0(5
`
`\J \L
`
`U.S. UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION
`PATENT.DATE.
`O.I.P.E.
`
`PATENT NUMBER,
`
`8470399
`
`\\fl
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`54103gg
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`SCANNED L' Li
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`Q.A. i' .
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`OCT 22200!
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`SCTOR CLASS
`
`SUBCLASS
`
`ART UNIT
`
`,
`
`EXAMINER
`
`FICHE
`FILED WITH: D DISK (CRF)
`(Attached in pocket on right inside flap)
`
`'
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`—
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`•
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`ISSUING CLASSIFICT(ON
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`SUBCLASS
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`7/6
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`INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION
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`•
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`IERMINAL '
`DISCLAIMER
`
`DRAWINGS
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`0 Continued on Issue Slip Inside File Jacket
`
`CLAIMS ALLOWED
`Print Claim for O.G.
`
`Sheets Drwg.
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`Figs. Drwg.
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`Print Fig.
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`J
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`Total Claims
`'
`I.—
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`/•__cJ
`7*fJ
`o a) The term of this patent /
`subsequent to
`(fate)
`(
`has been disclaimed.
`
`.
`
`(Assistant Examiner)
`
`.
`
`(Date)
`'
`
`0 b)The term of this patenthalI
`not extend beyond the expIrion date,
`.
`of U.S Patent. No.
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`/
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`-
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`of
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`this patent have been disclaimed.
`
`.
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`THOMAS LEE
`SUPERVISORY PATENT EXAMINER
`ECHNOLOGY CENTER 21O
`
`•— /1--
`j-
`
`(Primary Examiner)
`
`.
`
`,
`
`(Date)
`
`I'
`
`NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED
`
`.
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`'
`
`-
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`.
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`ISSUE FEE
`
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`Amount Due
`
`12O? j (crciZ._
`
`,.
`
`Date Paid
`
`ISSUE BATCH NUMBER
`'
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`.
`
`ii
`
`WARNING:
`The information disclosed hereinmay be restricted. Unauthorized disclosure may be prohibited by the United States Code Title 35, Sections 122 181 and 368.
`and contractors only.
`Possession outside the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office is restricted
`
`-''
`* 1 *
`
`Form P10 436A
`(Rev 6/98)
`
`V.'
`
`•
`
`(LABEL AREA)
`
`001
`
`Apple 1002
`U.S. Pat. 6,470,399
`
`

`
`I
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`•
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`papers.
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`(
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`3.
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`L
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`O93 1002
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`CONTENTS
`Date received
`(mci. C. of M.)
`or
`Date Mailed
`
`INITIALS
`
`,
`
`Date received
`(md. . Of M.)
`or
`Date Mailed
`
`JUL
`
`EL
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`,1
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`___________
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`___________
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`____________
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`___ /
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`(I iPr Cu lTlflF\
`
`002
`
`

`
`PATENT APPLICATION SERIAL NO. ''
`
`/ t
`
`U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`FEE RECORD SHEET
`
`003
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`

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`http://neo:S000/preexamlJavdproxy/jsp/bibdata/transforrnjsp
`
`ZONMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND ThADEMARK OFFIcE
`WkSHING1ON, D.C 20231
`www.uspto,gov
`
`CONFIRMATION NO. 1117
`
`111011111111 1111 III 111111111111111 11111 III 10111 II liii
`Bib Data Sheet
`
`FILING DATE
`06/1 4/1 999
`
`RULE
`
`SERIAL NUMBER
`09/331,002
`
`PPLICANTS
`
`CLASS
`710
`
`-
`
`.
`
`GROUP ART UNIT
`2185
`
`ATTORNEY
`DOCKETNO.
`2055/1 01
`
`MICHAEL TASLER, WURZBURG GERMANY
`
`CONTINUING DATA
`THIS APPLICATION IS A 371 OF PCT/EP98/01 187 03/03/1998
`
`FOREIGN APPLICATIONS ********************
`GERMANY 19708755.8 03/04/1997
`
`U yes U no
`Foreicn PriDrity claimed
`35 usc 119 (a-d) conditions U yes
`no U Met after
`met
`Allowance
`Verifieo and
`\cknowledged
`l22ll1li2Sz1222l
`
`Examiners Signature
`
`Initials
`s1t4535
`
`** SMALL ENTITY **
`
`STATE OR
`
`SHEETS
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`TOTAL NDEPENDEN1
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`GERMANY
`cl3ts23
`
`CLAIMS
`16
`l11lS1iil83tSS&titiItt4
`
`CLAIMS
`3
`
`DDRESS
`24283
`PATTON BOGGS
`P0 BOX 270930
`LOUISVILLE, CO
`80027
`
`..
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`EITLE
`FLEXIBLE INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A HOST AND AN ANALOG I/O DEVICE
`CONNTECTED TO THE INTERFACE REGARDLESS THE TYPE OF THE I/O DEVICE
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`FILING FEE
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`FEES: Authority has been givenin Paper
`No. ________ to charge/credit DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
`No. _________ for following:
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`.
`
`U All Fees
`U 1.16 Fees(Filing)
`U 1.17 Fees (Processing Ext. of
`time)
`_______
`JU 1.18 Fees(Issue)
`
`-
`
`U Credit
`
`lof2
`
`5/22/0211:29AM
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`004
`
`

`
`http://neo:8000!preexam/JavaProxy/jsp/bibdataltransformjsp
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`II
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`UNITED STATES F-AfENT AND ThADEMARKOFFICE
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`COMMISSIONER OR PATEN1S
`UNITED STATES PATEn AND TRADEMARK OPFICE
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`www.uspto.gov
`
`CONFIRMATION NO. 1117
`
`CLASS
`710
`
`GROUP ART UNIT
`2185
`
`20551101
`
`*BIEDATASHEET*
`Bib Data tIeet
`
`FILING DATE
`06/1 4/1 999
`
`RULE
`
`SERIAL NUMBER
`09/331,002
`
`\PPLICANTS
`
`MICHAEL TASLER, WURZBURG, GERMANY;
`
`CONTINUING DATA
`THIS APPLICATION ISA 371 OF PCT/EP98/01 187 03/03/1 998 >(
`
`** FOREIGN APPLICATIONS ********************
`GERMANY 19708755.8 03/04/1997
`
`—
`
`** SMALL ENTITY **
`
`,..
`
`...
`
`ForenPnontyclann:d
`
`ret
`erifieJ and
`ckrlowledged
`
`v/es
`yes 0 no 0 Met after Allowance
`.
`ExamtnerSignature
`
`..
`lntials
`
`STATE OR
`
`SHEETS
`
`TOTAL INDEPENDEN1
`
`COUNTRY DRAWING CLAIMS
`2
`16
`GERMANY
`
`CLAiMS
`3
`
`DDRESS
`24283
`PATTON BOGGS
`P0 BOX 270930
`LOUISVILLE , CO
`
`80027...........,
`
`FLEXiBLE A\ITERFACE
`
`/
`
`,..
`
`FILING FEE FEES: Authority has been given in Paper
`to charge/credit DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
`No.
`RECEIVED No.
`for following:
`
`420..
`
`...
`
`OAllFees
`0 1.16 Fees (Filing)
`[0 1.17 Fees (Processing Ext. of
`tlm
`0 1.18 Fees (Issue)
`
`.
`
`C red it
`
`006
`
`

`
`SERIAL NUMBER
`
`09/331,002
`
`FILING DATE
`
`06/14/99
`
`CLASS
`
`710
`
`GROUP
`
`JNIT
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`2782
`
`2055/101
`
`MICHAEL TASLER, WURBuiG, FED RE? GER1ANY.
`
`**C0NTINUING DOMESTIC DATA*********************
`VERIFIED
`
`**371 (NAT'L STAGE) DATA*********************
`THIS APPLN IS A 371 OF ?CT/EP98/01187 03/03/98
`VERIFIED
`
`**FOPFIGN A?PLICATIONS************
`FED REP GERMANY
`• VERIFIED
`
`19708755.8
`
`O3/04/97
`
`IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING LICENSE GRANTED 07/27/99 ** SMALL ENTITY **
`eyes Ono
`TOTAL
`STATE OR
`SHEETS
`Foreign Priority claimed
`35 UsC 119 (a-d) conditions met yes ono OMet after Allowance COUNTRY
`CLAIMS
`DRAWING
`16
`2
`DEX
`Verified and Acknowledged
`
`OUIDR OG 803O1=4Oi8
`C72-
`FLEXIBLE INTERFACE
`
`Ot-o'
`
`PHONE: (303)449—9497
`
`xamin s initials
`
`A4oREsr'
`DUN4O,RST
`
`initials
`
`INDEf'ENDENT
`CLAIMS
`
`3 _
`
`'
`
`.
`
`FILING F:EE
`
`$420
`
`FEES Authority has been given in Paper
`to charge/credit bEPOSIT ACCOUNT
`No
`for the following:
`NO.
`
`III
`El 1 16 Fees (Filing)
`ri 1 17 Fees (Processing
`fl 1 .18 Fees (IssUe)
`DOther
`[1 Credit
`
`Ext of time)
`
`.1
`
`I
`
`007
`
`

`
`Practitioner's Docket No.
`
`...,i101
`
`18 Rec'o
`
`7P10 14 JUN 1999
`
`CHAPTER II
`
`TO THE UNITED STATES ELECTED OFFICE (EOIUS)
`
`09/331002
`
`(ENTRY INTO U.S. NATIONAL PHASE UNDER CHAPTER II)
`
`PCT/EP98/01187
`
`International Application Number
`
`03 March 1998 (3.03.98)
`Internationa! Filmg Date
`
`04 March 1997 (4.03.97)
`
`International Earliest Priority Date
`
`TITLE OF INVENTION: FLEXIBLE INTERFACE
`Tasler, Michael
`APPLICANT(S):
`
`Attention: EO/US
`Box PCT
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`Washington DC 20231
`
`1
`
`Applicant herewith submits to the United States Elected Office (EO/US) the following items under
`35USC §371
`
`a
`
`b
`
`This express request to immediately begin national examination procedures (35 U S C
`§371(f))
`
`The U S National Fee (35 U S C §371(c)(1)) and other fees (37 C F R §1 492) as indicated
`below:
`
`CERTIFICATION UNDER 37 C F R 1 10*
`(Express Mail label number is mandatory.)
`(Express Mail certifIcation is optional.)
`
`I hereby certify that this correspondence and the documents referred to as attached therein are being deposited with the United
`9u..,... /1, I
`,in an envelope as "Express Mail Post Office to
`States Postal Service on this date
`Addressee," Mailing Label l'iumber EL34928607US, addressed to Attention: EO/US, Box PCT, Assistant Commissionr for
`Patents Washington D C 20231
`
`Elaine C. VonSpreckelsen
`(type or print name of person mailing paper)
`
`& (
`
`Signature of person mailingaper
`
`WARNING:
`
`*WARNING:
`
`Certificate of mailing (first class) orfacsimile transmission procedures of37 C.F.R. 1.8 cannot be used to
`obtain a date of mailing or transmission for thiscorrespondence.
`
`Each paper or fee filed by "Express Mail" must have the number of the "Express Mail" mailing label
`placed thereon prior to mailing. 37 C.F.R. 1.10(b).
`"Since the filing of correspondence under §1.10 without the Express Mail mailing label thereon is an
`oversight that can be avoided by the exercise of reasonable care, recjuests for waiver of this requirement will
`not be granted on petition. "Notice of Oct. 24. 1996. 60 Fed. Reg. 56,439, ci 56,442.
`
`(Transmittal Letter to the United States Elected Office (EO/US)—page I of 3)
`
`008
`
`

`
`2.
`
`Fees
`
`CLAIMS
`FEE*
`
`(1) FOR
`
`(2) NIJMBER
`FILED
`
`(3) NUMBER
`EXTRA
`
`(4) RATE
`
`(5)
`CALCULA-
`TIONS
`
`BASIC FEE
`
`16
`
`3
`
`-20=
`
`- 3 =
`
`0
`
`0
`
`x $18.00=
`
`$0.00
`
`x $78.00 =
`
`$0.00
`
`TOTAL
`CLAIMS
`
`IINIDEPEN-
`DENT
`CLAIMS
`
`MULTIPLE DEPENDENT CLAIM(S) (if applicable) +$260.00
`
`$0.00
`
`$840.00
`
`U.S. PTO WAS NOT INTERNATIONAL
`PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AUTHORITY
`Where no international preliminary exaination fee as set
`forth in §1.482 has been paid to the U.S. PTO, and
`payment of an international search fee as set forth in
`§1.445(a) (2) to the U.S. PTO:
`where a search report on the international
`application has been prepared by the European
`Patent Office or the Japanese Patent Office (37
`$840.00
`C.F.R. §l.492(a)(5))
`
`'
`
`Total of above Calculations
`
`= $840.00
`
`SMALL
`ENTITY
`
`Reduction by Y2 for filing by small entity, if applicable. Affidavit
`must be filed. (note 37 CFR §1.9, 1.27, 1.28)
`
`- $420.00
`
`Subtotal
`
`$420.00
`
`Total National Fee
`
`$420.00
`
`Fee for recording theenclosed assignment document $40.00 (37
`C.F.R. § 1.21(h)). See attached "ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET".
`Total Fees enclosed $420.00
`
`$0.00
`
`TOTAL
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`*See attached Preliminary Amendment Reducing the Number of Claims.
`
`A check in the amount of $420.00 to cover the above fees is enclosed.
`
`3 A copy of the International application as filed (35 U S C §371(c)(2)) is transmitted herewith
`
`4. A translation of the international application into the English language (35 U.S.C. §371(c)(2)) is
`transmitted herewith.
`
`5. A copy of the international examination report (PCT/IPEAI4O9) is transmitted herewith.
`
`6. There were no annex(es) to the international preliminary examination report.
`
`7. A translation of the annexes to the international preliminary examination report is not required as there
`were no annexes.
`
`(Transmittal Letter to the United States Elected Office (EO/US)—page 2 of3)
`
`009
`
`

`
`8. An oath or declaratic
`iie inventor (35 U.S.C. §371(c)(4)) co1npj:ng with 35 U.S.C. §115 is
`submitted herewith, and such oath or declaration is attached to the application
`
`II. Other document(s) or information included:
`
`9. An International Search Report (PCT/ISAI2 10) or Declaration under PCT Article 1 7(2)(a) is transmitted
`herewith
`
`10 An Information Disclosure Statement under 37 C F R §1 97 and 1 98 is transmitted herewith Also
`transmitted herewith are Forms PTO- 1449 PTO/SB/08A and 08B, Explanation of documents cited in
`the examination proceedings of corresponding foreign and international applications, and copies of
`citations listed.
`
`11. Additional documents:
`
`a. Preliminary amendment (37 C.F.R. §1.121)
`b. Verified Statement (Declaration) Claiming Small Entity'Status
`c. Express Mail Certificate
`d. Return Postcard
`
`12 The above items are being transmitted before 30 months from any claimed priority date
`
`AUTHORIZATION TO CHARGE A1)DITIONAL FEES
`
`—
`
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge the following additional fees that maybe required by this
`paper and during the entire pendency of this application to Account No 04-1697
`
`37 C FR §1 492(a)(1) (2), (3) and (4) (filing fees)
`37 C F R § 1 492(b) (c), and (d) (presentation of extra claims)
`37 C F R §117 (application processing fees)
`37 C.F.R. §1.17(a)(1)-(5) (extension fees pursuant to 1.136(a))
`37 C F R §1 492(e) and (f) (surcharge fees for filing the declaration and/or filing an English
`translation of an International Application later than 30 months after the priority date)
`
`Date:
`
`/y( ?
`
`RelTo. 28,494
`Tel. No.: (303) 449-9497
`Fax No.: (303) 449-0814
`
`______________________
`SIGFTURE OF
`CTITIONER
`Carl A. Forest
`Duft, Graziano & Forest, P.C.
`1790 - 30th Street, Suite 140
`Boulder, CO 80301-1018 USA
`
`(Transmittal Letter to the United States Elected Office (EO/US)—page 3 of 3)
`
`010
`
`

`
`Practitioner's Docket No. 2055/101
`
`418 Aec'd Pi P10 14 JUN 1999
`09/33100a
`
`PATENT
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`in re application of:
`Application No.:
`Filed:
`For:
`
`Tasler, Michael
`Applied For
`Herewith
`FLEXIBLE INTERFACE
`
`Attention: EOJUS
`Box PCT
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`Washington, DC 20231
`
`Group No.:
`Examiner:
`
`Unknown
`Unknown
`
`EXPRESS MAIL CERTIFICATE
`
`"Express Mail" Label Number: EL304928607US
`Date of Deposit:
`06/14/99
`
`I hereby state that the following attached papers or fee:
`
`1
`2.
`
`3.
`4.
`5.
`6.
`7
`
`8.
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`
`14
`
`Check No 5994 in the amount of $420 00
`Transmittal Letter to the United States Elected Office (EQ/US) (Entry into U.S. National Phase
`Under Chapter 11(3 pages)
`Copy of German Application filed with the PCT (36 pages)
`Translation of PCT Application PCT/EP98/01 187 as originally filed (26 pages)
`Copy of the IPER (6 pages)
`First Preliminary Amendment and Remarks (2 pages)
`Final version of PCT/EP98/0 1187 for the prosecution at the USPTO to be filed as first preliminary
`amendment (28 pages)
`Declaration and Power of Attorney For Patent Application (28 pages)
`Verified Statement (Declaration) Claiming Small Entity Status - Independent Inventor (1 page)
`Copy of International Search Report (7 pages)
`IDS Transmittal (1 page)
`IDS Form PTO/SB/08A and 08B (2 pages)
`Concise explanation of documents cited in examination proceedings of corresponding foreign and
`international applications (4 pages)
`IDS References (7 for a total of 92 pages)
`
`are being deposited with the United States Postal Service "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" service
`under 37 CFR 1.10, on the date indicated above and is addressed to Attention: EQ/US, Box PCT, Assistant
`Commissioner for Patents, Washington, DC 20231.
`
`Elaine C. VonSpreckelsen
`
`Signature of person maui g papers or fee
`
`(Express Mail Certificate—page 1 of 1)
`
`011
`
`

`
`09/331002
`51ORc'dPT,p 14 JuN 1999
`
`Description
`
`The present invention relates to the transfer of data and in particular to interface
`devices for communication between a computer or host device and a data
`transmit/receive device from which data is to be acquired or with which two-way
`communication is to take place.
`
`Existing data acquisition systems for computers are very limited in their areas of
`application. Generally such systems can be classified into two groups.
`
`In the first group host devices or computer systems are attached by means of an
`interface to a device whose data is to be acquired The mterfaces of this group are
`normally standard interfaces which, with specific driver software, can be used with a
`variety of host systems An advantage of such interfaces is that they are largely
`independent of the host device However, a disadvantage is that they generally require
`very sophisticated drivers which are prone to malfunction and which limit data
`transfer rates between the device connected to the interface and the host device and
`
`vice versa. Further, it is often very difficult to implement such interfaces for portable
`systems and they offer few possibilities for adaptation with the result that such
`
`systems offer little flexibility.
`
`The devices from which data is to be acquired cover the entire electrical engineering
`
`spectrum. In atypical case, it is assumed that a customer who operates, for example, a
`diagnostic radiology system in a medical engineering environment reports a fault. A
`field service technician of the system manufacturer visits the customer and reads
`
`system log files generated by the diagnostic radiology system by means a portable
`computer or laptop for example. If the fault cannot be localized or if the fault is
`intermittent, it will be necessary for the service technician to read not only an error
`
`log file but also data from current operation. It is apparent that in this case fast data
`
`transfer aid rapid data analysis are necessary.
`
`012
`
`

`
`2
`
`Another case requiring the use of an interface could be, for example, when an
`electronic measuring device, e.g. a multimeter, is attached to a computer system to
`
`transfer the data measured by the multimeter to the computer. Particularly when long-
`term measurements or large volumes of data are involved is it necessary for the
`interface to support a high data transfer rate.
`
`Prom these randomly chosen examples it can be seen that an interface may be put to
`totally different uses. It is therefore desirable that an interface be sufficiently flexible
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`to permit attachment of very different electrical or electronic systems to a host device
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`by means of the interface. To prevent operator error, it is also desirable that a service
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`technician is not required to operate different interfaces in different ways for different
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`applications but that, if possible, a universal method of operating the interface be
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`provided for a large number of applications
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`To increase the data transfer rates across an interface, the route chosen in the second
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`group of data acquisition systems for the interface devices was to specifically match
`the interface very closely to individual host systems or computer systems The
`advantage of this solution is that high data transfer rates are possible However, a
`disadvantage is that the drivers for the interfaces of the second group are very closely
`matched to a single host system with the result that they generally cannot be used with
`other host systems or their use is very ineffective. Further, such types of interface
`have the disadvantage that they must be installed inside the computer casing to
`achieve maximum data transfer rates as they access the internal host bus system. They
`are therefore generally not suitable for portable host systems in the form of laptops
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`whose minimum possible size leaves little internal space to plug in an interface card
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`A solution to this problem is offered by the interface devices of lOtech (business
`address: 25971 Cannon Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44146, USA) which are suitable for
`laptops such as the WaveBook/5 12 (registered trademark). The interface devices are
`connected by means of a plug-in card, approximately the size of a credit card, to the•
`PCMCIA interface which is now a standard feature in laptops. The plug-in card
`converts the PCMCIA interface into an interface known in the art as IEEE 1284. The
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`said plug-in card provides a special printer interface which is enhanced as regards the
`data transfer rate and delivers a data transfer rate of approximately 2 MBps as
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`compared with a rate of approx 1 MBps for known printer interfaces The known
`interface device generally consists of a driver component, a digital signal processor, a
`buffer and a hardware module which terminates in a connector to which the device
`whose data is to be acquired is attached The driver component is attached directly to
`the enhanced printer interface thus permitting the known interface device to establish
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`a connection between a computer and the device whose data is to be acquired.
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`In order to work with the said interface, an interface-specific driver must be installed
`on the host device so that the host device can communicate with the digital signal
`processor of the interface card As described above, the driver must be installed on the
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`host device If the driver is a driver developed specifically for the host device, a high
`data transfer rate is achieved but the driver cannot be easily installed on a different
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`host system However, if the driver is a general driver which is as flexible as possible
`and which can be used on many host devices, compromises must be accepted with
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`regard to the data transfer rate
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`Particularly in an application for multi-tasking systems in which several different
`tasks such as data acquisition, data display and editing are to be performed quasi-
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`simultaneously, each task is normally assigned a certain priority by the host system A
`driver supporting a special task requests the central processing system of the host
`device for processor resources in order to perform its task Depending on the
`particular priority assignment method and on the driver implementation, a particular
`share of processor resources is assigned to a special task in particular time slots
`Conflicts arise if one or more drivers are implemented in such a way that they have
`the highest priority by default, i e they are incompatible, as happens m practice in
`many applications It may occur that both drivers are set to highest priority which, in
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`the worst case, can result in a system crash
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`EP 0685799 Al discloses an interface by means of which several peripheral devices
`can be attached to a bus An interface is connected between the bus of a host device
`and various peripheral devices. The interface comprises a finite state machine and
`several branches each of which is assigned to a peripheral device Each branch
`comprises a data manager, cycle control, user logic and a buffer This known interface
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`device provides optimal matching between a host device and a specific peripheral
`device.
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`The specialist publication IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol 38, No 05, page
`245; "Communication Method between Devices through FDD Interface" discloses an
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`interface which connects a host device to a peripheral device via a floppy disk drive
`interface. The interface consists in particular of an address generator, an MFM
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`encoder/decoder, a serial/parallel adapter and a format signal generator. The interface
`makes it possible to attach not only a floppy disk drive but also a further peripheral
`device to the FDD host controller of a host device The host device assumes that a
`floppy disk drive is always attached to its floppy disk drive controller and
`communication is initiated if the address is correct However, this document contams
`no information as to how communication should be possible if the interface is
`connected to a multi-purpose interface instead of to a floppy disk drive controller.
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`it is the object of the present invention to provide an mterface device for
`communication between a host device and a data transmit/receive device whose use is
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`host device-independent and which delivers a high data transfer rate
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`This object is achieved by an interface device according to claim 1 or 12 and by a
`method according to claim 15.
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`The present invention is based on the finding that both a high data transfer rate and
`host device-independent use can be achieved if a driver for an input/output device
`customary in a host device, normally present in most commercially available host
`devices, is utthzed Drivers for input/output devices customary in a host device which
`are found in practically all host devices are, for example, drivers for hard disks, for
`graphics devices or for printer devices. As however the hard disk interfaces in
`common host devices which can be, for example, IBM PCs, IBM-compatible PCs,
`Commodore PCs, Apple computers or even workstations, are the interfaces with the
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`highest data transfer rate, the hard disk driver is utilized in the preferred embodiment
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`of the interface device of the present invention. Drivers for other storage devices such
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`as floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives or tape drives could also be utilized in order to
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`implement the interface device according to the present invention.
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`As described in the following, the interface device according to the present invention
`is to be attached to a host device by means of a multi-purpose interface of the host
`device which can be implemented, for example, as an SCSI interface or as an
`enhanced printer interface. Multi-purpose interfaces comprise both an interface card
`and specific driver software for the interface card. The driver software can be
`designed so that it can replace the BIOS driver routines. Communication between the
`host device and the devices attached to the multi-purpose interface then essentially
`takes place by means of the specific driver software for the multi-purpose interface
`and no longer primarily by means of BIOS routines of the host device. Recently
`however drivers for multi-purpose interfaces can also already be integrated in the
`BIOS system of the host device as, alongside classical input/output interfaces, multi-
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`purpose interfaces are becoming increasingly common in host devices. It is of course
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`also possible to use BIOS routines in parallel with the specific driver software for the
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`multi-purpose interface, if this is desired.
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`The interface device according to the present invention comprises a processor means,
`a memory means, a first connecting device for interfacing the host device with the
`interface device, and a second connecting device for interfacing the interface device
`with the data transmit/receive device. The interface device is configured by the
`processor means and the memory means in such a way that the interface device, when
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`receiving an inquiry from the host device via the first connecting device as to the type
`of a device attached to the host device, sends a signal, regardless of the type of the
`data transmit/receive device, to the host device via the first connecting device which
`signals to the host device that it is communicating with an input/output device. The
`interface device according to the present invention therefore simulates, both in terms
`of hardware and software, the way in which a conventional input/output device
`functions, preferably that of a hard disk drive. As support for hard disks is
`implemented as standard in all commercially available host systems, the simulation of.
`a hard disk, for example, can provide host device-independent use. The interface
`device according to the present invention therefore no longer communicates with the
`host device or computer by means of a specially designed driver but by means of a
`program which is present in the BIOS system (Basic Input/Output System) and is
`normally precisely matched to the specific computer system on which it is installed,
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`or by means of a specific program for the multi-purpose interface. Consequently, the
`interface device according to the present invention combines the advantages of both
`groups. On the one hand, communication between the computer and the interface
`takes place by means of a host device-specific BIOS program or by means of a driver
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`program which is matched to the multi-purpose interface and which could be regarded
`as a "device-specific driver". On the other hand, the BIOS program or a
`corresponding multi-purpose interface program which operates one of the common
`input/output interfaces in host systems is therefore present in all host systems so that
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`the interface device according to the present invention is host device-independent.
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`In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in
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`more detail with reference to the drawings enclosed, in which:
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`Fig. 1 shows a general block diagram of the interface device according to the
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`present invention, and
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`Fig 2 shows a detailed block diagram of an interface device according to a preferred
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`embodiment of the present invention
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`Fig. 1 shows a general block diagram of an interface device 10 according to the
`present invention. A first connecting device 12 of the interface device 10 can be
`attached to a host device (not shown) via a host line 11. The first connecting device is
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`attached both to a digital signal processor 13 and to a memory means 14. The digital
`signal processor 13 and the memory means 14 are also attached to a second
`connecting device 15 by means of bi-directional communication hnes (shown for all
`lines by means of two directional arrows). The second connecting device can be
`attached by means of an output line 16 to a data transmit/receive device which is to
`receive data from the host device or from which data is to be read, i.e. acquired, and
`transferred to the host device. The data transmit/receive device itself can also
`communicate actively with the host device via the first and second connecting device,
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`as described in more detail in the following.
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`Communication between the host system or host device and the interface device is
`based on known standard access commands as supported by all known operating
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`systems (e.g. DOS, Windows, Unix). Preferably, the interface device according to the
`present invention simulates a hard disk with a root directory whose entries are
`"virtual" files which can be created for the most varied functions. When the host
`device system with which the interface device according to the present invention is
`connected is booted and a data transmit/receive device is also attached to the interface
`device 10, usual BIOS routines or multi-purpose interface programs issue an
`instruction, known by those skilled in the art as the INQUIRY instruction, to the
`input/output interfaces in the host device. The digital signal processor 13 receives this
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`inquiry instruction via the first connecting device and generates a signal which is sent
`to the host device (not shown) again via the first connecting device 12 and the host
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`line 11 This signal indicates to the host device that, for example, a hard disk drive is
`attached at the interface to which the INQUIRY instruction was sent Optionally, the
`host device can send an instruction, known by those skilled in the art as "Test Unit
`Ready", to the interface device to request more precise details regarding the queried
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`device
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`Regardless of which data transmit/receive device at the output line 16 is attached to
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`the second connecting device, the digital signal processor 13 informs the host device
`that it is communicating with a hard disk drive If the host device receives the
`response that a drive is present, it then sends a request to the interface device 10 to
`read the boot sequence which, on actual hard disks, normally resides on the first
`sectors of the disk The digital signal processor 13, whose operating system in stored
`
`in the memory means 14, responds to this instruction by sending to the host device a
`virtual boot sequence which, in the case of actual drives, includes the drive type, the
`starting position and the length of the file allocation table (FAT), the number of
`sectors, etc, known to those skilled in the art Once the host device has received this
`
`data, it assumes that the interface device 10 according to a preferred embodiment of
`the present invention is a hard disk drive In reply to an instruction from the host
`device to display the directory of the "virtual" hard disk drive simulated by the
`interface device 10 with respect to the host device, the digital signal processor can
`respond to the host device in exactly the same way as a conventional hard disk would,
`namely by reading on request the file allocation table or FAT on a sector specified in
`the boot sequence, normally the first writable sector, and transferring it to the host
`device, and subsequently by transferring the directory structure of the virtual hard
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`disk. Further, it is possible that the FAT is not read until immediately prior to reading
`or storing the data of the "virtual" hard disk and not already at initialization.
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`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the digital signal processor 13,
`which need not necessarily be implemented as a digital signal processor but may be
`any other kind of microprocessor, comprises a first and a second command
`interpreter. The first command interpreter carries out the steps described above whilst
`the second command interpreter carries out the read/write assignment to specific
`functions. If the user now wishes to read data from the data transmit/receive device
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`via the line 16, the host device sends a command, for example "read file xy", to the
`
`interface device. As described above, the interface device appears to the host device
`as a hard disk The second command interpreter of the digital signal processor now
`interprets the read command of the host processor as a data transfer command, by
`decoding whether "xy" denotes, for example, a "real-time input" file, a
`"configuration" file or an executable file, whereby the same begins to transfer data
`from the data transmit/receive device via the second connecting device to the first
`connecting device and via the line 11 to the host device
`
`Preferably, the volume of data to be acquired by a data transmit/receive device is
`specified in a configuration file described in the following by the user specifying in
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`the said configuration file that a measurement is to last, for example, five minutes. To
`the host device the "real-time input" file then appears as a file whose length
`corresponds to the anticipated volume of data in those five minutes. Those skilled in
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`the art know that communication between a processor and a hard disk consists of the
`
`processor transferring to the hard disk the numbers of the blocks or clusters or sectors
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`whose contents it wish