DE2906637A1 - COMPUTER SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

BLUMBACH - WESER. BERGEN. CHANDLER

ZWiRNER - BREHM ο one co τ

i Ό UD υ O I

PATENT LAWYERS IN MUNICH AND WIESBADEN

I /.

Patentconsult Radeckestrasse 43 8000 Miinciien 60 Telephone (089) 883003/883604 Telex 05-212313 Telegrams Patentconsult Patenlconsult Sonnenberger Straße 43 6200 Wiesbaden Telephone (06121) 562943/561998 Telex 04-186237 Telegrams Patentconsult

Integrated Data Corporation

Fairview Road

Costa Mesa, California / USA

Computer system

The invention relates to a computer system with a microprocessor, at least one input and one Output device and at least one programmable memory.

The closest prior art to the invention is illustrated by US Pat. No. 3,937,925. There will a. Terminal for business processes described, the one Has microprocessor control and is connected to a central processor via a communication channel. In particular, the cited prior art is directed to terminals for use in banks that operate through

be
Credit cards / can be made, cash withdrawals, confirmations of deposits, etc. The functioning of the message channel and the associated equipment (modem, automatic dialer, etc.) is not described in the patent

909835/0710

Munich: R. Kramer Dipl.-Ing. · W. Weser Dipl.-Phys. Dr. rer. nat. · H. P. Brehm Dipl.-Chem. Dr. phil. nat. Wiesbaden: P.G. Blumbach Dipl.-Ing. · P. Bergen Dipl.-Ing. Dr. jur. · G. Zwirner Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.-W.-Ing.

explained. It is also necessary, when entering data using a credit card, that a has special magnetic coding.

The invention has set itself the task of an improved To create computer system. In order to achieve the object, the invention is based on a system as described at the outset mentioned type and is characterized by an input / output device on electrically influenceable paper can write and read from this paper.

Further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The computer system according to the invention can also input data from a keypad, a cassette memory, a disk storage as well as from a central processor, but especially data that is stored in in digital form (including a barcode) are written on electrically influenceable paper. The connection of such a paper for the input of data into a computer has not yet been considered "The same applies to the circuit arrangements that the computer system according to the invention the possibility to decipher the data written on the electrically influenceable paper.

90 9835/0718

The control devices for actuating the various input / output devices, including the reading / printing device, a screen, keypad and cassette memory are also new. When two reading printing devices work together, with one device reading data and the other device writing data, Facsimile operation can be realized. It can also be provided that several reading / printing devices operate as a printer under the control of a single reader or other input device.

It is provided in a further development of the invention that the microprocessor is equipped with an automatic selection device and, if necessary, additionally cooperates with a packet switching network in order to forward data or to recieve.

Additional sensors can be connected to the computer system, for example fire alarms, burglar alarms, Power failure detection sensors and similar devices.

The invention is described below with reference to the drawings. It divides:

909835/0718

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two different representations of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG shows a block diagram of the system; and FIG. 2 shows a block diagram for the function control of the system.

According to FIG. 2, an information bus 11 connects one Microprocessor 1o with a subsystem 1oa for support of the processor, an input-output port 38, one or more external sensors 22, a Operator subsystem 31, an automatic selector 42, a UART unit A4 (universal, asynchronous Transceiver of universal asynchronous receiver transmitter, a modem 46, a DEAA unit 48, a Telephone connection line 5o, a central office, a packet switching network 54, another central office 56 and a higher-level central processor 58. Between the microprocessor 1o and the listed devices and An interface logic circuit 37, 37A, 37B, 37C is placed in each subsystem.

A good illustration of a support system for a processor used in connection with the present invention can be used, can be found in US Pat. No. 3,937,925, in particular in column 6, line 19 to column 8, line 12 and FIGS. 2 and 3.

909835/0718

The interface logic circuits 37, 37A, 37B, 37C contain standard circuits that are in each subsystem find again. This includes a bus interface logic, data lines, command decoders and regicter, a general status register (possibly eight status registers), control logic and an output gate for the Status register.

Similarly, modem 46 is the DEAA unit 48, the UART unit 44, the automatic selector 42, the packet switched network and the telephone lines known components that can be used in the usual form. Amendments made for operation in connection with the present system are required can be carried out by a person skilled in the art.

The external sensors 22, here as sensors 24 for fire alarms, 26 for unauthorized entry, 28 for smoke development and 3o are shown for power failure, can also be commercially available devices.

The higher-level central processor 58 can be a commercial

be a common central processor of any size.

The input / output device or terminal 38 is a reading / printing device, the subject one at a time

909835/0718

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application filed by the same applicant. This device writes on electrically influenceable paper or reads from such paper, which is in schema Shape is shown as block 4o in FIG. It is a multi-layer arrangement with at least two layers having contrasting electrical conductivity and color, the upper layer is electrically evaporable. The reading / printing device has one or more scanning pens, which, depending on their excitement, the upper layer either. vaporize or change electrical properties sense that occur in a previously selectively evaporated layer.

With a combination of the novel reading / printing device 48 and the paper material 4o with a central processor Surprisingly, the result is a fully functional computer system with extremely low costs. In previously known devices there was always a separate reading device for previously described material as well a printer is required to print a hard copy of the To receive plant. Such printers are relatively expensive, for example with a useful printing speed about DM 1iooo, ~. Readers that support the Paper output by such a printer can cost about the same amount once so that Costs of around DM 2,000 for the combination result.

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2306637

A buffer and an interface are required for each device, which means additional work. About that In addition, the two devices together take up more space, require more power and a little greater programming effort than a single device.

Because the electrically influenceable material can store information, both by machine and by Can be read by humans, it can form part of the memory for the computer system.

Due to the message channel and in particular the automatic dialer 42, the external sensors, if they detect a condition that requires human intervention, via the microprocessor 1o and a telephone connection via a terminal with a human being, which then uses the microprocessor to query and determine which measures need to be taken. The microprocessor 1o can also do so programmed to call for help directly, for example from the police or fire brigade.

Typically there is one for such alarm systems leased telephone line or another independent one Message channel required. According to the present invention, by the automatic selector 42

909835/0718

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land given the microprocessor 1o the possibility that a remote sensor works much cheaper than previously thought possible.

The Pakteveriaittlungsnetzwerk 34 gives the microprocessor 1o the option of communicating with a further computer 58 very low cost to connect. With the help of the automatic selector 42, the microprocessor 1o address the central computer 58 at night, so that then automatically the required information with very can be replaced at low cost and without the involvement of an operator.

According to FIG. 1, the reading / printing device 38 is via the Control device 36 and the interface 37 are connected to the microprocessor 1o. The controller 36 may be a Console with wired components or implemented by a program by means of the microprocessor 1o will. The interface 37 can be a circuit arrangement (PIO) with parallel input and parallel output as well an analog-to-digital converter and a device for Parallel serial conversion to v / iron.

The display unit (CRT) 33 is connected to the microprocessor 1o via a CRT control unit 34.

90 9835/071 «

With the microprocessor 1o is a read-only memory (ROM) 17 connected in a plug-in design. It can be ' this also involves a programmed read-only memory (PROM) that has additional storage capacity. The memory 17 can contain one or more programs for controlling the system.

909835/0718

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Claims (10)

BLUMBACH. WESER. BERGEN · KRAMER ZWIRNER. BREHM PATENT LAWYERS IN MUNICH AND WIESBADEN Patentconsult Radeckestraße 43 8000 Munich 60 Telephone (089) 883603/883604 Telex 05-212313 Telegrams Patentconsult Patentconsult Sonnenberger Straße 43 6200 Wiesbaden Telephone (06121) 562943/561998 Telex 04-186237 Telegrams Patentconsult Claims τ) computer system with a microprocessor, at least one input and one output device and at least one programmable memory,
characterized by an input / output device (38) which can write on electrically influenceable paper (4o) and read from this paper. 2) system according to claim 1,
characterized in that the system is connected to a central processor (58) via a communication channel. 3) system according to claim 2,
characterized in that the communication channel contains a packet switching device (54) and an automatic dialing device (42). 909835/0718 Munich: R. Kramer Dipl.-Ing. · W. Weser Dipl.-Phys. Or. Rar. na.t .. H. P. Bretirn Dipl.-Chem. Or. Phil. nat. Wiesbaden: P. G. Blumbach Dipl.-Ing. · P. Bergen Dipl.-Ing. Doctor of Law · Θ. Zwirner Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.-W.-lng. 4) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that at least one external sensor (24-3o) is connected to the microprocessor (io) via an information bus is. 5) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the electrically influenceable paper information in machine-readable form for input into the computer system contains in stored form. 6) system according to claim 3,
characterized in that the automatic dialing device (42) is connected to the microprocessor (io) in such a way that the microprocessor can be automatically connected to another device via a telephone line. 7) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that a reading device as an input / output device, the electrical properties of the electrically influenceable Paper and generates digitally encoded data for input to the microprocessor. 909835/0718 8) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the microprocessor is implemented on a single semiconductor die and at least one external Includes memory. 9) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that as input devices a keypad, a screen device with a cathode ray tube, a tape cassette, a smoke detector, a disk memory, a fire alarm, a power failure alarm, a temperature alarm or a Magnetic bubble memory is provided. 10) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that as input / output device a read / print device is provided that write under the control of a control device on the electrically influenceable paper can. 909835/0718