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`03/15/2002
`RULE
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`TITIIS a2IppIICaIiiCin IS a DIV 0fO9/331,002 06/14/1999 PAT 6,470,399
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`8. Nucleotide andlor Amino Acid Sequence Submission
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`13. If -a_E-JBTTIEQJING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in a preliminary amendment,
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`of prior application No: Q3 l 331 002
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`For CON'T‘iNUA'i’i0N or DIVISIONAL APPS only: The entire disclosure of the prior application, from which an oath or declaration is supplied
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`iF’EEE TRANSMITTAL
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`iiiiiii
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`Complete if Known
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`Application Numbsi__ ADQHEU FOV
`Herrawith
`Michael Taster
`First Named Inventor
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`Examiner Name
`Du, Thuan N.
`
`for FY 2002!
`Parent fees are subject to annual revision,
`
`1
`
`
`Group/A,-1 Unit
`E] Applicant claims small entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27
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`1318912901 (.150)
`Attorne Docket No.
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`370
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`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check all that apply)
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`FEE CALCULATION gcontinuedi
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`65
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`FEE CALCULATION
`
`BASIC FILING FEE
`1.
`[Large _E_r_i_ti_t_y___
`Small Entity
`|Fee
`Fee
`Fee
`Fee
`Code
`(ii)
`Code
`(5)
`101
`740
`201
`370
`106
`330
`206
`165
`107
`5510
`207
`255
`
`Fee Descrigticm
`
`Utility filing fee
`Design filing fee
`Plant filing lee
`
`108
`114
`
`740
`1610
`
`203
`214
`
`370
`so
`
`Reissue filing fee
`Provisional filling tee
`
`SUBTOTAL (1)
`:2. EXTRA CLAIM FEES
`
`’
`
`139
`147
`112
`
`113
`
`115
`116
`
`117
`118
`
`128
`119
`120
`121
`
`135
`140
`141
`142
`143
`144
`122
`
`130
`2,520
`920‘
`
`1,840‘
`
`110
`400
`
`920
`1.440
`
`1,960
`320
`320
`280
`
`1,510
`110
`1,230
`1,280
`460
`620
`130
`
`1:19
`147
`112
`
`113
`
`215
`216
`
`217
`218
`‘
`2128
`219
`2:20
`2:21
`
`1:33
`240
`241
`242
`2:13
`244
`1:22
`
`130
`2,520
`920'
`
`Non~Eng|ish specification
`For filing a request for reexamination
`Requesting publication of SIR prior to
`Examiner action
`1,340’ Requesting publication of SIR after
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`Extension for reply within iirst month
`Extensionforreplywithinsecond
`month
`Extension for reply within third month
`Extension for reply within fourth
`month
`Extension for reply within filth month
`Notice of Appeal
`Filing a brief in support of an appeal
`Request for oral hearing
`Petition to institute a public use
`wceedin
`_
`_
`9
`P
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`Petition to revive — unavoidable
`Petition to revive ~ unintentional
`Utility issue fee (or reissue)
`Design issue fee
`Plant issue fee
`Petitions to the Commissioner
`
`55
`200
`
`460
`720
`
`950
`160
`160
`140
`
`1510
`55
`640
`640
`230
`310
`130
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`‘
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`Fee
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`125
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`581
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`50
`180
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`40
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`1123
`126
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`531
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`50
`180
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`40
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`-20"
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`I
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`Fee
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`i Code
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`I 103
`18
`102
`B4
`104
`1350
`109
`1,‘4
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`110
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`j
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`
`146
`
`149
`
`179
`
`169
`
`740
`
`740
`
`740
`
`900
`
`246
`
`249
`
`2:79
`
`169
`
`Other lee (specify) _____
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`
`Fee
`Fee
`5399555’-'9‘-‘F’!
`Code
`is)
`Claims in excess of 20
`203
`9
`independent claims in excess of 3
`202
`42
`2'34
`140 M“'“P'° “'3P°"d°”‘ Claim» " ”°‘ Paid
`209
`42
`"' Reissue independent claims over
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`" Reissue claims In excess of 20 and
`2m
`9
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`__._.._._..
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`[:($) 0
`SUBTOTAL (2)
`‘Reduced by Basic‘ Filing Fs<e’Paid
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`Processing fee under 37 CFR 1.17 (q) i________
`Submission of Information Disclosure
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`Filing a submission after final rejection
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`For each additional invention to be
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`370 Request for Continued Examination (ROE)
`
`370
`
`370
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`900
`
`Request for expedited exarriination
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`
`SUBTOTAL (3)
`
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`28.494
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`Carl A. Forest
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`
`8382vi
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 5
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`Ap[I)|ilC~ElltiOl'I Information
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`App-|ic:a1:ioln Typez:
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`Subject l\/latter:
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`Suggested Classification:
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`:3ugges'ted Group Art Unit:
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`CD—-ROIVI or CD-R ?::
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`Nurnbelr of CD Disks::
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`Nurnbelr of copies of CDs::
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`Sequence submission?::
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`Cornputer Readable Form (CRF)?::
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`Nurnber of copies of CRF::
`Titlez:
`
`m
`
`I-um‘%N1mm
`tnwmmmmmmnwwn
`
`Divisional
`
`Flexible interface For Communication Between
`A Host And An An.alog l/O Device Connected
`To The Interface Regardless The Type Of The
`I/O Device
`
`710
`
`2185
`
`'
`
`No
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`Flexible Interface For Communication Between
`A Host And An Analog I/O Device Connected
`To The Interface Regardless The Type Of The
`I/O Device
`
`Attorney Docket Number::
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`’
`
`13189.129D1 (.150)
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`Request for Early Pub|ication?::
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`|Request for Non—Pub|ication?::
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`Suggested Drawing Figure:
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`Total Drawing Sheets::
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`Small EEEntity::
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`Petition lnucluded’?::
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`No
`
`No
`
`FIG. 1
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`2 sheets
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`Yes
`
`Yes
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`Petition Typez:
`
`Preliminary Amendment
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`Licentsed US Govt. Agencyzz:
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`Contraczt or Grant Numbersz:
`
`No
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`N/A
`
`Secreeczy Order in Parent App|.‘?::
`
`A No
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`8391v1
`
`1
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`MMMDwm_ss“.wWWMo-mmcds_m-.",a“m-_»wwmw~wmwmuWzTE(usA)1002,Pages
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 6
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`Applic::sm1t Information
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`Applicant Authority type::
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`Prirnalry Citizenship
`Country:::
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`-‘Status: :;
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`Given» Name::
`
`Middle Name::
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`Fannily Name:
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`Name E;u1fix::
`
`lnventor
`
`Germany
`
`Current
`
`Michael
`
`N/A
`
`Tasler
`
`N/A
`
`City of Residence:
`
`Wuerzburg
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`State or Provinceof Residence:
`
`N/A
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`Country of Residence::
`
`Germany
`
`Street of mailing address::
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`Cronthalstrasse 60
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`City of mailing address::
`State or Province of mailing address:
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`Country of mailing address::
`
`lPos:tal or Zip Code of mailing address::
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`Wuerzburg
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`N/A
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`Germany
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`D-97074
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`Correespo~ndence Information
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`Correspondence Customer Nulmberzz
`
`24283
`
`|Namee::
`
`Carl A. Forest
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`Street of mailing address::
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`City of mailing address::
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`State or Province of mailing acldressz:
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`lPos:ta| or Zip Code of mailing address:
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`N/A
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`N/A
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`N/A
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`N/A
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`Phone lxlumberzz
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`Fax: Nlumberzt
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`E-mall acldlessszz
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`839]v1
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`303-379-1114
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`303-379-1155
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`b CForest@pattonb~oggs.com
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`W#Wwc_ZTE(USA)1OO2,Page7WMM_
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 7
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`|Repre:s~enitative Information
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`‘I§éEfrE;1§£7EfiE?i'{r'é"<:‘LEicR}'"“""“
`|Number::
`’
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`0
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`[No more than 9 digits] ’
`24283
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`‘
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`|Dorne:sItic. Priority Information
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`Contimiity Type:
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`Parent Application: P gTZi§E§_
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`Divisional
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`“
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`09/331,002
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`'
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`June14,19é©“""_"
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`Foreign Priority information
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`"lfi~t;llvi.‘;Eil~t‘i~¢:_)?I_:_:—
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`
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`Appliaition No.3:
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`Filing Date-:_:“m
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`P i—rfi§d:_
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`1970zfi55.8
`EP98/-0118?
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`'
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`March 4,1997 '
`March 3, 1605""
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`_
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`Yes
`Yes
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`"mm"
`"’"”" M
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`
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`Assaiginee Information
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`Assigne=e= name:
`:3tree1:0f mailing address:
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`’
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`Labortechnik Tasler GmbH
`Cronthalstrasse 60
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`City of mailing address:
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`.
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`Wuerzburg
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`State or Province of mailing ac|dress::
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`‘
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`N/A
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`Country of mailing address:
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`Germany
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`Postal or Zip Code of mailing address:
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`97074
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`|Rec:or'd:ation Date:
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`|Reel,/l=rame::
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`i
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`July 23, 2001
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`012023/0515
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`8391v1
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`3
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 8
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 8
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`National Phase of PCT/EP98/01187 in U.S.A.
`
`Title: Fiexible Interface
`
`Applicant: TASLER, Michael
`V
`
`Translation of PCT Application PCT/EP98/D1187
`
`as originally filed
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`Flexible Interface
`
`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 commun.ication between a computer or host device and a data
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`tra:nsm.it/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
`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
`systems and they offer few possibilities for adaptation with the result
`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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`spectmm. In a typical case, it is assumed that a customer who operates, for example, a
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`diiagnosticradiology system in a medical engineering environrnent 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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`lo-g 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, for example, when an
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`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
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`term measurements or -large volumes of data are involved is it necessary for the
`
`interface to support a high data transfer rate.
`
`Frotm these randomly chosen examples it can be seen that an interface may be put to
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`tota.lly different uses. It is therefore desirable that an jinterface 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 rneans 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. T
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`To increase the data transfer rates across an interface, the route chosen in the second.
`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 or their use is very ineffective. Further, such types of interface
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`have the disadvantage:
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`that they must be installed inside:
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`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 jplug 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
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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
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`converts the PCMCIA interface into an interface known in the art as IEEB 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 transfersrate and delivers a data transfer rate of approximately 2 MBps as
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`__________,-,___-,n-,a-a, ,__,n_._,,____,.___,-_ ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 11
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 11
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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 int;erface device to establ.i_sh
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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 t.he said interface, an interface—specific driver must be installed
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`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
`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 h.ost devices, compromises must be accepted with
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`regard to the data transfer rate.
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`]?a1.'ticularly 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-
`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
`
`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.
`
`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
`
`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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`__.
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 12.
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 12
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`device provides optimal matching between a host device and a specific peripheral
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`device.
`
`The specialist publication IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 38, No. 05, page
`
`(245; "Communication Method between Devices through FTDD Interface" discloses an
`
`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
`
`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
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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
`
`floppy disk drive controller and
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`communication is initiated if the address is correct. However, this document contains
`
`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
`
`invention to provide an interface device for
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`cormmunication 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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`D
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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 m 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
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`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
`
`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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`irnplement the interface device according to the present invention.
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 13
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 13
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`sea mammrmeaemw
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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 rnulti—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 cornprise 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
`
`I:al<:es 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
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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, mu.lti—
`
`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 withthe specific driver software for the
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`rnulti—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
`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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`imterface device according to the present invention therefore simulates, -both in terms
`of hardware and software,
`the way in which a conventional input/output device
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`jfullctions, preferably that of a hard disk drive. As support
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`for hard disl<:s
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`is
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`implemented as standard in all commercially available host systems, the simulation of
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`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
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`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
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`normally precisely matched to the specific computer system on which it is installed,
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`ZTE (USA) 1002, Page 14
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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
`
`‘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
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`input/output interfaces in host systems is therefore present in all host systems so that
`
`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 i_n
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`:more detail with reference to the drawings enclosed, in which:
`
`lEi;g'. 1
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`shows a general block diagram of the interface device according; to the
`
`present invention; and
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`FigUH . 2 shows a detailed block diagram of an interface device according to a preferred
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`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Fig.
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`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
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`attached to a host device (not shown) via a host line 11. The first connecting device is
`attached both to a digital signal processor 13 and to a memory means 14. The digital.
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`signal. processor 13 and the memory means 14 are also attached to a second
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`connecting device 15 by means of bi—directional conimunication lines (shown for all
`
`limes by means of two directional arrows). The second connecting device can be
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`attached by means of an output line 16 to a data transmit/receive device which is to
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`receive data from the host device or from which data is to be read, i.e. acquired, and
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`transferred to the host device. The data transmit/recei.ve device itself can also
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`communicate actively with the host device via the first and second connecting device,
`
`as described in more detail in the following.
`
`Communication between the host system or host device and the interface device is
`
`based on known standard access commands as supported by all known ope