Patent · US Expired

Computer revision port

US4649514A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 1983
Grant dateMar 10, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/385
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Circuitry for automatically configuring the operating system software of a computer is disclosed. The circuitry includes a revision port which generates a unique eight-bit code indicating the latest revision level of the main circuit board in the computer. Each time revisions are made in the board during manufacturing or each time a circuit board containing new revisions is put into the system by maintenance or service personnel, the eight-bit code generated by the port is changed. During the process of configuring the operating system software, the central processing unit reads the code generated by the port and uses the revision information to load and link software routines which will operate properly with the revised circuitry.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.