Importance

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Abstract

A distributed microcomputer network is interconnected with a plurality of operator-supervised, numerically controlled (N/C) machines, visual display paging boards, terminal printers and CRT/keyboard terminals for communicating operator-originated CALLs (requests for assistance) to support personnel via the paging boards and terminal printers, and for sensing and transmitting encoded signals representing the STATUS of each machine to a central control room where the current status of the various machines is displayed on a CRT and where a central data processor compiles periodic reports of the operating history of each machine and stores such reports on a permanent recording. The microcomputer network includes a separate microcomputer for each machine for receiving and concentrating CALL and STATUS data at the individual machine level. These machine microcomputers and their associated machines are divided into separate groups and each group is linked, by a serial transmit/receive data path, to a local microcomputer which further concentrates CALL and STATUS data received from the individual machine microcomputers of the associated group, and which is linked to a visual display microcomputer that controls a paging board assigned to that group of machines. A front end microcomputer, collects the CALLs from all of the local microcomputers and hence their associated display microcomputers for causing all CALLs to be displayed on all of the paging boards located throughout the plant area.

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First Claim