US3898373A — Data communication system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 136 words

In a data communication system comprising a central communication processing unit and a plurality of remote stations separated from said central communication processing unit, the improvement comprising: only a single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line coupling said central communication processing unit with at least a number of said plurality of remote stations for handling all data communications originating at said central communication processing unit and directed to said remote stations, and for handling all data communications originating at said remote stations and directed to said central communications processing unit; said remote stations being coupled to said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line in daisy chain configuration, and; said central processing unit and at least one of said remote stations including means for transmitting combined data and clock information over said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 136 words

In a data communication system comprising a central communication processing unit and a plurality of remote stations separated from said central communication processing unit, the improvement comprising: only a single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line coupling said central communication processing unit with at least a number of said plurality of remote stations for handling all data communications originating at said central communication processing unit and directed to said remote stations, and for handling all data communications originating at said remote stations and directed to said central communications processing unit; said remote stations being coupled to said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line in daisy chain configuration, and; said central processing unit and at least one of said remote stations including means for transmitting combined data and clock information over said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1 said improvement further comprising: an interface network for coupling said central communication processing unit to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 52 words

In a data communication system as in claim 2, said improvement further comprising: an output section in said interface network coupled between said central communication processing unit and said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for transmitting signals from said central communication processing unit over said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

In a data communication system as in claim 2 said improvement further comprising: an input section in said interface network coupled between said central communication processing unit and said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for transmitting signals from said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line to said central communication processing unit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 79 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: input means in said central communication processing unit coupled to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for receiving data signals from said line, output means coupled to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for transmitting data signals over said line; and, control means coupled between said input means and said output means for preventing simultaneous operation of said input means and said output means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: transaction detector means coupled to said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line for preparing said central communication processing unit to receive data signals transmitted over said line.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: means for polling said plurality of remote stations in a predetermined sequence.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: all of said plurality of remote stations arranged to have simultaneous access to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: means for enabling said remote stations to communicate with said central communication processing unit over said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line on a real time basis.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: means for distinguishing each remote station of said plurality of remote stations by a characteristic address code.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 48 words

In a data communiCation system as in claim 1, said improvement comprising: remote unit means in each of said remote stations coupled to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for receiving and transmitting data signals over said line; and, utilization means coupled to said remote unit means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: transaction detector means in each of said remote stations coupled to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for preparing said remote station to receive data signals transmitted over said line.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: storage means in each remote station for storing an address code; and, means for re-transmitting said address code with all data transmissions thus preventing interference with other remote stations coupled to said line.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1 said improvement futher comprising: a plurality of different types of utilization devices of at said remote stations.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: means for selectively connecting said disconnecting each of said remote stations from said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: a laser beam forming at least a portion of said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: branching means coupled to said single, bidirection, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

In a data communication system as in claim 17, said improvement further comprising: means included in said branching means for coupling a plurality of branches to said single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

In a data communication system as in claim 18, said improvement further comprising: retransmitting logic in said branching means for maintaining communication flow in a particular direction.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

In a data communication system in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: means included in said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for minimizing its external field and susceptibility to external fields from other sources.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: a length of coaxial cable forming said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement comprising: a hybrid line forming said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 50 words

In a data communication system as in claim 1, said improvement further comprising: a programmable digital computer as said central communication processing unit and input-output interface means coupled between said programmable digital computer and said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for transferring signals between said line and said computer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 59 words

In a data communication system as in claim 23, said improvement further comprising: input means and output means included in said remote stations and coupled to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line for transferring signals between said line and said remote stations; and, storage means coupled to said input and output means for storing input and output signals.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 40 words

In a data communication system as in claim 24, said improvement further comprising: each of said remote stations designated by a characteristic address code, and each remote station including means for transmitting said characteristic address code with all signal transmissions.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

In a data communication system as in claim 25, said improvement further comprising: a plurality of different types of utilization deviceS in said remote stations.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

In a data communication system as in claim 24, said improvement further comprising: means for selectively coupling said remote stations to said single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 100 words

In a data communication system comprising: a central station and a plurality of remote stations the improvement comprising: only a single coaxial cable linking said central station with at least a number of said plurality of remote stations for handling all data communications originating at said central station and directed to said remote stations, and for handling all data communications originating at said remote stations and directed to said central stations, and wherein said remote stations are coupled to said coaxial cable in daisly chain configuration; and, means for transmitting data in a self-clocking format over said single coaxial cable.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 100 words

In a data communication system comprising: a central station and a plurality of remote stations the improvement comprising: only a single coaxial cable linking said central station with at least a number of said plurality of remote stations for handling all data communications originating at said central station and directed to said remote stations, and for handling all data communications originating at said remote stations and directed to said central stations, and wherein said remote stations are coupled to said coaxial cable in daisly chain configuration; and, means for transmitting data in a self-clocking format over said single coaxial cable.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

In a data communication system as in claim 28, said improvement further comprising: means for identifying each of said remote stations by a particular address.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

In a data communication system as in claim 20, said improvement further comprising: means in each of said remote stations for transmitting said address with all data transmissions.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 30 words

In a data communication system as in claim 28, said improvement further comprising: branching means in said coaxial cable for interconnecting a plurality of branches of said single coaxial cable.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 35 words

In a data communication system as in claim 31, said improvement further comprising: retransmitting logic in said branching means for preventing simultaneous reception and transmission on any of said branches of said single coaxial cable.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

In a data communication as in claim 28, said improvement further comprising: transaction detector means in each of said remote stations for preparing each of said remote stations to receive signal transmissions.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 53 words

In a data communication system as in claim 28, said improvement further comprising: input means in each of said remote stations coupled to said coaxial cable for receiving signals from said coaxial cable; and, output means coupled to said coaxial cable and to said input means for transmitting signals over said coaxial cable.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 48 words

In a data communication system as in claim 34, said improvement further comprising: storage means in each of said remote stations coupled to said input and output means for storing input and output signals; and, means for designating each of said remote stations by a characteristic address code.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

In a data communication system as in claim 35, said improvement further comprising: means at each remote station for transmitting said characteristic address code with each signal transmission.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 74 words

In a data communication system as in claim 36, said improvement further comprising: a programmable digital computer in said central station, input interface means coupling said programmable digital computer with said coaxial cable for receiving signals from said coaxial cable and applying said signals to said programmable digital computer; and, output interface means coupling said programmable digital computer with said coaxial cable for transmitting signals from said programmable digital computer over said coaxial cable.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 41 words

In a data communication system as in claim 37, said improvement further comprising: means in said central station coupling said input interface means with said output interface means for preventing simultaneous transmission and reception of signals by said programmable digital computer.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 30 words

In a data communication system as in claim 28, said improvement further comprising: means for coupling each of said remote stations to said single coaxial cable in a bridging mode.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 33 words

In a data communication system as in claim 28, said improvement further comprising: means for selectively connecting each of said plurality of remote stations to and disconnecting them from said single coaxial cable.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 27 words

In a data communication system as in claim 28, said improvement further comprising: a plurality of different types of utilization devices at said plurality of remote stations.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 93 words

A data communication system comprising: a central communication processing unit, a plurality of remote stations coupled to said central communication processing unit for exchanging data communication therewith, a single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line providing the only coupling between said central communication processing unit and said plurality of remote stations for handling all signals exchanges between said remote stations and said central processing unit; and, transmitting means included in said central processing unit and in at least one of said remote units for transmitting combined data and clock signals over said communication line.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 93 words

A data communication system comprising: a central communication processing unit, a plurality of remote stations coupled to said central communication processing unit for exchanging data communication therewith, a single, bidirectional, wide bandwidth communication line providing the only coupling between said central communication processing unit and said plurality of remote stations for handling all signals exchanges between said remote stations and said central processing unit; and, transmitting means included in said central processing unit and in at least one of said remote units for transmitting combined data and clock signals over said communication line.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 124 words

In a communication system for handling data transactions of arbitrary length between a central processing unit and a plurality of remote stations, the improvement comprising: transmitting means included in said central processing unit and in at least one of said remote stations for transmitting combined data and clock signals, receiving means included in said central processing unit and in at least one of said remote stations for receiving said combined data and clock signals, said receiving means including means for operating said clock and data signals whereby data and synchronizing signals are applied to said central processing unit and to said remote stations; and, a single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line coupling said transmitting and receiving means and providing the only communication link therebetween.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 124 words

In a communication system for handling data transactions of arbitrary length between a central processing unit and a plurality of remote stations, the improvement comprising: transmitting means included in said central processing unit and in at least one of said remote stations for transmitting combined data and clock signals, receiving means included in said central processing unit and in at least one of said remote stations for receiving said combined data and clock signals, said receiving means including means for operating said clock and data signals whereby data and synchronizing signals are applied to said central processing unit and to said remote stations; and, a single, bidirectional wide bandwidth communication line coupling said transmitting and receiving means and providing the only communication link therebetween.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-08-04	1979-02-03	1979-08-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-08-04	1983-02-03	1983-08-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-08-04	1987-02-03	1987-08-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Data communication system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag