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:
Jun. 25, 1991
Filed:
Jul. 03, 1990
Hal A Thorne, Wendell, NC (US);
Alcatel NA, Hickory, NC (US);
Abstract
A control method and apparatus for an electronic system having a plurality of functional elements, both intelligent and non-intelligent, interconnected by a plurality of time-division multiplexed serial data links, wherein information is normally conveyed in time slots on the data links. Control information is exchanged between the elements by using one or more of said time slots as control channels for all control information. The format of the control information is compatible with both the intelligent elements and non-intelligent elements. The control information format includes a plurality of bits for providing command data, a plurality of address bits, a valid bit to indicate that the information being transmitted is a valid message, an interrupt bit to signal a microprocessor in an intelligent device to interrupt and service the message, and a parity bit for error checking.