US3623014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer communications system
Assignee: Control Data Corp
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Filing: 1969-08-25
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1989-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A computer controlled, data communications system is provided for transmitting data between a plurality of external devices. The system comprises up to eight, general purpose, digital computers, each with an associated disc-file storage system. The computers and the disc-file storage units are organized such that communication between the computers is made via the disc-file storage associated with each computer, not directly between the computers themselves. Each group of external devices is coupled to a primary and secondary computer such that upon the failure of the primary computer, the secondary computer will procss the data for its primary group of devices as well as for those external devices for which it is the secondary computer. Each disc-file storage unit is the primary storage for one computer and the copy storage for one additional computer. Upon the failure of a primary disc-file storage unit, a computer can operate with the copy storage unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin L Doelz
- 👤 Robert F Martin
- 👤 Fred K Morioka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/202; G06F11/2035; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; G06F11/0754; G06F11/076; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2056; G06F11/2087; G06F11/2094; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/163; G06F15/167; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/85
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
355 words
A computer controlled data communications system for transmitting data between groups of external devices comprising: a. at least a first and second stored program, electronic digital computer, said first computer being a primary computer for a first group of external devices and a secondary computer for a second group of external devices respectively, said second computer being a primary computer for the second group of external devices and a secondary computer for the first group of external devices; b. first and second line interface modules responsive to the data of the first and second groups of external devices respectively and having input and output lines adapted to be received by said first and second computers whereby the groups of external devices are interfaced to said first and second computers; c. first and second rotating storage units comprising 1. rotating data storage media having a timing track and data tracks segmented into a plurality of accessable data sectors; and 2. an access controller comprising: i. a timing module having an output signal responsive to the next addressable data sector on said rotating data storage media; ii. request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable sectors; iii. a register scan module connected to said request registers and said timing module, said register scanning module having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request register and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next data sector; iv. a data transfer module connected to said storage media and said timing and register scanning modules, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module; and d. first and second monitors responsive to the operating status of said computers and storage units, said first monitor having an output signal to inform said second computer of the mode of operation of said first computer and said second monitor having an output signal to inform said first computer of the mode of operation of said second computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
355 words
A computer controlled data communications system for transmitting data between groups of external devices comprising: a. at least a first and second stored program, electronic digital computer, said first computer being a primary computer for a first group of external devices and a secondary computer for a second group of external devices respectively, said second computer being a primary computer for the second group of external devices and a secondary computer for the first group of external devices; b. first and second line interface modules responsive to the data of the first and second groups of external devices respectively and having input and output lines adapted to be received by said first and second computers whereby the groups of external devices are interfaced to said first and second computers; c. first and second rotating storage units comprising 1. rotating data storage media having a timing track and data tracks segmented into a plurality of accessable data sectors; and 2. an access controller comprising: i. a timing module having an output signal responsive to the next addressable data sector on said rotating data storage media; ii. request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable sectors; iii. a register scan module connected to said request registers and said timing module, said register scanning module having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request register and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next data sector; iv. a data transfer module connected to said storage media and said timing and register scanning modules, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module; and d. first and second monitors responsive to the operating status of said computers and storage units, said first monitor having an output signal to inform said second computer of the mode of operation of said first computer and said second monitor having an output signal to inform said first computer of the mode of operation of said second computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
196 words
an access controller comprising: i. a timing module having an output signal responsive to the next addressable data sector on said rotating data storage media; ii. request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable sectors; iii. a register scan module connected to said request registers and said timing module, said register scanning module having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request register and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next data sector; iv. a data transfer module connected to said storage media and said timing and register scanning modules, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module; and d. first and second monitors responsive to the operating status of said computers and storage units, said first monitor having an output signal to inform said second computer of the mode of operation of said first computer and said second monitor having an output signal to inform said first computer of the mode of operation of said second computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
196 words
