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:
Jul. 11, 1989
Filed:
Jun. 08, 1987
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
In a microcomputer system, having independently programmed tasks and a master control processing unit (CPU), tasks can be switched independent of the master CPU through the use of a multi-task support processor which may, for example, be connected to the microcomputer system via an input/output (I/O) port. The multi-task support processor includes a memory for storing task control programs, a data memory and task control memory, a timer, a controller for controlling multi-task operations, and a master CPU interface element. Tasks including task control commands are stored in a memory for execution by the master CPU. The master CPU, upon encountering a task control command, sends that command to the multi-task support processor which becomes activated to control the switching and communications between the tasks under the direction of the received task control command, so that tasking control may be performed independent of the master CPU.