The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 20, 1979
Filed:
Mar. 24, 1977
George E Mager, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Frank M Nelson, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Steven L Reid, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Philip Richardson, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Vernon E Rochat, Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Donald S Post, Fairport, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An auxiliary ROM memory system which is hierarchied for providing for the contingency of additional read-only memory control program storage requirements in excess or in lieu of the predetermined ROM memory provided on-board a microprocessor based central processing unit module, and a read-only memory altering capability utilizing programmable read-only memory to expedite the implementation/installation of changes to the ROM bit patterns. The alterable PROM storage comprises bulk PROM memory including a first PROM set that is mutually exclusive as to existing on-board ROM memory for addressably branching to code extensions and/or in-line code insertions, and/or a second PROM set that is mutually inclusive as to existent on-board and contingent ROM memory for decodably addressing large-scale code overlays thereto. In addition, the alterable PROM storage comprises patch PROM for addressing, through multi-leveled decoding, small-scale code overlays to the on-board and contingent ROM memory for single in-line bit pattern alterations. Conflicting memory requests involving addresses recognized by more than one of the supra memory categories, when enabled, are presented to a predetermined hierarchy of memory precedences for resolution thereof. Each of the enumerated memory categories of the auxiliary ROM memory system may be operative to have its population incremented or decremented without invalidating the above hierarchy of addressing.