GB2177824A - Computer peripheral controller system - Google Patents

Computer peripheral controller system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2177824A
GB2177824A GB08516783A GB8516783A GB2177824A GB 2177824 A GB2177824 A GB 2177824A GB 08516783 A GB08516783 A GB 08516783A GB 8516783 A GB8516783 A GB 8516783A GB 2177824 A GB2177824 A GB 2177824A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
computer
local
hub unit
peripheral controller
unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08516783A
Other versions
GB8516783D0 (en
Inventor
Andrew John Bell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DIRECTOR COMPUTER PRODUCTS LIM
FIRSTQUAD Ltd
Original Assignee
DIRECTOR COMPUTER PRODUCTS LIM
FIRSTQUAD Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DIRECTOR COMPUTER PRODUCTS LIM, FIRSTQUAD Ltd filed Critical DIRECTOR COMPUTER PRODUCTS LIM
Priority to GB08516783A priority Critical patent/GB2177824A/en
Publication of GB8516783D0 publication Critical patent/GB8516783D0/en
Publication of GB2177824A publication Critical patent/GB2177824A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1284—Local printer device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
    • G06F13/38—Information transfer, e.g. on bus
    • G06F13/40—Bus structure
    • G06F13/4004—Coupling between buses
    • G06F13/4022—Coupling between buses using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1236—Connection management

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Computer And Data Communications (AREA)

Abstract

A computer peripheral controller system comprises a hub unit 10 to which a plurality of computer peripherals 12, 12 are connected, and a plurality of local units 16, one for each computer 18 to use the system. The local units 16 are connected to the hub unit 10 over individual communication lines 20 which serve to pass data from the respective computers to the hub unit and vice-versa. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Computer peripheral controller system This invention relates to a system for controlling the use of computer peripherals which are shared by a number of user's computers. The invention is applicable for example for local area networks (LAN's).
The usual configuration hitherto has consisted of a microcomputer connected to a peripheral device, such as a printer, via a multicore cable. If a single printer is to be shared between several computers, the cables must be unplugged and re-connected each time a different computer is to use the printer. An alternative is to use a number of multiway multipole switches but this requires careful manual operation. Our British Patent Application No. 84 19641 describes an arrangement which eases this problem, wherein a scheduler is connected to the computers on the one hand and the peripheral(s) on the other hand and poles the computers in turn to see if any wishes to use the peripheral(s): that arrangement requires the equipment to be identical and localised and for it to be immaterial which peripheral (if more than one ) is to be used in each case.
In accordance with this present invention, there is provided a computer peripheral controller system comprising a hub unit to which a plurality of computer peripherals are or may be connected, and a plurality of local units, one for each computer to use the system, the local units being connectable to the hub unit over individual communication lines and serving to pass data from the respective computers to the hub unit and vice-versa.
The local units may comprise small boxes which can be placed adjacent the respective computers which are intended to use the system. Preferably each local unit takes input from the user's computer and various switches located on it, and converts this into packets of data which are sent to the hub unit. In return, the hub unit transmits, and the local unit receives, packets containing data for the user's computer and also status and control information. The local unit preferably includes indicators (e.g. LED's) for showing the status of the various peripherals (e.g. printers or plotters) connected to the hub unit. Also, the local unit may include a selector switch to determine which peripheral its user's computer is to employ.Conveniently, all of the information (including data, status and selector switch information) are transmitted over the same wires between each local unit and the hub unit and typically a 3-wire circuit (transmit, receive and ground) will link the hub to each local unit.
An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a schematic block diagram of a controller system in accordance with this invention.
The example of computer peripheral controller system which is shown comprises a hub unit 10 having two outputs O/P 1 and O/P 2 connected to two printers 12, and eight inputs I/P 1 -l/P8 connected over the respective communication lines to respective local units 16 serving user's microcomputers 18. However in general the hub unit may have any number of peripheral outputs and any number of "local" inputs.
Each local unit 16 is placed adjacent the user's computer and includes a panel (shown diagrammatically at 17) which has LED's 19 to indicate the status of the various peripherals, and a selector switch 21 for selecting which peripheral the user desires to employ: alternatively the choice of peripheral may be left to the controller system.
Each local unit incorporates a computer system serving to take input from the associated user's microcomputer and from the selector switch 21, and converts this into packets of data for transmission to the hub unit over the communication line 20 (which is shown diagrammatically as including any required communication equipment at 22, 23). The hub unit transmits packets containing data, status and control information and the local unit receiving these passes them to the user's computer 18 or to the LED's as appropriate. Data input to the local unit, from the user's computer, may be via a parallel or serial interface: if serial, flow control may be achieved by hardware or by a conventional "soft" protocol (e.g.
XON/XOFF), whilst if parallel a flow control arrangement will in any event be implicit.
The hub unit incorporates its own computer system for accepting packets of data from the various local units over the respective communications links, and for transmitting packets of data back to the local units. The hub unit system further serves to pass data to the selected peripherals: the interfaces to the peripherals may be serial or parallel and if serial, either hardware control or a conventional "soft" protocol (again e.g. XON/XOFF) used to control flow, whilst if parallel then flow control will be implicit.
No flow control arrangement is needed for the communication link between each local unit and the hub unit as the "packet" protocol inherently provides the required flow control.
The communication link 20 may comprise 3 wires only (transmit, receive, ground) and all information (whether data, status or control information) is transmitted over the same wires.

Claims (7)

1. A computer peripheral controller system, comprising a hub unit to which a plurality of computer peripherals are or may be con nected, and a plurality of local units, one for each computer to use the system, the local units being connectable to the hub unit over individual communication lines and serving to pass data from the respective computers to the hub unit and vice-versa.
2. A computer peripheral controller system as claimed in claim 1, in which each local unit is arranged to take input from the respective user's computer and from control switches provided on the local unit, and serves to convert this into packets of data which are sent to the hub unit.
3. A computer peripheral controller as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the hub unit is arranged to transmit, and the local units to receive, packets of data for the user's computers and also status and control information.
4. A computer peripheral controller as claimed in claim 3, in which each local unit includes indicators for showing the status of the peripherals connected to the hub unit.
5. A computer peripheral controller as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each local unit includes a selector switch for determining which peripheral its user's computer is to employ.
6. A computer peripheral controller as claimed in any preceding claim, in which all information is transmitted over the same wires between each local unit and the hub unit.
7. A computer peripheral controller system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB08516783A 1985-07-02 1985-07-02 Computer peripheral controller system Withdrawn GB2177824A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08516783A GB2177824A (en) 1985-07-02 1985-07-02 Computer peripheral controller system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08516783A GB2177824A (en) 1985-07-02 1985-07-02 Computer peripheral controller system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8516783D0 GB8516783D0 (en) 1985-08-07
GB2177824A true GB2177824A (en) 1987-01-28

Family

ID=10581699

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08516783A Withdrawn GB2177824A (en) 1985-07-02 1985-07-02 Computer peripheral controller system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2177824A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0588513A2 (en) * 1992-08-28 1994-03-23 Xerox Corporation Apparatus and method for determining printer option availability and representing conflict resolution in a combination of print job selections
EP0713180A1 (en) * 1994-11-17 1996-05-22 Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG Peripheral unit with enhanced availability
EP1443407A1 (en) * 2001-10-23 2004-08-04 Netac Technology Co., Ltd. A method to add storage feature to computer peripherals and its architecture

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3931615A (en) * 1974-07-22 1976-01-06 Scientific Micro Systems Controller for digital devices
GB1480781A (en) * 1973-08-06 1977-07-27 Siemens Ag Data processing system
GB2011680A (en) * 1977-12-28 1979-07-11 Atex Interconnection unit for multiple data processing systems
GB2013003A (en) * 1978-01-20 1979-08-01 Hitachi Ltd Channel control system for controlling data transfer through a plurality of channels with priority assignment
EP0064759A2 (en) * 1981-05-12 1982-11-17 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and circuit arrangement for the transmission of a request from a processor to a memory module in a multiprocessor system with several memory modules
EP0102278A1 (en) * 1982-08-06 1984-03-07 Maurice Ozil Universal coupling device for the intercommunication of information processing systems and at least one peripheral unit

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1480781A (en) * 1973-08-06 1977-07-27 Siemens Ag Data processing system
US3931615A (en) * 1974-07-22 1976-01-06 Scientific Micro Systems Controller for digital devices
GB2011680A (en) * 1977-12-28 1979-07-11 Atex Interconnection unit for multiple data processing systems
GB2013003A (en) * 1978-01-20 1979-08-01 Hitachi Ltd Channel control system for controlling data transfer through a plurality of channels with priority assignment
EP0064759A2 (en) * 1981-05-12 1982-11-17 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and circuit arrangement for the transmission of a request from a processor to a memory module in a multiprocessor system with several memory modules
EP0102278A1 (en) * 1982-08-06 1984-03-07 Maurice Ozil Universal coupling device for the intercommunication of information processing systems and at least one peripheral unit

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0588513A2 (en) * 1992-08-28 1994-03-23 Xerox Corporation Apparatus and method for determining printer option availability and representing conflict resolution in a combination of print job selections
EP0588513A3 (en) * 1992-08-28 1994-10-26 Xerox Corp Apparatus and method for determining printer option availability and representing conflict resolution in a combination of print job selections.
US5467434A (en) * 1992-08-28 1995-11-14 Xerox Corporation Apparatus and method for determining printer option availability and representing conflict resolution in a combination of print job selections
EP0713180A1 (en) * 1994-11-17 1996-05-22 Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG Peripheral unit with enhanced availability
EP1443407A1 (en) * 2001-10-23 2004-08-04 Netac Technology Co., Ltd. A method to add storage feature to computer peripherals and its architecture
EP1443407A4 (en) * 2001-10-23 2007-10-03 Netac Technology Co Ltd A method to add storage feature to computer peripherals and its architecture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8516783D0 (en) 1985-08-07

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