:1xi
`5’; ’
`%. NE_,—
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`/,.
`PTOISBIOS (ca-03)
`:4’.
`(,9
`Approved for use through 07/31/2006. OMB 0651-0032
`‘E’
`'
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`ff. -3
`nder the Paennlork Reduction Act of 1995 no ersons are reuired to resend to a collection of information unless it disla s a valid OMB control number.
`'7'?’
`
`
`
`
`SCHO0102D-C
`UTILITY
`TASLER
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`
`
`II9. 333. 9.
`
`Flexible Interface
`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
`EV541427914 us
`
`Mail Stop Patent Application
` APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`glgmrgfxslalgr for Patents
`ADDRESS TO:
`Alexandria VA 22313-1450
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
`
`
`
`
`TRANSMITTAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`7. [:1 CD-ROM or CD-R in duplicate, large table or
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`8. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`(if ap licable, all necessary)
`a.
`Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`
`b.
`
`Specification Sequence Listing on:
`
`i. CI
`
`CD-ROM or CD-R (2 copies); or
`
`II. E Paper
`
`
`in identit of above coies
`c. I: Statements veri
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1. [3] Fee Transmittal Form (e.g.. PTO/SB/17)
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
`2. IZI Applicant Claims Sma" entity SI«'=|1U5-
`See 37 CFR 1.27.
`[Total Pa9es£___ 1
`3. L<__I Specification
`(preferred arrangement set forth below)
`‘ De5°”F"“’° ‘me °f ‘"9 I""°""°"
`- Cross Reference to Related Applications
`- Statement Regarding Fed sponsored R & D
`- Reference to sequence listing. a table,
`or a computer program listing appendix
`- Background of the Invention
`- Brief Summary of the invention
`- Brief Description of the Drawings (if filed)
`- Detailed Description
`- C|aim(s)
`- Abstract of the Disclosure
`9. El Assignment Papers (cover sheet & document(s))
`2
`_
`
`iTotaISheets ] 10. [:|
`37 CFR 3.73(b) Statement
`Power of
`4. IE Drawlngis) (35 U.S.C. 113)
`(when there is an assignee)
`Attorney
`.
`
`
`IT°’a/ Sheets ——3———]
`11. B English Translation Document (if a
`licable)
`5 03"‘ °' DeCI3“'-‘“'°“
`_
`_
`3- I:I Ne‘”'V executed (°"9'“a' °" °°I-W)
`12. E]
`Information Disclosure
`Copies of IDS
`
`Statement (lDS)lPTO—1449
`Citations
`b.
`Copy from a prior application (37 CFR 1.63(d))
`
`13. 2 Preliminary Amendment
`(for continuation/divisional with Box 18 completed)
`14.
`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`15. I:| Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`(if foreign priority is claimed)
`16. CI Nonpublication Request under 35 U.S.C. 122
`»
`(b)(2)(B)(i). Applicant must attach form PT0lSBl35
`or itse uiva_lent.
`_
`.
`17. IE Otherz. e Ifi9a.t.e.ofE.>w.res.s maI|;.R.evo9ation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`i. [j DELETION OF lNVENTOR(S)
`Signed statement attached deleting inventor(s)
`name in the prior applilion. see 37 CFR
`1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`
`6. Cl
`
`Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1.76
`
`
`
`
` specification following the title. or in an Application Data Sheet under 37 CFR 1. 76:
`
`Continuation
`
`D Divisional
`
`I:I Continuation-in-pan (CIP)
`
`of prior application
`
`........... ..
`
`Alt Unit: 2182
`Examiner Ha"°Id J- K'm
`Prior application infomiationz
`For CONTINUATION OF DIVISIONAL APPS only; The entire disclosure of the prior application, trom which an oath or declaration is supplied under Box
`5b, is considered a part oi the disclosure of the accompanying continuation or divisional application and is hereby incorporated by reference.
`The incorporation can only be relied upon when a portion has been inadvertently omitted from the submitted application parts.
`1 9. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Customer Number:
`
`
`
`OR E] Correspondence address below
`
`9l:3Q
`
`E%3‘o3(D
`
`Zip Code
`Fax
`
`Registration No. (Attomey/Agent) 30 175
` Name (Print/Type) Michael A_ Glenn
`
`T Mar°h11r2°05
`
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.53(b). The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to file (and by the
`USPTO to process) an application, Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 12 minutes to complete,
`including gathering. preparing, and submitting the completed application torm'to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments
`on the amount of time you require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden. should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent
`and Trademark Office. U.S. Department of Commerce, PO. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313—1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS
`ADDRESS. SEND TO: Mail Stop Patent Application, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`Ifyou need assistance in completing the farm, call 1-800-PTO-9199 and select option 2.
`
`
`
`
`_
`
`001
`
`Apple 1061
`U.S. Pat. 9,189,437
`
`Apple 1061
`U.S. Pat. 9,189,437
`
`001
`
`

`
`PTOISBI17 (1204)
`Approved for use through 07/31/2006. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S_ Patent and Trademark Ofiice: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`tinder the Panerwnrk Rndiidinn Act nf 1995 nn nersnns are renuirerl tn resnnnd to A rnlierrtinn of infnrrnatinn unless it disnlavs a valid DMR control number
`Effective on 12/08/2004.
`
`Fees pursuant to the Consolidated Apnmpriations Act. 2005 (H.R. 4818).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TOTAL AMOUNT or PAYMENT
`
`($) 500.00
`
`Attorney Docket No.
`
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT check all that a I
`
`I: Check I:I Credit Card BMoney Order E None Other (please identify):
`Deposit Account Deposit AOGOW“ NUmber1:__m°7'1445
`Deposit Account Name: Glen" Patent GTOUP
`For the above-identified deposit account, the Director is hereby authorized to: (check all that apply)
`
`Charge fee(s) indicated below, except for the filing fee
`Charge fee(s) indicated b9'0W
`Credit any overpayments
`I Charge any additional fee(s) or underpayments of fee(s)
`under 37 CFR1.16 and 1.17
`WARNING: Information on this form may become public. credit card information should not be included on this form. Provide credit card
`Information and authorization on PTO-2038.
`
`FEE CALCULATION
`
`1. BASIC FILING, SEARCH, AND EXAMINATION FEES
`FILING FEES
`SEARCH FEES
`Small Entig
`Small Entity
`mm Fee (51
`Fee is)
`300
`150
`250
`200
`100
`50
`200
`100
`I50
`300
`150
`250
`
`AEEELQEIIQLIIE
`Utility
`Design
`Plant
`Reissue
`
`Fe_eifl
`500
`I00
`300
`500
`
`EXAMINATION FEES
`Small Entil_:v
`Feel§)
`100
`65
`80
`
`F_e.e;i§.l
`200
`130
`160
`600
`
`_
`Feeiiil
`500
`
`200
`
`100
`
`0
`
`0
`
`_
`
`O
`
`‘
`
`Fee (§)
`
`Fee Paid (§)
`000
`
`=
`
`Multiple Dependent Claims
`Fee [§)
`Fee Paid (§)
`000
`
`Provisional
`Small Entity
`2. EXCESS CLAIM FEES
`Fglil Fifi)
`Fee Description
`50
`25
`Each claim over 20 or, for Reissues, each claim over 20 and more than in the original patent
`Each independent claim over 3 or, for Reissues, each independent claim more than in the original patent 200
`100
`Multiple dependent claims
`360
`180
`Total Claims
`Extra Claims
`x
`15
`- 20 or HP =
`0
`HP = highest number of total claims paid for, if greater than 20
`Fee Paid (§)
`lndeg. Claims
`Extra Claims
`Fee (§)
`= 0.00
`x
`3
`- 3 or Hp =
`0
`HP = highest number of independent claims paid for, it greater than 3
`'
`3. APPLICATION SIZE FEE
`If the specification and drawings exceed 100 sheets of paper, the application size fee due is $250 ($125 for small entity)
`for each additional 50 sheets or fraction thereof. See 35 U.S.C. 41(a)(l)(G) and 37 CFR l.l6(s).
