DEMANDING DATA PROCESSING DEVICE (B) TO SET UP A TEMPORARY CONNECTION PATH FORM SAID DEMANDING DATA PROCESSING DEVICE TO SAID CONTROL EQUIPMENT OVER PART OF SAID COMMON COMMUNICATION PATH, SAID TEMPORARY PATH BEING USED TO PASS CODED INFORMATION FROM SAID DEMANDING DATA PROCESSING DEVICE TO SAID CONTROL EQUIPMENT DEFINING THE CODED NUMBER TO THE WANTED DEVICE TO BE USED IN THE CONNECTION AND THE TYPE OF DATA TRANSFER REQUIRED (C) TO DEFINE THE BUSY OR FREE STATUS OF SAID WANTED DEVICE AND THE BUSY OR FREE STATUS OF SAID COMMON COMMUNICATION PATH (D) TO GENERATE SELECTION SIGNALS TO TAKE INTO USE SAID WANTED DEVICE IF SAID DEVICE AND SAID COMMON COMMUNICATION PATH IS FREE (E) TO SET UP CONNECTIONS TO SAID COMMON COMMUNICATION PATH INVOLVING THE DEMANDING DATA PROCESSING DEVICE AND SAID WANTED DEVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TYPE OF DATA TRANSFER REQUIRED.