Pitney Bowes Inc.

Terrance L Lillie

Robert A Couper

John K Frediani

Richard E Johnson

Kiyoshi Sera

A data processing system including a method and apparatus for controlling software configurations. A plurality of software programs and routines are stored in a mass storage device. Which software accessed by the system is controlled by non-volatile information stored in the system. The system also includes a portable media storage device, such as a floppy disk drive, and fixed information which loads a preselected portion of the portable media into the system. Two portable media are also provided. The preselected portion of the first portable media contains a bootstrap program which loads an operating system into the system. The preselected portion of the second portable media contains a program for altering the non-volatile information stored in the system so as to change the software configuration which may be accessed by the system. The program then erases the preselected portion of the second portable media after execution. In a preferred embodiment, the program also includes a counter containing a preselected number which is decremented after each time the program is executed and the program does not erase the preselected region until the counter reaches zero.

Method and apparatus for controlling software configurations in data

A circuit for controlling attributes of a plurality of characters on a display. The circuit has a processor for controlling transfer of data associated with characters to be displayed and a communications device connected to the processor. A display controller is also provided for controlling the display of characters. An external controller is connected to the communications device and to the display controller for providing attributes corresponding to the displayed characters. The external controller also has provision for controlling the display of a set of characters in addition to the set normally controlled by the display controller.

External attribute logic for use in a word processing system

A local network interface is used in a network for enabling each of a plurality of data processing stations to communicate with one another via a communications medium. The local network interface is connected between the communications medium and the data processing stations. The local network interface includes a processor, a direct memory access (DMA) controller connected to the processor, means for controlling communications connected between the communications medium and the processor, and memory means which is connected to the processor, to the means for controlling communications, and to the DMA controller. Data residing in the memory means may be accessed for transmission to, and may be updated from, the communications medium via the local network interface.

Local network interface with control processor & DMA controller for

A cursor control system provided for word processing apparatus of the type having a keyboard for entering alphanumeric data and including two displays. A first display displays a plurality of lines of text. A first display control circuit is coupled between the keyboard and first display and includes a first cursor control circuit for causing visual marking of a predetermined number of characters to be exhibited on the first display. The cursor control circuit is actuated by the keyboard. A second display control circuit includes a second cursor control circuit for causing visual marking on the second display of those marked characters on the first display which are also exhibited on the second display.

Cursor control circuit for plural displays for use in a word processing

An attribute control system is provided in a word processing system of the type having a keyboard for entering alpha numeric data. A display control circuit is coupled between a display, which displays a plurality of lines of alpha numeric text, and the keyboard. The display control circuit controls the information exhibited on the display. The display control circuit means includes a character attribute control circuit having a latch for latching attribute signal information entered from the keyboard. The attribute signal information remains in the latch until the attribute latch is cleared or another attribute signal is entered from the keyboard.

Circuit for controlling character attributes in a word processing system

A data processing system embodying the present invention includes a plurality of data processing stations. Each station includes a first communications interface connected to a common communication channel and a second communications interface for communicating with one or more associated controlled units. Each station also includes a processor and a memory; the processor and the interfaces being operatively connected to the memory, so that each may access the memory, and to a contention resolving circuit for resolving memory access conflicts. The system also includes a first controlled unit comprising a mass storage device and a controlled unit communications interface connected to the second communications interface of a first one of the plurality of processors; a second controlled unit comprising a keyboard for entering data and a first, single line, display for displaying data and a controlled unit communications interface connected to the second communications interface of a second of the plurality of processors; and a third controlled unit comprising a second, multi-line, display for displaying data and a controlled unit communications interface connected to the second communications interface of a third of a plurality of processors.

Word processing system employing a plurality of general purpose

A circuit for controlling information on a display includes two character generators. Each character generator is coupled to a row counter and a character latch which latches character information. The row counter is energized by line synchronization information. A width generator is coupled to both the character latch and a counter. Two shift registers are connected respectively to the first and second character generators and to a means for generating output signals for application to the display. The counter coupled to the width generator has its output signals applied to the character latch and to the output signal generating means for the display.

Circuit for controlling information on a display

A communications system includes a plurality of data processing stations each having a first communications means connected to a common communications channel. Each of the data processing stations also includes a second communications means adapted to be connected to one or more associated units. Each station includes a contention resolving circuit connected to a processing means, the first communications means and the second communications means. The contention resolving circuit is further coupled to and controls access to a memory for the data processing station. Controlled units such as mass storage data entry and retrieval means and a keyboard for entering alpha numeric data information, each having a controlled unit communications means are provided. These units are connected by their associated communications means to the second communications means of respective ones of the plurality of data processing stations.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Terrance L Lillie