an access controller comprising: i. a timing module having an output signal responsive to the next addressable data sector on said rotating data storage media; ii. request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable sectors; iii. a register scan module connected to said request registers and said timing module, said register scanning module having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request register and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next data sector; iv. a data transfer module connected to said storage media and said timing and register scanning modules, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module; and d. first and second monitors responsive to the operating status of said computers and storage units, said first monitor having an output signal to inform said second computer of the mode of operation of said first computer and said second monitor having an output signal to inform said first computer of the mode of operation of said second computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A data communications system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said access controllers includes a register bank switch connected to said request registers of said access controllers and providing an output signal responsive to the contents of said request register, said output signal being connected to and received by said respective register scan module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable data sectors;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable data sectors;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
a register scan module connected to said request registers and said timing module, said register scanning modUle having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request register and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next data sector;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
a register scan module connected to said request registers and said timing module, said register scanning modUle having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request register and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next data sector;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A data communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating storage media is a magnetic disc-file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination of a digital computer and a rotating storage system, said rotating storage system comprising: a. rotating data storage media having a timing track and data tracks segmented into a plurality of accessable data sectors; and b. an access controller comprising:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination of a digital computer and a rotating storage system, said rotating storage system comprising: a. rotating data storage media having a timing track and data tracks segmented into a plurality of accessable data sectors; and b. an access controller comprising:
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
a data transfer module connected to said storage media and said timing and register scanning modules, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
a data transfer module connected to said storage media and said timing and register scanning modules, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
327 words
A computer controlled data communications system for transmitting data between groups of external devices comprising: a. a plurality of digital computers, given pairs thereof being a primary and secondary computer respectively to a respective group of external devices; b. a plurality of line interface modules, each being responsive to the data of a group of external devices, each line interface module having input and output lines adapted to be received by a primary and secondary computer whereby the respective group of external devices is interfaced to said primary and secondary computer permitting data transfers therebetween; c. a plurality of data storage units equal in number to said computers, each storage unit having input and output terminals connected to each of said computers, said rotary storage unit including a rotary data storage media having a timing track and data tracks segmented into a plurality of addressable data sectors, and an access controller comprising a timing module having an output signal responsive to the next addressable data sector of said data storage media, request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable data sectors, a register scan module connected to said request register and said register scanning module having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request registers and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next addressable data sector, and a data transfer module connected to said data storage media and said timing and register scanning module, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module; and d. a plurality of monitors responsive to the operating status to said computers and said storage units, each of said monitors being connected to a primary computer and having an output signal to inform said secondary computer of the mode of operation of said primary computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
327 words
A computer controlled data communications system for transmitting data between groups of external devices comprising: a. a plurality of digital computers, given pairs thereof being a primary and secondary computer respectively to a respective group of external devices; b. a plurality of line interface modules, each being responsive to the data of a group of external devices, each line interface module having input and output lines adapted to be received by a primary and secondary computer whereby the respective group of external devices is interfaced to said primary and secondary computer permitting data transfers therebetween; c. a plurality of data storage units equal in number to said computers, each storage unit having input and output terminals connected to each of said computers, said rotary storage unit including a rotary data storage media having a timing track and data tracks segmented into a plurality of addressable data sectors, and an access controller comprising a timing module having an output signal responsive to the next addressable data sector of said data storage media, request registers having means for storing requests for access to said addressable data sectors, a register scan module connected to said request register and said register scanning module having means for comparing the output signal of said timing module and the contents of said request registers and outputting a signal when there is a request for the next addressable data sector, and a data transfer module connected to said data storage media and said timing and register scanning module, said data transfer module having an output signal which is a function of the data stored in the data sector indicated by the output signal of said register scanning module; and d. a plurality of monitors responsive to the operating status to said computers and said storage units, each of said monitors being connected to a primary computer and having an output signal to inform said secondary computer of the mode of operation of said primary computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A data communications system as defined in claim 33 wherein each of said access controllers includes a register bank switch connected to said request registers of one other of said access controllers and providing an output signal responsive to the contents of said request register, said output signal being connected to and received by said respective register scan module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination as in claim 1 wherein said rotating storage media is a magnetic disc file.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |