Importance

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Abstract

A multistation computer system includes a host computer and a plurality of workstations coupled to the host computer by a communications bus. The host computer is coupled to the communications bus by a host controller and each workstation is coupled to the communications bus by a workstation controller. When the host computer performs a data transaction with a workstation, the host controller monitors the bus signals on the host computer and determines which workstation is being addressed. The host's bus signals are then encoded and sent to the appropriate workstation in a data packet transmitted over the communications bus. In the preferred embodiment the encoded bus signals are transmitted over an optical fiber bus which is daisy chained to all the workstation in the computer system and then back to the host computer. At the workstation the encoded bus signals are decoded and then asserted on the workstation's bus. Signals sent by the workstation back to the host computer go through a similar encoding, transmission and decoding process. The system thereby mimics the operation of a workstation which is directly coupled to the internal bus of the host computer. Memory or data transfers from the host to any workstation are immediately acknowledged by the apparatus of the present invention, even though the data has not yet been received by the workstation. This allows the host to immediately move on to its next task without having to wait for the workstation to process the previous data transfer.

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First Claim