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`EXAMINER |
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` “*APPLICANTS: Tasler Michael’
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`“CONTINUING DATA VERIFIED:
`This apalication is a DIV of 09/331 ,002 06/14/7999
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`-
`
`Si P soryPATENTEXAMINER,
`nen — ReimannExaminer pee ALG
`7
`[ TERMINAL
`plication Examiner
`DISCLAMER
`‘WARNING: The information disclosed herein may be restricted,
`‘Unauthorized. disclosure may be prohibited by the United States Code Title 35,
`:Sections.122, 181 and 368, Possession outside the U.S. Patent & Trademark
`Office is'restricted.io.authorized employees and contractors only.
`[} Disk (CRF).
`[-] cp-Rom ©
`(Attached.In pockat.on right!Insida flap)
`
`:
`paranais la.
`.
`PG:PUEI[DO.NOTNOT PUBLISH C)
`
`‘Foreign|prictity claimed yes a no STTORNEY DOCKET NO
`35 USC 119 conditions met
`phyes ono
`13189.129D1 (.150)
`‘knowledged Examiners’s intials
`il ITLE : Flexibleinterface for communication batween a host and an analog I/O device connectedtothe
`ce regatdless the type of the /O device
`US.DE°T. OF COMM. /PAT.&
`
`
`
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`
`|eal Kirn
`
`Assistant Examiner
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`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUSEX. 1002 - 1/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 1/74
`
`

`

`PATENT APPLICATION SERIAL NO._/@2/
`
`a1)
`0 ee
`“2| L105
`
`U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`FEE RECORD SHEET
`
`1/19/2002 WASFAWL
`O: FC2201
`
`90000035 501848 10819105
`379.00 CH
`
`PTO-1556
`
`(3/87)
`“U.S, GovemmantPrinting Offize: 2001 — 481-697/69173
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 2/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 2/74
`
`

`

` By
`
`ve)
`
`~
`
`" Univep States Parent AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`~
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`4
`Patund
`and Trademark Obie
`
`
`PS. Rox
`Addreaa; COMME ONE ‘ioe PATENTS Kea
`Alesantia. Virgin 22.913-1.140.
`sew ae tesplty dans
`
`_
`
`CONFIRMATION NO. 6042
`
`UA MTOMa
`
`Bb Data Sheet
`
`
` FILING DATE
`ATTORNEY
`08/15/2002
`GROUP ART UNIT
`SERIAL NUMBER
`“DOCKET NO.
`2182
`10/219,105 wn
`
`13189.129D1 (150)
`RULE
`
`
`“APPLICANTS
`
`Micheel Tasler, Wuerzburg, GERMANY;
`
`CONTINUING DATA Sttinraiieonii connie
`This application is a DIV af 02/331 ,002 06/14/1999 PAT 6,470,399
`
`* EQREIGN APPLICATIONS *tttht Herein
`GERMANY 19708755.8 03/04/1997
`EUROP =AN PATENT OFFICE (EPO) PCT/EP98/01187 03/03/1998
`
`IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING LICENSE GRANTED ** SMALL ENTITY **
`** 09/18/2002
`Sasaa
`)pcocaninsinioooaan
`ase
`
`Foreign Friority clained
`Q yes (J no
` STATE OR|SHEETS TOTAL=|INDEPENDENT|
`
`
`35 USC 148 (a-d) conditions=(] yes CD no CI met atter
`
`met
`Allowance
`
`
`Vertied and
`COUNTRY
`DRAWING
`CLAIMS
`CLAIMS
`
`
`
`
`Acknowledged|cmpeesloeeleatermnt'lcadleeameeerent
`2
`18
`Examiners Signature
`Initials
`wrenome
`|. GERMANY
`
`
`
`
` hitp://reo:8000/PrexServlet/PrexAction
`
`[aseTeCRAMAL
`
`ADDRESS
`22862
`GLENN PATENT GROUP
`3475 EDISON WAY. SUITE L
`MENLO FARK , CA
`84025
`
`“TLE
`CLEXIBLE INTERFACE FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A HOST AND AN ANALOG I/O DEVICE
`
`
`
`IGONNECTED TO THE INTERFACE REGARDLESS THE TYPE OF THE I/O DEVICE
`
` FEES: Authority has been given in Paper
`
`
`C] 4.16 Fees(Filing) SSS
`
`
`
`No.
`__ to charge/credit DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
`
` FILING FEE
`
`No.
`
`__ for following:
`a) 1.17 Fees (Processing Ext. of
`time)
`
`RECEIVED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4/14/05
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 3/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 3/74
`
`