`Total Sheets
`Extra Sheets
`Number of each additional 50 or fraction thereof
`Fee (§)_
`(round up to a whole number)
`x
`
`- 100 =
`
`I 50 =
`
`Fee Paid (§)
`
`=
`
`4. OTHER FEE(S)
`Non-English Specification,
`Other:
`
`$l30 fee (no small entity discount)
`
`Fees Paid (§)_
`
`Te'eP“°“e (650)474-8400
`Date
`March 11,2005
`Michael A. Glenn
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.136. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to tile (and by the
`USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 30 minutes to complete,
`including gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments
`on the amount 0! time you require to complete this form andlor suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Infonnalion Officer, U.S. Patent
`and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria. VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS
`ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`If you need assistance in completing the form, call 1-800-PTO-9199 and select option 2.
`
`'3.:%‘:.§i£L:.l°~ 30.176
`
`
`
`
`
`O02
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FEE TRANSMITTAL
`For FY 2005
`
`Applicant claims small entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27
`
`~
`Application Number
`Filing Date
`First Named inventor
`Examiner Name
`_
`Art Unit
`
`
`
`
`
`Complete if Known
`Unknown
`
`March 11. 2005
`TASLER
`
`nknown
`nknown
`CHO0102D-C
`
`U)
`
`002
`
`

`
`<09
`
`
`
`(12-97)
`PTO/SB/92
`Approved for use through 9/30/00. OMB 0651-0031
`Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. no persons are required to respond to a colledion of information unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
`
`Certificate of Mailing under 37 CFR 1.10
`
`Express Mail Label No. EV 541427914US
`
`I hereby certify that this correspondence is being deposited with the United States
`Postal Service with sufficient postage as Express Mail in an envelope addressed to:
`
`COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Docket No- SCH00102D-C
`
`March 11, 2005
`
`Date
`
`Kristianne Serrano
`
`Typed or printed name of person signing Certificate
`
`Note: Each paper must have its own certificate of mailing, or this certificate must identify
`each submitted paper.
`
`Attached to this coversheet please find the following documents:
`
`- Certificate of Mailing (1 page);
`- Utility Patent Application Transmittal (1 page);
`- Fee Transmittal (1 page, in duplicate);
`- Copy of Combined Oath and Declaration (signed) (3 pages);
`- Copy of Revocation of Prior and Grant of New Power of Attorney (1 page);
`- Specification (23 pages);
`- Drawings (2 pages); and
`— Return postcard.
`
`Burden Hour Statement: This form is estimated to take 0.03 hours to complete. Time will vary depending upon the needs of the individual case.
`Any comments on the amount of time you are required to complete this form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer. Patent and Trademark
`as mg on,
`.
`\Olfficfi_, Vt/tashirlr)g(t’oné(E))§3120231. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Assistant Commissioner for Patents,
`
`O03
`
`003
`
`

`
`
`
`:1xi
`5’; ’
`%. NE_,—
`E c
`/,.
`PTOISBIOS (ca-03)
`:4’.
`(,9
`Approved for use through 07/31/2006. OMB 0651-0032
`‘E’
`'
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`ff. -3
`nder the Paennlork Reduction Act of 1995 no ersons are reuired to resend to a collection of information unless it disla s a valid OMB control number.
`'7'?’
`
`
`
`
`SCHO0102D-C
`UTILITY
`TASLER
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`
`
`II9. 333. 9.
`
`Flexible Interface
`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
`EV541427914 us
`
`Mail Stop Patent Application
` APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`glgmrgfxslalgr for Patents
`ADDRESS TO:
`Alexandria VA 22313-1450
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
`
`
`
`
`TRANSMITTAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`7. [:1 CD-ROM or CD-R in duplicate, large table or
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`8. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`(if ap licable, all necessary)
`a.
`Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`
`b.
`
`Specification Sequence Listing on:
`
`i. CI
`
`CD-ROM or CD-R (2 copies); or
`
`II. E Paper
`
`
`in identit of above coies
`c. I: Statements veri
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1. [3] Fee Transmittal Form (e.g.. PTO/SB/17)
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
`2. IZI Applicant Claims Sma" entity SI«'=|1U5-
`See 37 CFR 1.27.
`[Total Pa9es£___ 1
`3. L<__I Specification
`(preferred arrangement set forth below)
`‘ De5°”F"“’° ‘me °f ‘"9 I""°""°"
`- Cross Reference to Related Applications
`- Statement Regarding Fed sponsored R & D
`- Reference to sequence listing. a table,
`or a computer program listing appendix
`- Background of the Invention
`- Brief Summary of the invention
`- Brief Description of the Drawings (if filed)
`- Detailed Description
`- C|aim(s)
`- Abstract of the Disclosure
`9. El Assignment Papers (cover sheet & document(s))
`2
`_
`
`iTotaISheets ] 10. [:|
`37 CFR 3.73(b) Statement
`Power of
`4. IE Drawlngis) (35 U.S.C. 113)
`(when there is an assignee)
`Attorney
`.
`
`
`IT°’a/ Sheets ——3———]
`11. B English Translation Document (if a
`licable)
`5 03"‘ °' DeCI3“'-‘“'°“
`_
`_
`3- I:I Ne‘”'V executed (°"9'“a' °" °°I-W)
`12. E]
`Information Disclosure
`Copies of IDS
`
`Statement (lDS)lPTO—1449
`Citations
`b.
`Copy from a prior application (37 CFR 1.63(d))
`
`13. 2 Preliminary Amendment
`(for continuation/divisional with Box 18 completed)
`14.
`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`15. I:| Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`(if foreign priority is claimed)
`16. CI Nonpublication Request under 35 U.S.C. 122
`»
`(b)(2)(B)(i). Applicant must attach form PT0lSBl35
`or itse uiva_lent.
`_
`.
`17. IE Otherz. e Ifi9a.t.e.ofE.>w.res.s maI|;.R.evo9ation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`i. [j DELETION OF lNVENTOR(S)
`Signed statement attached deleting inventor(s)
`name in the prior applilion. see 37 CFR
`1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`
`6. Cl
`
`Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1.76
`
`
`
`
` specification following the title. or in an Application Data Sheet under 37 CFR 1. 76:
`
`Continuation
`
`D Divisional
`
`I:I Continuation-in-pan (CIP)
`
`of prior application
`
`........... ..
`
`Alt Unit: 2182
`Examiner Ha"°Id J- K'm
`Prior application infomiationz
`For CONTINUATION OF DIVISIONAL APPS only; The entire disclosure of the prior application, trom which an oath or declaration is supplied under Box
`5b, is considered a part oi the disclosure of the accompanying continuation or divisional application and is hereby incorporated by reference.
`The incorporation can only be relied upon when a portion has been inadvertently omitted from the submitted application parts.
`1 9. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Customer Number:
`
`
`
`OR E] Correspondence address below
`
`9l:3Q
`
`E%3‘o3(D
`
`Zip Code
`Fax
`
`Registration No. (Attomey/Agent) 30 175
` Name (Print/Type) Michael A_ Glenn
`
`T Mar°h11r2°05
`
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.53(b). The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to file (and by the
`USPTO to process) an application, Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 12 minutes to complete,
`including gathering. preparing, and submitting the completed application torm'to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments
`on the amount of time you require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden. should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent
`and Trademark Office. U.S. Department of Commerce, PO. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313—1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS
`ADDRESS. SEND TO: Mail Stop Patent Application, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`Ifyou need assistance in completing the farm, call 1-800-PTO-9199 and select option 2.
`
`
`
`
`004
`
`004
`
`

`
`PTOISBI17 (1204)
`Approved for use through 07/31/2006. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S_ Patent and Trademark Ofiice: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`tinder the Panerwnrk Rndiidinn Act nf 1995 nn nersnns are renuirerl tn resnnnd to A rnlierrtinn of infnrrnatinn unless it disnlavs a valid DMR control number
`Effective on 12/08/2004.
`
`Fees pursuant to the Consolidated Apnmpriations Act. 2005 (H.R. 4818).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TOTAL AMOUNT or PAYMENT
`
`($) 500.00
`
`Attorney Docket No.
`
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT check all that a I
`
`I: Check I:I Credit Card BMoney Order E None Other (please identify):
`Deposit Account Deposit AOGOW“ NUmber1:__m°7'1445
`Deposit Account Name: Glen" Patent GTOUP
`For the above-identified deposit account, the Director is hereby authorized to: (check all that apply)
`
`Charge fee(s) indicated below, except for the filing fee
`Charge fee(s) indicated b9'0W
`Credit any overpayments
`I Charge any additional fee(s) or underpayments of fee(s)
`under 37 CFR1.16 and 1.17
`WARNING: Information on this form may become public. credit card information should not be included on this form. Provide credit card
`Information and authorization on PTO-2038.
`
`FEE CALCULATION
`
`1. BASIC FILING, SEARCH, AND EXAMINATION FEES
`FILING FEES
`SEARCH FEES
`Small Entig
`Small Entity
`mm Fee (51
`Fee is)
`300
`150
`250
`200
`100
`50
`200
`100
`I50
`300
`150
`250
`
`AEEELQEIIQLIIE
`Utility
`Design
`Plant
`Reissue
`
`Fe_eifl
`500
`I00
`300
`500
`
`EXAMINATION FEES
`Small Entil_:v
`Feel§)
`100
`65
`80
`
`F_e.e;i§.l
`200
`130
`160
`600
`
`_
`Feeiiil
`500
`
`200
`
`100
`
`0
`
`0
`
`_
`
`O
`
`‘
`
`Fee (§)
`
`Fee Paid (§)
`000
`
`=
`
`Multiple Dependent Claims
`Fee [§)
`Fee Paid (§)
`000
`
`Provisional
`Small Entity
`2. EXCESS CLAIM FEES
`Fglil Fifi)
`Fee Description
`50
`25
`Each claim over 20 or, for Reissues, each claim over 20 and more than in the original patent
`Each independent claim over 3 or, for Reissues, each independent claim more than in the original patent 200
`100
`Multiple dependent claims
`360
`180
`Total Claims
`Extra Claims
`x
`15
`- 20 or HP =
`0
`HP = highest number of total claims paid for, if greater than 20
`Fee Paid (§)
`lndeg. Claims
`Extra Claims
`Fee (§)
`= 0.00
`x
`3
`- 3 or Hp =
`0
`HP = highest number of independent claims paid for, it greater than 3
`'
`3. APPLICATION SIZE FEE
`If the specification and drawings exceed 100 sheets of paper, the application size fee due is $250 ($125 for small entity)
`for each additional 50 sheets or fraction thereof. See 35 U.S.C. 41(a)(l)(G) and 37 CFR l.l6(s).
`Total Sheets
`Extra Sheets
`Number of each additional 50 or fraction thereof
`Fee (§)_
`(round up to a whole number)
`x
`
`- 100 =
`
`I 50 =
`
`Fee Paid (§)
`
`=
`
`4. OTHER FEE(S)
`Non-English Specification,
`Other:
`
`$l30 fee (no small entity discount)
`
`Fees Paid (§)_
`
`Te'eP“°“e (650)474-8400
`Date
`March 11,2005
`Michael A. Glenn
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.136. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to tile (and by the
`USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 30 minutes to complete,
`including gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments
`on the amount 0! time you require to complete this form andlor suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Infonnalion Officer, U.S. Patent
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`Flexible Interface
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`Description
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`The present invention relates to the transfer of data and in particular to interface
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`devices
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`for communication between a computer or host device and a data
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`transmit/receive device from which data is to be acquired or with which two-way
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`communication is to take place._
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`Existing data acquisition systems for computers are very limited in their areas of
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`application. Generally such systems can be classified into two groups.
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`In the first group host devices or computer systems are attached by means of an
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`interface to a device whose data is to be acquired. The interfaces of this group are
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`normally standard interfaces which, with specific driver software, can be used with a
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`variety of host systems. An advantage of such interfaces is that they are largely
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`independent of the host device. However, a disadvantage is that they generally require
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`very sophisticated drivers which are prone to malfunction and which limit data
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`transfer rates between the device connected to the interface and the host device and
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`vice versa. Further, it is often very difficult to implement such interfaces for portable
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`systems and they offer few possibilities for adaptation with the result
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`that such
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`systems offer little flexibility.
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`The devices from which data is to be acquired cover the entire electrical engineering
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`spectrum. In a typical case, it is assumed that a customer who operates, for example, a
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`diagnostic radiology system in a medical engineering environment reports a fault. A
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`field service technician of the system manufacturer visits the customer and reads
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`system log files generated by the‘ diagnostic radiology system by means a portable
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`computer or laptop for example. If the fault cannot be localized or if the fault is
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`intermittent, it will be necessary for the service technician to read not only an error
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`log file but also data from current operation. It is apparent that in this case fast data
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`transfer and rapid data analysis are necessary.
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`Another case requiring the use of an interface could be,
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`for example, when an
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`electronic measuring device, e.g. a multimeter, is attached to a computer system to
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`transfer the data measured by the multimeter to the computer. Particularly when long-
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`term measurements or large volumes of data are involved is it necessary for the
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`interface to support a high data transfer rate.
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`From these randomly chosen examples it can be seen that an interface may be put to
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`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
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`the interface very closely to individual host systems or computer systems. The
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`advantage of this solution is that high data transfer rates are possible. However, a
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`disadvantage is that the drivers for the interfaces of the second group are very closely
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`matched to a single host system with the result that they generally cannot be used with
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`other host systems ortheir use is very ineffective. Further, such types of interface
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`have the disadvantage that they must be installed inside the computer casing to
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`achieve maximum data transfer rates as they access the internal host bus system. They
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`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 IOtech (business
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`address: 25971 Cannon Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44146, USA) which are suitable for
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`laptops such as the WaveBook/512 (registered trademark). The interface devices are
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`connected by means of a plug-in card, approximately the size of a credit card, to the
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`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
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`data transfer rate and delivers a data transfer rate of approximately 2 MBps as
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`compared with a rate of approx.
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`1 MBps for known printer. interfaces. The known
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`interface device generally consists of a driver component, a digital signal processor, a
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`buffer and a hardware module which terminates in a connector to which the device
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`whose data is to be acquired is attached. The driver component is attached directly to
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`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
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`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
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`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
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`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
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`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
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`device for processor resources in order to perform its task. Depending on the
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`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 in practice in
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`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 A1 discloses an interface by means of which several peripheral devices
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`can be attached to a bus. An interface is connected between the bus of a host device
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`and various peripheral devices. The interface comprises a finite state machine and
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`several branches each of which is assigned to a peripheral device. Each branch
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`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
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`device.
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`The specialist publication IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 05, page
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`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
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`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
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`makes it possible to attach not only a floppy disk drive but also a further peripheral
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`device to the FDD host controller of a host device. The host device assumes that a
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`floppy disk drive is always attached to its
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`floppy disk drive controller and
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`communication is initiated if the address is correct. However, this document contains
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`no information as to how communication should be possible if the interface is
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`connected to a multi—purpose interface instead of to a floppy disk drive controller.
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`It
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`is
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`the object of the present
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`invention to provide an interface device for
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`C
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`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 accordingto claim 1 or 12 and by a
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`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
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`host device—independent use can be achieved if a driver for an input/output device
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`customary in a host device, normally present in most commercially available host
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`devices, is utilized. Drivers for input/output devices customary in a host device which
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`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
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`common host devices which can be, for example, IBM PCs, IBM-compatible PCS,
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`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
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`is to be attached to a host device by means of a multi—purpose interface of the host
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`device which can be implemented, for example, as an SCSI interface or as an
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`enhanced printer interface. Multi—purpose interfaces comprise both an interface card
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`and specific driver software for the interface card. The driver software can be
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`designed so that it can replace the BIOS driver routines. Communication between the
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`host device and the devices attached to the multi—purpose interface then essentially
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`takes place by means of the specific driver software for the multi—purpose interface
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`and no longer primarily by means of BIOS routines of the host device. Recently
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`however drivers for multi—purpose interfaces can also already be integrated in the
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`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,
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`a memory means, a first connecting device for interfacing the host device with the
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`interface device, and a second connecting device for interfacing the interface device
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`with the data transmit/receive device. The interface device is configured by the
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`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
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`of a device attached to the host device, sends a signal, regardless of the type of the
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`data transmit/receive device,
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`to the host device via the first connecting device which
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`signals to the host device that it is communicating with an input/output device. The
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`interface device according to the present invention therefore simulates, both in terms
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`of hardware and software,
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`the way in which a conventional
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`input/output device
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`functions, preferably that of a hard disk drive. As support
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`for hard disks is
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`implemented as standard in all commercially avail