Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A protocol system for a data processing system comprising: a communication bus; and, at least first and second remote stations connected to said communication bus, each remote station comprising: receive means for receiving messages transmitted on said communication bus, receive interrupt means for generating a receive interrupt for each message received on said communication bus, quiet interrupt means for generating a quiet interrupt whenever data is not on said communication bus for a predetermined length of time, and calculation means responsive to said receive and quiet interrupts for calculating the time slot during which said remote station can transmit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A protocol system for a data processing system comprising: a communication bus; and, at least first and second remote stations connected to said communication bus, each remote station comprising: receive means for receiving messages transmitted on said communication bus, receive interrupt means for generating a receive interrupt for each message received on said communication bus, quiet interrupt means for generating a quiet interrupt whenever data is not on said communication bus for a predetermined length of time, and calculation means responsive to said receive and quiet interrupts for calculating the time slot during which said remote station can transmit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The protocol system of claim 1 wherein said quiet interrupt means comprises a timer providing said quiet interrupt whenever data is not on said communication bus for a predetermined length of time, said timer being reset if data is received prior to expiration of said predetermined length of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The protocol system of claim 2 wherein each remote station comprises means for transmitting its own address as a sender's address and said calculation means of each remote station comprises means for calculating its time slot from the sender's address of a received message upon receipt of a receive interrupt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protocol system of claim 3 wherein said calculation means comprises a counter for storing said time slot as a count, said count being adjusted by said quiet interrupt toward a predetermined count at which said remote station may transmit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The protocol system of claim 4 wherein each remote station further comprises secondary means for causing said remote station to respond to a direct request message from a sending station in the time slot of said sending station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The protocol system of claim 5 wherein said secondary means comprises a secondary counter, first means for storing a first predetermined count if said station receives said direct request message to which it must respond directly and a second means for storing a second predetermined count if said station receives said direct request message directed to another remote station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The protocol system of claim 6 wherein said first count is closer to a predetermined count than said second count and said first and second counts are adjusted by said quiet interrupt toward said predetermined count which, when reached, permits said remote station to transmit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The protocol system of claim 1 wherein each remote station comprises means for transmitting its own address as a sender's address and said calculation means of each remote station comprises means for calculating its time slot from the sender's address of a received message upon receipt of a receive interrupt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The protocol system of claim 8 wherein said calculation means comprises a counter for storing said time slot as a count, said count being adjusted by said quiet interrupt toward a predetermined count at which said remote station may transmit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The protocol system of claim 9 wherein each remote station further comprises secondary means for causing said remote station to respond to a direct request message from a sending station in the time slot of said sending station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The protocol system of claim 10 wherein said secondary means comprises a secondary counter, first means for storing a first predetermined count if said station receives said direct request message to which it must respond directly and a second means for storing a second predetermined count if said station receives said direct request message directed to another remote station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The protocol system of claim 11 wherein said first count is closer to a predetermined count than said second count and said first and second counts are adjusted by said quiet interrupt toward said predetermined count which, when reached, permits said remote station to transmit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The protocol system of claim 1 wherein each remote station further comprises secondary means for causing said remote station to respond to a direct request message from a sending station in the time slot of said sending station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The protocol system of claim 13 wherein said secondary means comprises a secondary counter, first means for storing a first predetermined count if said station receives said direct request message to which it must respond directly and a second means for storing a second predetermined count if said station receives said direct request message directed to another remote station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The protocol system of claim 14 wherein said first count is closer to a predetermined count than said second count and said first and second counts are adjusted by said quiet interrupt toward said predetermined count which, when reached, permits said remote station to transmit.