`

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`"s'nLegal
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`Underthe Pa serwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respondto a collection ofinformation unlessit displays a vatld OMB contrat number.
`——— UTILITY
`AitorneyDocket No.
`13189,129D1 (150)
`___.)
`Misha! Taster
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`a
`TRAN SM ITTAL
`Flexible Interface For Communication Between A Host And An Analog
`VO Device Connected To The Interface Regardless The Type Of Bs
`Title
`VO Device
`EeEE
`Express Mail Label No.
`£L946142680US
`\_(Onlyfor new ronprevisional applications under 37 C.F.R. 1.53(b)!
`Assistant Commissionerfor Patents
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`ADDRESS TO: seein
`
`See MPEP cnapier 600 cancerning utility patent application contents.
`Washington, DC 26231
`Fee Transmittal Form (e.g., PTO/SB/17)
`7.) CD-ROM or CD-Rin duplicate, large table or
`BY
`(Suterct an original and a duplicate for fea processing)
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`2 Applicant claims small entity status.
`8. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`See 37 CFR1.27.
`(if applicabie, ail nacassary)
`—
`3.2
`Specification
`[Total Pages Cw| ]
`a. ([] Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`(creferred arrangement set forth below)
`5. Specification Sequence Listing on:
`
`+ Descriptive title of the Invention
`i. (9 CD-ROMor CD-R (2 copies); or
`Cross Reference to Related Applications
`ii. C paper
`- Statement Regarding Fed sponsored R & D
`- Bg .
`- Reference to sequencelisting,a tale,
`c. L] Statements verifying identity of above copies
`or a computer program listing appendix
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATIONS PARTS
`
`- Background ofthe Invention
`————$$
`
`
`- Brnef Summary of the Invention
`90 Assignment Papers (cover sheet & dacumentis)}
`
`10. o 37 C.F.R.§3.73(9) Statement
`oO Power of
`- Bref Description of the Drawings( ‘f filed)
`- Detailed Description
`
`(when there is an assignee)
`Attorney
`- Claim(s)
`|
`
`~ Abstract of the Disclosure 14.£]—English Translation Document(if applicable)
`
`
`
`12.)_Information Disclosure (1 Copiesof DS
` Drawing(s) (35 U.S.C.173)
`4.DX
`[Total Sheets l2_|
`Statement (IDS/PTO-1449
`Citations
`5. Oath or Declaration
`[Total Pages [s_|
`]
`
`Preliminary Amendment(9 pages)
`13.
`a.
`[_] Newly executed (original or copy)
`
`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`14.4]
`[x] Copy froma prior application (37 CFR 1.63 (d))
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`(fora sontinuation/divisional vetsBox 78 completed)
`Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`15.)
`
`(if foreign priority is claimed)
`Signed statement attached aie Sets
`46.[L—Nonpublication Request under 35 U.S.C, 122
`named In the prior application, see 37 CFR
`(b)(2)(B)(i).. Applicant must attach form PTO/SB/35
`1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`
`orits equivalent.
`6. Application Data Sheet (3 pages). See 37 CFR 1.75
`17,
`Other: Express Mail Certificate (1
`page
`
`18. If a CONTINUING APPLICATION,check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information belowandin a preliminary amendment,
`or in an Application Data Sheet under 37 CFR 1.76:
`
`E]} Continuation
`I Divisional
`(1 Continuation-in-part (CIP)
`of prior application No: 09 / 331,002
`Group /Art Unit: 2185,
`Prior application information:
`Examiner Du, Thuan N
`
`
`
`_
`
`, under Box 5b, ls considered a part of the disclosure of the accompanying ordivisional application and is hereby Incorporated by reference.
`“ The incorporation canonly be relied upon when a portion has been inadvertently omlttecl from tha submitted application parts.
`
`———ee 19, CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`
`Correspondence address beiow
`(1
`or
`
`
`PATENT TRADEMARK CFFICE
`= |.
`
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`
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`Stata
`Zip Code
`Country
`Telephone
`Fax
`
`Registration No, (Attorney/Agent)
`Carl A, Forest
`ame(Prini/Type)
`
`Signature
`
`
`ee—“‘(VZ/!
`eae
`Burden Hour Staternent: This form istestimated to take 0.2 hours io complete. Time will vary depending upon the needsoftheindividual case. Any
`comments on tha amourit of time you are required to completethis form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark
`‘Office, Washingion, DC 20231. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Assistant Commissoner for
`Patents, Box Patent Application, Washington, D> 20231.
`
`
`
`=N
`
`4388v1
`
`
`
`
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 4/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 4/74
`
`

`

`7
`
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`130
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`17
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`1,840" Requesting publication of SIR after
`& Charge fee(s)indicated below [J Creuit any overpayments
`Examineraction
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`55
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`278
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`370 Request for Conlinued Examination (R:2E)
`
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`bo SUBTOTAL (2)|($}0 “|
`SUBTOTAL(3)
`“Reduced by BasicFiling Fee Paid
`| “ornumberfprevious‘lypaid, ifgreater; ForReissues, seeabove
`
`
`
`SUBMITTEDBY
`
`_ Name (PrinvType}»| CalA Forest
`Registration No. Attomey/Agent)
`28,494
`Slgneture
`
`PTOISBIN7 (10-01)
`12412002..ON8,0
`“LAT
`U.S. Patent and“Pra.
`
`"3 cai uarant‘SeLae
`95, no persons are required to respond to a cotiection of Informat.
`Under the Papemork Reduction Ac
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`
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`
`F EE TRAN MI A " Application Number|Appiled For __
`
`
`Filing Data
`|_Herewith ee
`for FY 2002
`
`First Named Inventor|Michael Tasier
`
`~
`-
`Patent fees are subject to annualrevision.
`
`
`pere——§—|Examiner Name Du, Thuan N. _ __
`
`
`
`
`
`_& Applicant claims smailentity status. See 37 CFR 1.27|Group / Art Unit 2185
`
`\ TOTALAMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`($)
`370
`Attorney Docket No,
`_|_13189.128D1 (150)
`_
`~"HIETHOD OF PAYMENT(checkall that apply)
`check (1 Creditcard
`[) Money 1 Cther [] None
`Order
`(Deposit Account:
`Deposit
`Account
`Number
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`Date
`WARNING: Information onthis farm may become public. Credit card information should not be
`included on this form. Provide credit card informatlon and authorization on PTO-2036.
`@urden Hour Statement: This form is estimated to take 0.2 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 complata this fo‘m should be sent so the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC 20231,
`DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TQ) THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO:Assistant Commissioner for Patents, Washington, DC 20231
`
`Complete (applicable)
`303-379-1114
`SfYs Vee.~
`
`83824
`
`,
`
`
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 5/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 5/74
`
`

`

`kg 1 IR
`
`Divisional
`
`Flexible Interface For Communication Between
`A Host And An Analog I/O Device Connected
`To The Interface Regardless The Type Of The
`\/0 Device
`
`710
`
`2185
`
`No
`
`NIA
`
`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
`1/0 Device
`
`13189.129D1 (.150)
`No
`
`No
`
`FIG. 1
`
`2 sheets
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Preliminary Amendment
`No
`
`N/A
`
`‘ No
`
`ApplicationDataSheet
`
`Application Information
`
`Application Type::
`
`Subject Matter::
`
`Suggested Classification::
`
`Suggested Group Art Unit:
`CD-ROMor CD-R ?::
`
`Nurnberof CD Disks::
`
`Nurnberof copies of CDs::
`
`Sequence submission?::
`
`Cornputer Readable Form (CRF)?::
`
`Numberof copies of CRF::
`Title::
`
`Attorney Docket Number:
`
`Request for Early Publication?::
`
`Request for Non-Publication?::
`
`Suggested Drawing Figure::
`
`Total Drawing Sheets::
`
`Small Entity::
`Petition Included?::
`
`Petition Type:
`
`Licensed US Govt. Agency::
`Contract or Grant Numbers::
`
`Secrecy Order in Parent Appl.?::
`
`5391v1
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 6/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 6/74
`
`

`

`APOCES a IER:
`
`Applicant Information
`
`Applicant Authority type::
`
`Primary Citizenship
`Country::
`Status::
`
`Given: Name::
`
`Middle Name::
`
`Farnily Name::
`Name Suffix::
`
`Inventor
`
`Germany
`Current
`
`Michael
`
`N/A
`
`Tasler
`
`N/A
`
`City of Residence::
`State or Province of Residence::
`
`Wuerzburg
`N/A
`
`Country of Residence::
`
`Street of mailing address::
`
`City of mailing address::
`
`State or Province of mailing address::
`
`Countryof mailing address::
`
`Postal or Zip Code of mailing address:
`
`Germany
`Cronthalstrasse 6c
`
`Wuerzburg
`N/A
`
`Germany
`D-97074
`
`CorrespondenceInformation
`
`Correspondence Customer Number::
`Narme::
`
`24283
`
`Carl A. Forest
`
`Street of mailing address::
`
`City of mailing address::
`
`State or Province of mailing address::
`
`Postal or Zip Code of mailing address:
`Phone Number::
`
`Fax Number:
`
`E-mail address::
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`N/A
`
`303-379-1114
`
`303-379-1155
`
`CForest@pattonboggs.cam
`
`839101
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 7/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 7/74
`
`

`

`ale MOS Lacy Tor
`
`ow EL
`
`
`
`[No more than 9 digits}
`24283
`
`|
`
`Representative Information
`
`“Representative Customer
`
`Number::
`
`Domestic Priority Information
`
`
`Application: Continuity Type::|Parent Application::|Parent Filing Date:: |
`
`
`‘Us Divisional~109/331,002 June 14,1999
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Eenn
`
`
`a.
`-
`——
`
`Foreign Priority Information
`Country::
`Application No.::| Filing Date::
`Priority Claimed:
`
`Germany
`197087558
`March 4, 1997 Yes
`
`PCT
`EP98/01187
`March3, 1998
`Yes a
`
`Assignee Information
`
`Assignee name::
`
`Street of mailing address::
`
`City of mailing address::
`
`Labortechnik Tasler GmbH
`
`Cronthalstrasse 6c
`
`Wuerzburg
`
`State or Province of mailing address::
`
`N/A
`
`Country of mailing address::
`
`Germany
`
`Postal or Zip Code of mailing address::
`
`97074
`
`Recordation Date::
`Reel/Frame::
`
`July 23, 2001
`012023/0515
`
`8391v1
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 8/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 8/74
`
`

`

`GE ARIE IS
`
`National Phase of PCT/EP98/01187 in U.S.A,
`Title: Flexible Interface
`Applicant: TASLER, Michael
`g
`
`Translation of PCT Application PCT/EP98/01187
`as originally filed
`
`  
`
`

 
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 9/74
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 9/74
`
`

`

` HE BOPMYe t
`
`AE GIG aR
`
`
`
`Flexible Interface
`
`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 systemscan 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 interfaces 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
`
`independentof 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
`systerns and ‘they offer few possibilities for adaptation with the result
`that such
`systems offerlittle flexibility.
`
`The devices from which data is to be acquired cover the entire electrical engineering
`spectrum. Ina typical case, it is assumed that a customer who operates, for example, a
`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 aportable
`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 fromcurrentoperation. Il is apparent thal in this case fast data
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`transfer and rapid data analysis are necessary.
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`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 10/74
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`ASN Lae Py ASIER
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`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
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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 transferrate.
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`From these randomly chosen examplesit 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 attachmentof very different electrical or electronic systems to a host device
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`by meansof 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 numberof applications.
`
`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
`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
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`matched to a single host system withthe 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 that they must be installed inside the computer casing to
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`achieve maximum datatransfer 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 leaveslittle internal space to plug in an interface card.
`
`Asolution to this problem is offered by the interface devices of IOtech (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
`converts the PCMCIA interface into an interface knownin 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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`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 11/74
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`1 MBps for known printer interfaces. The known
`compared with a rate of approx.
`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 componentis attached directly to
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`tae enhanced printer interface thus permitting the knawn 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
`
`precessorofthe interface card. As described above, the driver must be installed on the
`
`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 |
`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.
`
`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
`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, ie. they are incompatible, as happens in practice in
`many applications. It may occur that both drivers are set to highest priority which,in
`the worst case, can result in a system crash.
`
`EP 0685799 Al discloses an interface by means of which several peripheral devices
`can beattached 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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`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 12/74
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 12/74
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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
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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
`
`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
`makesit possible to attach not only a floppy disk drive but also a further peripheral
`device to the FDD host controler of a host device. The host device assumes that a
`
`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.
`
`invention to provide an interface device for
`the object of the present
`is
`it
`communication between a host device and a data transmit/receive device whose use is
`
`host device-independent and which delivers a high data transfer rate.
`
`This object is achieved by an interface device according to claim 1 or 12 and by a
`method according to claim 15,
`
`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 utilized, 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
`
`highest data transfer rate, the hard disk driver is utilized in the preferred embodiment
`ofthe interface device of the present invention. Drivers for other storage devices such
`as floppy disk drives, CD-ROM drives or tape drives could also be utilized in order to
`
`implementthe interface device according to the presentinvention.
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`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 13/74
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`AES
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`Asdescribed 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 roulti-purposeinterfaces can also already be integrated in the
`BIOS system of the host device as, alongside classical input/output interfaces, multi-
`purpose interfaces are becoming increasingly common in host devices, It is of course
`also possible to use BIOS routines in parallel with the specific driver software for the
`multi-purpose interface,if this is desired.
`
`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 waythat the interface device, when
`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 ofthe
`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 meansof a specially designed driver but.by means of a
`program whichis present in the ‘BIOS system (Basic Input/Output System) and is
`normally precisely raatched to the specific computer system on whichit is installed,
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`or by means ofa specific program for the multi-purpose interface. Consequently, the
`interface device according to the present invention combines the advantages of both
`eroups. On the one hand, communication between the computer and the interface
`takes place by means ofa host device-specific BIOS program or by meansof 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
`input/output interfaces in host systems is therefore present in all host systems so that
`the interface device according to the present inventionis host device-independent.
`
`Inthe following, preferred embodimentsof the present invention will be explained in
`
`more detail with reference to the drawings enclosed, in which:
`
`Fig. 1
`
`showsa general block diagram of the interface device according to the
`present invention; and
`
`Fig. 2 shows a detailed block diagram ofan interface device according to a preferred
`
`embodimentofthe present invention.
`
`1 shows a general block diagram of an interface device 10 according to the
`Fig.
`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
`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 lines (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,
`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 operating
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`OLYMPUS EX.1002 - 15/74
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1002 - 15/74
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`SO ORNS SEK aL
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`systems (c.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
`connectedis 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
`inquiry instruction via the first connecting device and generates a signal whichis sent
`to the host device (not shown) again via the first connecting device 12 and the host
`line 11, This signal indicates to the host device that, for example, a hard disk driveis
`attached at the interface to which the INQUIRY instruction was sent, Optionally, the
`host device can send an instruction, known bythose skilled in the art as "Test Unit
`Ready", to the interface device to request more precise details regarding the queried
`device.
`
`Regardless of which data transmit/receive device at the output line 16 is attached to
`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. Thedigital signal processor 13, whose operating system in stored
`
`in the rnemory means 14, respondsto 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., knownto 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