Switching system for use with computer data loop terminals and method of operating same

Claim 2

A switching system for use with a plurality of data terminals connected in series in a loop, the ends of which are connected to a first computer or the like so that said first computer communicates with said data terminals, said system comprising a plurality of switching means each having at least an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal; said loop being arranged in a plurality of subloops respectively corresponding to said plurality of data terminals where the data terminals are respectively disposed at the ends of said subloops remote from said first computer and the other ends of said subloops are disposed at a single location and where each subloop includes at least one input wire extending from said single location to the input of the data terminal associated with the subloop and at least one output wire extending from the output of said associated data terminal to said single location; means for operating each said switching means from a first position to a second position or vice versa; said plurality of switching means being disposed at said single location and associated with said plurality of subloops so that for each subloop there is a first and second of said switching means where the first switching means is associated with the input wire for the subloop and the second switching means is associated with the output wire for the subloop so that in response to each switching means being in its said first position, the input terminals thereof are respectively connected to their associated first output terminals and in response to each switchimg means being in its said second position the said last-mentioned input terminals are respectively connected to their associated second output terminals; the first output terminal of each first switching means being connected to the input wire of its associated subloop and the first output terminal of each second switching means being connected to the output wire of its associated subloop so that the data terminal of the subloop is connected into said loop in response to its associated switching means being in its said first position; the input terminal of each first switching means being connected to the input terminal of the second switching means associated with the subloop immediately prior to the subloop containing said last mentioned first switching means to complete the connection from subloop to thereby form said loop; a shorting wire connected from the second output terminal of each first switching means to the input terminal of each second switching means so that any data terminal and its associated input and output wires may be simultaneously removed completely from said loop by operating its associated switchimg means to its said second position while substantially at the same time the open circuit introduced in the loop by the removal of the data terminal and its associated input and output wires is shorted out.

Claim 3

A switching system as in claim 1 where said single location is adjacent said first computer.

Claim 4

A switching system as in claim 1 where a plurality of said loops are connected to said first computer, said system including a second computer and a plurality of further switching means respectively associated with said plurality of loops for combining said plurality of loops into a combined single loop and for connecting said combined single loop to said second computer whereby upon occurence of an internal fault within the first computer, said further switching means are operated to connect said single combined loop to said second computer and predetermined ones of said switching means associated with the subloops are operated to insert preselected ones of said data terminals into said single combined loop.

Claim 5

A switching system as in claim 3 where said first computer generates a first alarm signal upon the occurrence of a fault internal thereto, said system including means responsive to said first alarm signal for automatically operating said further switching means so that said plurality of loops are combined into said single combined loop and connected to said second computer.

Claim 6

A switching system as in claim 1 where a plurality of said loops are connected to said first computer, said system including a second computer and a plurality of further switching means respectively associated with said plurality of loops so that two of said further switching means are connected into each loop, one at the beginning of the loop and the other at the end thereof, said further switching means having respective first positions at which said plurality of loops are connected to said first computer and respective second positions at which said plurality of loops are combined into a combined single loop and are connected to said second computer. whereby upon occurrence of an internal fault within the first computer, said further switching means are operated to their respective second positions to connect said single combined loop to said second computer and predetermined ones of said switching means associated with the subloops are operated to insert preselected ones of said data terminals into said single combined loop.

Claim 7

A system as in claim 1 including detecting means for generating an alarm signal when a fault occurs on one of the subloops of said loop and scanning means responsive to said alarm signal for operating said switching means in a predetermined order to their second positions until said one subloop is removed from the loop at which time said detecting means ceases to generate said alarm signal and thereby stop said scanning means to thus automatically locate said one subloop upon which said fault occurs.

Claim 8

A system as in claim 6 where said scanning means operates said switching means in sequential order.

Claim 9

A system as in claim 6 where said scanning means includes means for returning each operated switching means to its first positions if the operation of the switching means does not cause said detecting means to cease generating said second alarm signal.

Claim 10

A system as in claim 6 where said detecting means is connected in said loop.

Claim 11

A system as in claim 6 where said detecting means is included within said first computer.

Claim 12

A system as in claim 1 where said switching means is a multiple pole, multiple throw switch.

Claim 13

A switching system for use with a plurality of data terminals connected in series in a loop, the ends of which are connected to a first computer or the like so that said first computer communicates with said data terminals, said system comprising a plurality of double throw switching means each having at least a first pole and a second pole; said loop being arranged in a plurality of subloops respectively corresponding to said plurality of data terminals where the data terminals are respectively disposed at the ends of said subloops remote from said first computer and the other ends of said subloops are disposed at a single location and where each subloop includes at least one input wire extending from said single location to the input of the data terminal associated with the subloop and at least one output wire extending from the output of said associated data terminal to said single location; means for operating each said switching means from a first position to a second position or vice versa; said plurality of switching means being disposed at said single location and respectively associated with said plurality of subloops so that for each subloop, the first pole of the switching means associated with the subloop is associated with the input wire for the subloop and the second pole thereof is associated with the output wire for the subloop and where each pole has an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal so that in response to each switching means being in its said first position, the input terminals for the first and second poles thereof are respectively connected to their associated first output terminals and in response to the switching means being in its said second position the said last-mentioned input terminals are respectively connected to their associated second output terminals, the first output terminal of each first pole being connected to the input wire of its associated subloop and the first output terminal of each second pole being connected to the output wire of its associated subloop so that the data terminal of the subloop is connected into said loop in response to its associated switching means being in its said first position; the input terminal of each first pole being connected to the input terminal of the second pole of the switching means associated with the subloop immediately prior to the subloop containing said last mentioned first pole to complete the connection from subloop to subloop to thereby form said loop; a shorting wire connected from the second output terminal of each first pole to the input terminal of each second pole so that any data terminal and its associated input and output wires may be simultaneously removed completely from said loop by operating its associated switching means to its said second position while substantially at the same time the open circuit introduced in the loop by the removal of the data terminal and its associated input and output wires is shorted out.

Claim 14

A switching system for use with a plurality of data terminals connected in series in a loop, the ends of which are connected to a first computer or the like so that said first computer communicates with said data terminals, said system comprising a plurality of double throw switching means each having at least a first pole and a second pole; said loop being arranged in a plurality of subloops respectively corresponding to said plurality of data terminals where the data terminals are respectively disposed at the ends of said subloops remote from said first computer and the other ends of said subloops are disposed at a single location and where each subloop includes at least one input wire extending from said single location to the input of the data terminal associated with the subloop and at least one output wire extending from the output of said associated data terminal to said single location; means for operating each said switching means from a first position to a second position or vice versa; said plurality of switching means being disposed at said single location and respectively associated with said plurality of subloops so that for each subloop, the first pole of the switching means associated with the subloop is associated with the input wire for the subloop and the second pole thereof is associated with the output wire for the subloop and where each pole has an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal so that in response to each switching means being in its said first position, the input terminals for the first and second poles thereof are respectively connected to their associated first output terminals and in response to the switching means being in its said second position the said last-mentioned input terminals are respectively connected to their associated second output terminals, the first output terminal of each first pole being connected to the input wire of its associated subloop and the first output terminal of each second pole being connected to the output wire of its associated subloop so that the data terminal of the subloop is connected into said loop in response to its associated switching means being in its said first position; the input terminal of each first pole being connected to the input terminal of the second pole of the switching means associated with the subloop immediately prior to the subloop containing said last mentioned first pole to complete the connection from subloop to subloop to thereby form said loop; a shorting wire connected from the second output terminal of each first pole to the input terminal of each second pole so that any data terminal and its associated input and output wires may be simultaneously removed completely from said loop by operating its associated switching means to its said second position while substantially at the same time the open circuit introduced in the loop by the removal of the data terminal and its associated input and output wires is shorted out.

Claim 17

A method as in claim 13 where said switching means are operated in sequential order.

Claim 18

A method as in claim 13 where all the switching means are operated to their second positions without returning them to their first positions until the faulty loop is located, at which time all of the operated switching means are returned to their first positions except the one associated with the faulty subloop.

Claim 19

A method as in claim 13 where each switching means is operated to its second position to determine if its associated subloop is faulty and returned to its first position if the subloop is not faulty prior to operating the next switching means to its second position.

Claim 20

A switching system for use with a plurality of data terminals connected in series in a loop, the ends of which are connected to a computer so that said computer communicates with said data terminals where said loop includes a pair of wires for communicating data to and from the terminals, said system comprising a plurality of four pole, double throw switching means where each pole includes an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal; said loop being arranged in a plurality of subloops respectively corresponding to said plurality of data terminals, where the data terminals are respectively disposed at the ends of said subloops remote from said computer and the other ends of said subloops are disposed at a single location; a plurality of switching means being disposed at said single location and respectively associated with said plurality of subloops so that the input terminal for the first pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the third pole of the prior switching means except the input terminal for the first pole of the first switching means on the loop is connected to a first wire of said pair of wires from said computer; the first output terminal for said first pole of each switching means being connected to said first of said pair of wires to the data terminal associated with the switching means; the second output terminal of said first pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the first pole of the following switching means except the second output terminal for the first pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to said first wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the input terminals for the second pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the fourth pole of the prior switching means except the input terminal for the second pole of the first switching means on the loop is connected to the second wire of said pair of wires from said computer; the first output terminal for said second pole of each switching means being connected to said second of said pair of wires to the data terminal associated with the switching means; the second output terminal of said second pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the second pole of the following switching means except the second output terminal for the second pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to said second wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the input terminal for the third pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the first pole of the following switching means except the input terminal for the third pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to the first wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the first output terminal for said third pole of each switching means being connected to a first of said pair of wires from the data terminal associated with the switching means; the input terminal for the fourth pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the second pole of the following switching means except the input terminal for the fourth pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to the second wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the first output terminal for said fourth pole of each switching means being connected to the second of said pair of wires from the data terminal associated with the switching means; and means for switching each said switching means to thereby connect the input terminal of each pole to (a) its first output terminal when the switching means is in a first position and (b) to the second output terminal when in a second position so that whenever one of said plurality of switching means is positioned in its first position, the data terminal associated with said one switching means is connected in circuit in said loop while whenever said one switching means is switched to its second position, said last-mentioned data terminal and its associated input and output wires are immediately switched completely out of said loop while substantially simultaneously the open circuit introduced in the loop by removing the data terminal and its associated wire is shorted.

Claim 21

A switching system for use with a plurality of data terminals connected in series in a loop, the ends of which are connected to a computer so that said computer communicates with said data terminals where said loop includes a pair of wires for communicating data to and from the terminals, said system comprising a plurality of four pole, double throw switching means where each pole includes an input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal; said loop being arranged in a plurality of subloops respectively corresponding to said plurality of data terminals, where the data terminals are respectively disposed at the ends of said subloops remote from said computer and the other ends of said subloops are disposed at a single location; a plurality of switching means being disposed at said single location and respectively associated with said plurality of subloops so that the input terminal for the first pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the third pole of the prior switching means except the input terminal for the first pole of the first switching means on the loop is connected to a first wire of said pair of wires from said computer; the first output terminal for said first pole of each switching means being connected to said first of said pair of wires to the data terminal associated with the switching means; the second output terminal of said first pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the first pole of the following switching means except the second output terminal for the first pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to said first wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the input terminals for the second pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the fourth pole of the prior switching means except the input terminal for the second pole of the first switching means on the loop is connected to the second wire of said pair of wires from said computer; the first output terminal for said second pole of each switching means being connected to said second of said pair of wires to the data terminal associated with the switching means; the second output terminal of said second pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the second pole of the following switching means except the second output terminal for the second pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to said second wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the input terminal for the third pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the first pole of the following switching means except the input terminal for the third pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to the first wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the first output terminal for said third pole of each switching means being connected to a first of said pair of wires from the data terminal associated with the switching means; the input terminal for the fourth pole of each switching means being connected to the input terminal for the second pole of the following switching means except the input terminal for the fourth pole of the last switching means on the loop is connected to the second wire of said pair of wires to said computer; the first output terminal for said fourth pole of each switching means being connected to the second of said pair of wires from the data terminal associated with the switching means; and means for switching each said switching means to thereby connect the input terminal of each pole to (a) its first output terminal when the switching means is in a first position and (b) to the second output terminal when in a second position so that whenever one of said plurality of switching means is positioned in its first position, the data terminal associated with said one switching means is connected in circuit in said loop while whenever said one switching means is switched to its second position, said last-mentioned data terminal and its associated input and output wires are immediately switched completely out of said loop while substantially simultaneously the open circuit introduced in the loop by removing the data terminal and its associated wire is shorted.