Patent US3818199A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3818199A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for processing errors in a data processing unit
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-09-29
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling the functional states of system units of a modularly constructed program controlled data processing system are described. The system units are connected through standard interface connections. The system stores all the program required for its operation in a central storage. Defective system units are placed in a testing state and isolated from the rest of the system, which can remain operative. The functional states of the individual system units can be changed manually and/or controlled automatically by a program. The individual system units indicate their respective functional states to a central station comprising a digital register over the standard interface connections, and through a storage cycle. Upon the occurrence of a defective change in functional state of one or more of the system units, the central station produces signals which bring about, either directly or through a program, a response from the processing unit assigned to the combination of the changes in the functional states at the given time.
Inventors
- 👤 J Rabold
- 👤 U Lenz
- 👤 J Petersen
- 👤 H Moder
- 👤 B Schaffer
- 👤 G Grossmann
- 👤 J Huber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F15/00; G06F15/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for controlling the functional states of system units in a modularly constructed, program-controlled data processing system, which system units are connected over standard interface connections, said system having a storage unit for containing the programs required for the operation of the system and which is in communication with said system units, and wherein faulty system units may be placed in a testing state and isolated from the remainder of the system, which remains operative, the method comprising the steps of: adjusting manually or controlling through a program the functional states of said system units, said functional states comprising an operating state, a testing state, a malfunction state, parallel operation state and a reactivating state, signalling the respective functional states of said individual system units to a status register, producing, upon occurrence of a defective change in functional state in one or more of said system units, in said status register a signal indicating said defect and causing a response in the processing unit assigned to the combination of changes in the functional states at a given time responsive to the defect indicating signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for controlling the functional states of system units in a modularly constructed, program-controlled data processing system, which system units are connected over standard interface connections, said system having a storage unit for containing the programs required for the operation of the system and which is in communication with said system units, and wherein faulty system units may be placed in a testing state and isolated from the remainder of the system, which remains operative, the method comprising the steps of: adjusting manually or controlling through a program the functional states of said system units, said functional states comprising an operating state, a testing state, a malfunction state, parallel operation state and a reactivating state, signalling the respective functional states of said individual system units to a status register, producing, upon occurrence of a defective change in functional state in one or more of said system units, in said status register a signal indicating said defect and causing a response in the processing unit assigned to the combination of changes in the functional states at a given time responsive to the defect indicating signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein certain of the signals indicating functional states are stored in corresponding system units rather than in said status register.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said system units contain a counter system units running in parallel are synchronized in accordance with one of the following steps: placing said system units in the failure state prior to the parallel operation and then commonly and concurrently switching said system units into circuit upon command, or loading a counter by a particular signal until the identity of the operating states of said system units is established and after loading of said counter, producing a switch signal for causing the initiation of said parallel operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method defined in claim 1 comprising the additional step of establishing a functional state of ''''simulation of the testing state'''' wherein certain of said system units, preferably the program control unit, may communicate with others of said system units which are in the testing state and at the same time with others of said system units which are not in the testing state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein a change in the functional states of said individual system units is indicated by said status register by production of a signal from a control circuit means connected to said status register.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said system units contain means for monitoring the operations of others of said system units and comprising the additional steps of: signalling said central station means from ones of said system units with information concerning the functional states of others of said system units and storing said information in said central station means, said central station means influencing the functional states of said system units in accordance with said stored information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a modularly constructed program controlled data processing system having individual system units including program control means interconnected over standard interface connections, said system having a storage unit for containing the programs required for its operation and in communication with said system units and wherein defective ones of said system units may be placed in a testing state and isolated from the remainder of said system, which remains operative, apparatus for controlling the functional states of said system units comprising: central register means to which all of said system units are connected and wherein bit locations are assigned to each functional state of each of said system units, control circuit means connected to the output of said central register means for generating signals corresponding to the changes in functional states of said system units, said control circuits means having a plurality of outputs and switching circuit means connected to said plurality of outputs and having means responsive to outputs of said control circuit means for causing a response of said entire data processing system in accordance with the combinations of the changes in functional states at a given time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a modularly constructed program controlled data processing system having individual system units including program control means interconnected over standard interface connections, said system having a storage unit for containing the programs required for its operation and in communication with said system units and wherein defective ones of said system units may be placed in a testing state and isolated from the remainder of said system, which remains operative, apparatus for controlling the functional states of said system units comprising: central register means to which all of said system units are connected and wherein bit locations are assigned to each functional state of each of said system units, control circuit means connected to the output of said central register means for generating signals corresponding to the changes in functional states of said system units, said control circuits means having a plurality of outputs and switching circuit means connected to said plurality of outputs and having means responsive to outputs of said control circuit means for causing a response of said entire data processing system in accordance with the combinations of the changes in functional states at a given time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said switching circuit means includes a start routine circuit means for automatically switching a storage means and a program control means in said system in case of a total breakdown of that system, thus switching said system back into operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said switching circuit means includes storage test routine switching means for placing at least one of the program control units in the ''''simulation of the testing state'''' functional state, if both of the storage units in the system have been placed in the testing state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said switching circuit means includes program control test routine switching means for facilitating data traffic between the program control and the storage in said system, when program control means in the system have been placed in a testing state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said switching circuit means includes fault interrupt switching means for, in the case of presence of error signals from the output of said control circuit means, which do not cause initiation of other portions of said switching circuit means, causing a program interruption of the program control means of said data processing system and thereby causing a response of said system in correspondence with the combination of functional states of said individual system units at the given time.
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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) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |