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US3840859A
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Method and apparatus for regulating input/output traffic of a data processing system
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1972-07-03
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Granted: 1974-10-08
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Expires: 1992-07-03
Abstract
Abstract In a modular data processing system, the input/output control unit is regulated as to the number of concurrent I/O operations it may accept, to prevent the occurrence of excessive access errors, and to help distribute the system I/O operations among all the input/output control units, when there are more than one. A continual comparison is made between a threshold variable, which defines an I/O control unit''s instantaneous bandpass, and a traffic variable, the traffic variable being derived from the number and types of concurrent I/O operations proceeding on a certain input/output control unit at a given instant. When the traffic variable equals or exceeds the threshold variable for that unit, that input/output control unit is directed not to accept any more I/O operations. By appropriately adjusting the threshold variable for each input/output control unit for a plurality of I/O control units in a data processing system, the I/O operations of the entire system can be optimumly allocated among the input/output control units of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 J Vigil
- 👤 J Wise
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:08
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/14; G06F13/36; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; G06F11/3485; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4004; G06F13/4022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In a data processing system, wherein communication between a plurality of peripheral devices and the central processing system is controlled by a plurality of input/output control multiplexers, some of said peripheral devices being connected to more than one of said input/output control multiplexers, a separate traffic regulator connected to each of said input/output control multiplexers for regulating the flow of data between said system and said peripheral devices through said input/output control multiplexers, said traffic regulator comprising: means, receiving a I/O begin signal, an I/O end signal, and a type of peripheral signal from the input/output control multiplexer said traffic regulator is connected to, for generating an up-count signal or a down-count signal; means responsive to said up-count and down-count signals for generating a traffic variable represented by a binary number that is the instantaneous sum of the binary number within said up count, down-count responsive means and the binary number indicated by said up-count signal and down-count signal; means for receiving and storing a threshold variable represented by a binary number; and means for continuously comparing said traffic variable binary number and said threshold variable binary number and generating a binary signal whenever said traffic variable binary number is equal to or greater than said threshold variable binary number, whereby on indication is given to said input/output control multiplexer that a data transfer operation may not be initiated at this time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a data processing system, wherein communication between a plurality of peripheral devices and the central processing system is controlled by a plurality of input/output control multiplexers, some of said peripheral devices being connected to more than one of said input/output control multiplexers, a separate traffic regulator connected to each of said input/output control multiplexers for regulating the flow of data between said system and said peripheral devices through said input/output control multiplexers, said traffic regulator comprising: means, receiving a I/O begin signal, an I/O end signal, and a type of peripheral signal from the input/output control multiplexer said traffic regulator is connected to, for generating an up-count signal or a down-count signal; means responsive to said up-count and down-count signals for generating a traffic variable represented by a binary number that is the instantaneous sum of the binary number within said up count, down-count responsive means and the binary number indicated by said up-count signal and down-count signal; means for receiving and storing a threshold variable represented by a binary number; and means for continuously comparing said traffic variable binary number and said threshold variable binary number and generating a binary signal whenever said traffic variable binary number is equal to or greater than said threshold variable binary number, whereby on indication is given to said input/output control multiplexer that a data transfer operation may not be initiated at this time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The traffic regulator of claim 1 wherein said up-count, down-count signal generating means generates an upcount signal whenever an I/O begin signal is received, the magnitude of said up-count signal depending on the type of peripheral signal received with said I/O begin signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The traffic regulator of claim 1 wherein said up-count, down-count signal generating means generates a down-count signal whenever an I/O end signal is received, the magnitude of said down-Count signal depending on the type of peripheral signal received with said I/O end signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a data processing system, wherein communication between a plurality of peripheral devices and a central processing system is controlled by a plurality of input/output control multiplexers, a method of regulating the flow of data between said system and said peripheral devices through said input/output control multiplexers by utilizing combinatorial logic operating in combination with traffic counter apparatus and comparison logic, said method comprising: generating a binary up-count or down-count signal in response to receiving an I/O begin signal, an I/O end signal, and a type of peripheral signal from one of said input/output control multiplexers; generating a traffic variable that is the instantaneous sum of previously generated binary up-count signals that are the result of presently active data transfer operations and the binary number indicated by said up-count and down-count signal; determining a threshold variable binary signal indicative of a desired ceiling on said data transfer operation; continuously comparing said traffic variable binary signal and said threshold variable binary signal; and generating a binary signal for inhibiting the institution of further data transfer operations between said system and a peripheral device, through a particular input/output control multiplexer, whenever said traffic variable signal becomes equal to or greater than said threshold variable signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a data processing system, wherein communication between a plurality of peripheral devices and a central processing system is controlled by a plurality of input/output control multiplexers, a method of regulating the flow of data between said system and said peripheral devices through said input/output control multiplexers by utilizing combinatorial logic operating in combination with traffic counter apparatus and comparison logic, said method comprising: generating a binary up-count or down-count signal in response to receiving an I/O begin signal, an I/O end signal, and a type of peripheral signal from one of said input/output control multiplexers; generating a traffic variable that is the instantaneous sum of previously generated binary up-count signals that are the result of presently active data transfer operations and the binary number indicated by said up-count and down-count signal; determining a threshold variable binary signal indicative of a desired ceiling on said data transfer operation; continuously comparing said traffic variable binary signal and said threshold variable binary signal; and generating a binary signal for inhibiting the institution of further data transfer operations between said system and a peripheral device, through a particular input/output control multiplexer, whenever said traffic variable signal becomes equal to or greater than said threshold variable signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a data processing system, wherein communication between a plurality of peripheral devices and a central processing system is controlled by a plurality of input/output control multiplexers, some of said peripheral devices being connected to more than one of said input/output control multiplexers, a method of distributing the data transfer operations between said plurality of input/output control multiplexers by utilizing combinatorial logic operating in combination with traffic counter apparatus and comparison logic, said method comprising: for a first input/output control multiplexer, generating a binary up-count signal or a binary down-count signal in response to receiving an I/O begin signal, an I/O end signal and a type of peripheral signal from said first input/output control multiplexer; generating a traffic variable that is the instantaneous sum of previously generated binary up-count signals that are the result of presently on-going data transfer operations and the binary number indicated by said up-count and down-count signal; determining a threshold variable binary signal indicative of a desired ceiling on said data transfer operations for said input/output control multiplexer; continuously comparing said traffic variable binary signal and said threshold variable binary signal; generating a binary signal for inhibiting the institution of further data transfer operations between said system and a peripheral device, through said input/output control multiplexer, whenever said traffic variable signal becomes equal to or greater than said threshold variable signal; and simultaneously carrying out the above steps for each input/output control multiplexer in said data processing system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a data processing system, wherein communication between a plurality of peripheral devices and a central processing system is controlled by a plurality of input/output control multiplexers, some of said peripheral devices being connected to more than one of said input/output control multiplexers, a method of distributing the data transfer operations between said plurality of input/output control multiplexers by utilizing combinatorial logic operating in combination with traffic counter apparatus and comparison logic, said method comprising: for a first input/output control multiplexer, generating a binary up-count signal or a binary down-count signal in response to receiving an I/O begin signal, an I/O end signal and a type of peripheral signal from said first input/output control multiplexer; generating a traffic variable that is the instantaneous sum of previously generated binary up-count signals that are the result of presently on-going data transfer operations and the binary number indicated by said up-count and down-count signal; determining a threshold variable binary signal indicative of a desired ceiling on said data transfer operations for said input/output control multiplexer; continuously comparing said traffic variable binary signal and said threshold variable binary signal; generating a binary signal for inhibiting the institution of further data transfer operations between said system and a peripheral device, through said input/output control multiplexer, whenever said traffic variable signal becomes equal to or greater than said threshold variable signal; and simultaneously carrying out the above steps for each input/output control multiplexer in said data processing system.
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) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |