Channel and control unit having a first I/O program protocol for communication with a main processor and a second universal I/O program protocol for communication with a plurality of I/O adapters
US5165022A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 26, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 26, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F13/122
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system has a universal channel and control unit to interface, with a minimum complexity, to a plurality of different I/O adapters such as a Token Ring adapter or an Ethernet adapter. The system comprises a main processor with main memory, an I/O processor coupled to the main processor by a bus, and a channel program which runs on the I/O processor. The channel program accesses the processor and main memory. The channel program and main processor communicate with a first I/O program protocol. A control unit program also runs on the I/O processor and interfaces the channel program to a plurality of different I/O adapters with a second relatively simple, universal I/O program protocol. Each of the I/O adapters also has a different I/O program protocol than the other I/O adapters and the first I/O protocol, for communication with their respective device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.