US3602894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Program change control system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-06-23
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A key-entry system having a plurality of programs selectable by different program keys provided with over-control mechanism operative to allow a change in program only in the first column of a field or prior to the first column and allowing a program change request by depression of a program key to be stored until the last column of a field presently being keyed has been entered.
Inventors
- 👤 John J Igel
- 👤 Myron D Schettl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/08; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
396 words
A key-entry system including: a keyboard having a plurality of data keys; a data storage unit; circuitry connecting said data keys and said storage unit so that, upon the actuation of a data key, data is transmitted to and stored in said unit, said unit being capable of carrying other data in the form of programs for modifying the entry of data into or the reading of data from said storage unit; means for indicating the end of a field of data entered into said storage unit by actuation of said data keys; manually operated program selection means; circuitry under the control of said manually operated means for rendering one or another of said programs effective, said lastnamed circuitry including storage means for storing the effect of a change of said manually operated program selection means from one program to another program selecting condition and under the control of said end of field indicating means or delaying the application of the program change until the end of the field has been reached; means for indicating the beginning of a field of data entered into said storage unit, said manually operated program selection means including a plurality of program keys; and circuitry under the control of said keys and said beginning of field indicating means for rendering one or another of said programs immediately effective when a program key is actuated and the system is at the beginning of a field of data entered into said storage unit, said means for indicating the end of a field providing an electrical signal at the end of the field and said means for indicating the beginning of a field providing a signal at the beginning of the field, said circuitry including: a program change latch for causing a change of program when set; a logical OR circuit on the set side of said program change latch and having two inputs; a program switch; a logical AND circuit connected with both said end of field indicating means and said program switch and providing an output to said logical OR circuit so as to cause a change in program at the end of a field; and another logical AND circuit connected with said beginning of field indicating means and also with said program switch and providing an output to said OR circuit for changing program at the beginning of a field.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
396 words
A key-entry system including: a keyboard having a plurality of data keys; a data storage unit; circuitry connecting said data keys and said storage unit so that, upon the actuation of a data key, data is transmitted to and stored in said unit, said unit being capable of carrying other data in the form of programs for modifying the entry of data into or the reading of data from said storage unit; means for indicating the end of a field of data entered into said storage unit by actuation of said data keys; manually operated program selection means; circuitry under the control of said manually operated means for rendering one or another of said programs effective, said lastnamed circuitry including storage means for storing the effect of a change of said manually operated program selection means from one program to another program selecting condition and under the control of said end of field indicating means or delaying the application of the program change until the end of the field has been reached; means for indicating the beginning of a field of data entered into said storage unit, said manually operated program selection means including a plurality of program keys; and circuitry under the control of said keys and said beginning of field indicating means for rendering one or another of said programs immediately effective when a program key is actuated and the system is at the beginning of a field of data entered into said storage unit, said means for indicating the end of a field providing an electrical signal at the end of the field and said means for indicating the beginning of a field providing a signal at the beginning of the field, said circuitry including: a program change latch for causing a change of program when set; a logical OR circuit on the set side of said program change latch and having two inputs; a program switch; a logical AND circuit connected with both said end of field indicating means and said program switch and providing an output to said logical OR circuit so as to cause a change in program at the end of a field; and another logical AND circuit connected with said beginning of field indicating means and also with said program switch and providing an output to said OR circuit for changing program at the beginning of a field.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
227 words
A key-entry system including: a keyboard having a plurality of data keys; a data storage unit; circuitry connecting said data keys and said storaGe unit so that, upon the actuation of a succession of data keys, data is transmitted to and stored in successive storage positions in said unit; said unit being capable of carrying other data in the form of programs for modifying the entry of data into or the reading of data from said storage unit; means for providing an electrical signal by the filling of a certain number of successive storage positions in said storage unit due to actuation of a corresponding number of said data keys indicating the end of a field of data entered into said unit; manually operated program selection means; circuitry under the control of said manually operated means for rendering one or another of said programs effective and including storage means for storing the effect of a change of said manually operated program selection means from one program to another program selecting condition; and means providing said electrical signal to said last-named circuitry so that the last-named circuitry remains ineffective while successive storage positions in said storage unit are filled by actuation of a succession of data keys until the end of the field is reached so that a program change is delayed until the end of the field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
227 words
A key-entry system including: a keyboard having a plurality of data keys; a data storage unit; circuitry connecting said data keys and said storaGe unit so that, upon the actuation of a succession of data keys, data is transmitted to and stored in successive storage positions in said unit; said unit being capable of carrying other data in the form of programs for modifying the entry of data into or the reading of data from said storage unit; means for providing an electrical signal by the filling of a certain number of successive storage positions in said storage unit due to actuation of a corresponding number of said data keys indicating the end of a field of data entered into said unit; manually operated program selection means; circuitry under the control of said manually operated means for rendering one or another of said programs effective and including storage means for storing the effect of a change of said manually operated program selection means from one program to another program selecting condition; and means providing said electrical signal to said last-named circuitry so that the last-named circuitry remains ineffective while successive storage positions in said storage unit are filled by actuation of a succession of data keys until the end of the field is reached so that a program change is delayed until the end of the field.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 2, said manually operated program selection means including a plurality of program keys, said circuitry under control of said manually operated means including a plurality of program key latches under the control of said program keys to thereby cause the setting of respective ones of said latches when the program keys are actuated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 3, said circuitry under the control of said manually operated means including also a program change latch connected with said program key latches to be set thereby and under the control of said electrical signal indicating the end of a field for delaying the setting of the program change latch and to thereby delay the application of the program change until the end of a field is reached.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 4, said circuitry under the control of said manually operated means including also a logical AND circuit located electrically between said program key latches and said program change latch, said electrical signal indicating the end of a field being applied onto said AND circuit so as to set the program change latch when the end of a field is reached.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 5, and including circuitry under the control of said data keys for providing a second electrical signal when any of the data keys is actuated, said second electrical signal being applied also onto said AND circuit so that the AND circuit is effective only when one of said data keys is actuated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 2, said data storage unit including means for providing an electrical signal for indicating the beginning of a field of data to be entered into said storage unit when the data keys are effectively connected through said first-named circuitry to enter data into the next successive storage position in said storage unit subsequent to said certain number of successive storage positions filled as aforesaid, said manually operated program selection means including a plurality of program keys, and circuitry under the control of said program keys and said last-named signal for rendering one or another of said programs immediately effective when a program key is actuated at the beginning of a field of data to be entered into the storage unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 2, said storage unit being of a type wherein the various storage positions therein may contain end of field flags, said electrical signal providing means being responsive to said flags to indicate the end of the field of data entered into said storage unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 8, said storage unit including a delay line connected in a loop with a shift register whereby infoRmation in the form of a series of characters may circulate through the delay line and the shift register, with each of the characters being capable of containing a flag indicating the end of a field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
A key-entry system as set forth in claim 8, said storage unit including a delay line connected in a loop with a shift register and capable of circulating a series of words each of which includes a series of characters, said manually operated program selection means including a plurality of program keys and said characters including a program character corresponding to each of said keys and each being capable of carrying an end of field flag or bit, and a clock for causing the end of field bit in each of the characters corresponding to a program key to be effective with respect to the particular program key for indicating the end of the field for the program corresponding to the particular program key.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |