Point-of-sale system and distributed computer network for same
US6272529A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07G1/12
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A distributed computer network is disclosed for use with a general purpose computer having a communications port and capable of running applications software for controlling the network. The distributed computer network includes a master controller having first and second communications ports, the first communications port of the master controller for operatively communicating with a general purpose computer. The distributed network further includes one or more input/output controllers, each having a first communications port for operatively communicating with the master controller and a second communications port for serially communicating with one or more peripheral devices. The peripheral devices are connected together in a serial daisy chain configuration. The master controller communicates with the input/output controllers via a multidrop RS-485 network bus. The master controller also communicates with the general purpose computer via a RS-232 serial bus, so that the master controller performs protocol management functions including conversion between RS-232 and RS-485 protocol, error correction and detection, bus arbitration and data buffering. In one embodiment, the present …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.