Patent US3678464A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3678464A
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Controlled pause and restart of magnetic disc memories and the like
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-29
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-06-29
Abstract
Abstract Techniques are disclosed for permitting the halt and subsequent synchronized restart of a data processing or similar system including a plurality of asynchronous subunits such as magnetic disc memories by generating and storing information indicative of the state of each subunit at the time of halting, and, at the time a system restart is desired, by delaying the restart of individual subunits by an appropriate period which is a function of the previously stored information.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore Richmond Peters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:49
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
Apparatus for halting operations by a plurality of asynchronous subunits in response to a first signal and restarting them in response to a second applied signal while maintaining the operative conditions existing at the time of said halting comprising a. a memory, b. a plurality of reversible counters each capable of counting up in response to pulse signals applied to a first input terminal and of counting down in response to pulse signals applied at a second input terminal, each of said counters being associated uniquely with a respective one of said plurality of subunits, c. a source of clock pulse signals, d. means for applying said clock pulse signals to the first input terminal of selected ones of said counters, e. means responsive to said first input signal for storing in said memory the count in each of said counters at the time of said first input signal, f. means responsive to said second input signal for presetting said counters with a count which is the complement of the respective ones of said stored counts, g. means further responsive to said second input signal for applying said clock pulse signals to the second input terminal of each of said counters, and h. means responsive to a preselected condition in respective ones of said counters for indicating that the restart of the subunits associated with said respective ones of said counters may proceed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
Apparatus for halting operations by a plurality of asynchronous subunits in response to a first signal and restarting them in response to a second applied signal while maintaining the operative conditions existing at the time of said halting comprising a. a memory, b. a plurality of reversible counters each capable of counting up in response to pulse signals applied to a first input terminal and of counting down in response to pulse signals applied at a second input terminal, each of said counters being associated uniquely with a respective one of said plurality of subunits, c. a source of clock pulse signals, d. means for applying said clock pulse signals to the first input terminal of selected ones of said counters, e. means responsive to said first input signal for storing in said memory the count in each of said counters at the time of said first input signal, f. means responsive to said second input signal for presetting said counters with a count which is the complement of the respective ones of said stored counts, g. means further responsive to said second input signal for applying said clock pulse signals to the second input terminal of each of said counters, and h. means responsive to a preselected condition in respective ones of said counters for indicating that the restart of the subunits associated with said respective ones of said counters may proceed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for applying said clock pulse signals to said first input terminal comprises means responsive to the initiation of an operation by at least one of said subunits, thereby to cause the count in each of said counters prior to said second input signal to be indicative of the time elapsEd since the associated subunits began an operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means responsive to a preselected condition comprises means responsive to a condition indicating that an operation is about to begin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said counters are binary counters having a sufficient number of stages to count the number of clock pulses occuring in an interval of duration equal to the maximum possible period of operation of said associated subunit, and wherein said counts which are the complement of said stored counts are the 1''s complements of said stored counts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for presetting comprises an inverter having an input and an output associated with each stage in each of said counters, means for applying signals indicative of the condition of the corresponding bits in the respective ones of said stored counts at the input of said associated inverters, and means for applying the output of each inverter to said associated stage in said counter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a system comprising a plurality of subunits each capable of performing at least one operation, said operations in respective subunits bearing no predetermined timing relation to each other, apparatus for restoring synchronism with respect to the timing of said operations in said plurality of subunits after a pause in the functioning of said subunits, said synchronism being with respect to the degree of completion of the respective operations interrupted by said pause, comprising a. means for measuring the elapsed time from the beginning of an operation to the time that said pause began, b. means for storing for each subunit a first number which is an indication of said time elapsed from the beginning of an operation to the time that said pause began, and c. means for restarting the operation of each subunit at the beginning point of said operation after a period of time indicated by the number which is the complement of said first number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a system comprising a plurality of subunits each capable of performing at least one operation, said operations in respective subunits bearing no predetermined timing relation to each other, apparatus for restoring synchronism with respect to the timing of said operations in said plurality of subunits after a pause in the functioning of said subunits, said synchronism being with respect to the degree of completion of the respective operations interrupted by said pause, comprising a. means for measuring the elapsed time from the beginning of an operation to the time that said pause began, b. means for storing for each subunit a first number which is an indication of said time elapsed from the beginning of an operation to the time that said pause began, and c. means for restarting the operation of each subunit at the beginning point of said operation after a period of time indicated by the number which is the complement of said first number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
190 words
A disc memory system the functional operation of which may be precisely paused in response to an applied interrupt signal and precisely restarted in response to an applied restart signal comprising at least one rotatable magnetic surface having a plurality of tracks thereon, a plurality of magnetic transducers individually translatable over a plurality of said tracks in response to applied respective positioning signals, a plurality of counting means for measuring the time elapsed from the arrival of said respective positioning signals until each of said arms is positioned at a location indicated by said signals, means for halting each of said counting means in response to said interrupt signal, means for complementing the count indicated by each of said counting means at the time said interrupt signal occurs, means for repositioning said transducers beginning at an initial position substantially identical to the starting position of the move interrupted by said interrupt signal, means for simultaneously commencing count down of all of said counting means, and means for restarting the positioning of each of said repositioned transducers when the respective one of said counting means indicates a count equal to zero.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
A disc memory system the functional operation of which may be precisely paused in response to an applied interrupt signal and precisely restarted in response to an applied restart signal comprising at least one rotatable magnetic surface having a plurality of tracks thereon, a plurality of magnetic transducers individually translatable over a plurality of said tracks in response to applied respective positioning signals, a plurality of counting means for measuring the time elapsed from the arrival of said respective positioning signals until each of said arms is positioned at a location indicated by said signals, means for halting each of said counting means in response to said interrupt signal, means for complementing the count indicated by each of said counting means at the time said interrupt signal occurs, means for repositioning said transducers beginning at an initial position substantially identical to the starting position of the move interrupted by said interrupt signal, means for simultaneously commencing count down of all of said counting means, and means for restarting the positioning of each of said repositioned transducers when the respective one of said counting means indicates a count equal to zero.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a system comprising a plurality of subunits each capable of performing at least one operation, said operations in each of a selected group of said subunit bearing no predetermined timing relation to operations in others of said selected group, the method of maintaining synchronism with respect to the timing of said operations in said plurality of subunits after a pause in a sequence of operations by at least some of said plurality of said subunits comprising a. storing, for each subunit in said selected group with an operation in progress at the time said pause began, a first number which is indicative of the time elapsed from the beginning of an operation to the time that said pause began, b. restarting each subunit in said selected group wiTh an operation in progress at the time said pause began at the beginning point of said operation in progress at the time said pause began after a period of time indicated by the number which is the complement of said first number, and c. restarting the remainder of said plurality of subunits after each of said selected group of subunits has been started.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a system comprising a plurality of subunits each capable of performing at least one operation, said operations in each of a selected group of said subunit bearing no predetermined timing relation to operations in others of said selected group, the method of maintaining synchronism with respect to the timing of said operations in said plurality of subunits after a pause in a sequence of operations by at least some of said plurality of said subunits comprising a. storing, for each subunit in said selected group with an operation in progress at the time said pause began, a first number which is indicative of the time elapsed from the beginning of an operation to the time that said pause began, b. restarting each subunit in said selected group wiTh an operation in progress at the time said pause began at the beginning point of said operation in progress at the time said pause began after a period of time indicated by the number which is the complement of said first number, and c. restarting the remainder of said plurality of subunits after each of said selected group of subunits has been started.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a system comprising a plurality of subunits each capable of performing at least one asynchronous operation, said asynchronous operations in each of said subunits bearing no fixed predetermined timing relation to such operations in any other subunit, the method of restoring synchronism of operations in all of said subunits after an interrupt in all of said operations, said synchronism being with respect to the relative degree of completion of the respective asynchronous operations, said method comprising the steps of a. detecting a request to restore said synchronism, and b. restarting each of the interrupted asynchronous operations at the beginning point of said interrupted asynchronous operations after respective relative delays indicated by corresponding respective ones of a first set of numbers, said first set of numbers being the complement of respective ones of a second set of numbers, each of said second set of numbers being indicative of the time elapsed from the beginning of the corresponding interrupted asynchronous operation until the time the interrupt occurred, said relative delays being measured with respect to said request to restore synchronism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a system comprising a plurality of subunits each capable of performing at least one asynchronous operation, said asynchronous operations in each of said subunits bearing no fixed predetermined timing relation to such operations in any other subunit, the method of restoring synchronism of operations in all of said subunits after an interrupt in all of said operations, said synchronism being with respect to the relative degree of completion of the respective asynchronous operations, said method comprising the steps of a. detecting a request to restore said synchronism, and b. restarting each of the interrupted asynchronous operations at the beginning point of said interrupted asynchronous operations after respective relative delays indicated by corresponding respective ones of a first set of numbers, said first set of numbers being the complement of respective ones of a second set of numbers, each of said second set of numbers being indicative of the time elapsed from the beginning of the corresponding interrupted asynchronous operation until the time the interrupt occurred, said relative delays being measured with respect to said request to restore synchronism.
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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) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |