International Business Machines Corporation

Jean-Pierre Sanche

Jean L Calvignac

Bernard Brezzo

Richard Dambricourt

Andre Masclet

A line scanning device which operates under the control of a microprocessor connected to a control memory in which a memory location area is assigned to each line is provided for a line adapter in a communication controller for receiving or sending message bits in series from or to terminals connected to the lines using any protocols. It comprises a first store which includes a first and a second memories, an area being assigned to each line in each of the memories which can be read and written in the same time and a second store which includes a single memory in which a storage location area is assigned to each line. These stores are addressed by a control and address unit which includes first and second address counters under the control of an elementary time counter, the first counter outputting the address information relating to the first store during time t provided for scanning a line, and the second counter outputting the address information relative to the second store during time nt, n being at least equal to 4, and control circuitry receiving said address information and the elementary time information for providing at the outputs of the control and address unit, memory address and read/write control information at times selected during the scanning period and sequentially, the addresses of the present lines which are scanned.

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Antibes, France

Jean-Pierre Sanche