Apparatus and Method for Communicating Multiple Devices Through One PCMCIA Interface

This invention relates generally to computer communications through an interface defined by the standards of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), which interface is hereinafter referred to as a PCMCIA interface. The invention more specifically relates to an apparatus and a method for communicating multiple devices, whether of the same or different operating features (i.e., protocols), with a personal computer through a single PCMCIA interface of the computer (i.e., the computer may have more than one PCMCIA interface, but the present invention connects to and communicates with only one of them in a given installation).

Physically small, microprocessor-based computers referred to as personal computers, workstations, laptop computers, notebook computers, pocket computers, etc. have physical limits defined by their respective housings or packaging. To communicate outside these physical limits, these computers have interfaces to which external devices can be connected. For example, personal computers typically have at least one serial port to which a serial interface device such as a modem, a mouse or a scanner can be connected. Personal computers also typically have at least one parallel port to which a parallel interface device such as a printer can be connected.

Such interfaces require circuitry that connects both with the external device and with the internal microprocessor circuitry. As with the various types of microprocessor-based computers, different interface circuits may be embodied in different physical sizes. Some of these interface circuits are too big for the smaller physical sizes of some of these computers. To accommodate these smaller-sized computers, the PCMCIA promulgated standards for an interface known as the PCMCIA input/output and memory card interface (the aforementioned "PCMCIA interface"). This 68-pin interface has only one interrupt request line, which is the communication path over which an external device can send an electrical signal to get the computer's attention.

Because of its single interrupt request line, each PCMCIA interface of a computer has been used with only one external device. To accommodate additional external devices, additional interfaces would be needed; however, this sometimes cannot be done because the computer housing is not large enough to receive additional PCMCIA interface circuits despite their relatively small size. Even if there were room for more PCMCIA interfaces to be installed, adding more interfaces would increase the cost. Thus, there is the need for an apparatus and method by which more than one external device can communicate through a single PCMCIA interface.

The present invention overcomes the above-noted and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a novel and improved apparatus, and a novel and improved method, for communicating multiple devices, whether of the same or different operating features (i.e., protocols), with a personal computer through a single PCMCIA interface of the computer. Such multiple communications occur substantially-simultaneously despite having only one interrupt line in the interface between the present invention and the personal computer. [Although broader than its conventional definition, but for simplifying the terminology used hereinbelow, "personal computer" as used immediately above and subsequently in this specification and the claims encompasses the various types of microprocessor-based computers that use one or more PCMCIA interfaces.]

In addition to the advantage of communicating multiple devices through a single PCMCIA interface, the apparatus of the present invention can be implemented on a single circuit carrier referred to herein as a "PC card" (a printed circuit board approximately the size of a conventional credit card).

The apparatus for communicating multiple devices with a personal computer through only one PCMCIA interface of the computer comprises: computer connector means for connecting to a PCMCIA connector of one PCMCIA interface of a personal computer; first device connector means for connecting to a first device; and second device connector means for connecting to a second device. The apparatus further comprises first communication channel means, connected to the first device connector means, for communicating first device data within the apparatus. The apparatus also includes second communication channel means, connected to the second device connector means, for communicating second device data within the apparatus. The apparatus still further includes adapter means, connected to the first and second communication channel means and the computer connector means, for transferring first device data between the first communication channel means and the computer connector means and for transferring second device data between the second communication channel means and the computer connector means.

In a particular implementation, the present invention provides an apparatus for communicating a local area network and an RS-232 device with a personal computer through one PCMCIA interface of the computer. This apparatus comprises a PC card, and it further comprises the following which are mounted on the PC card: a PCMCIA connector having a plurality of pins designated in conformance with a PCMCIA input/output and memory card interface standard, which PCMCIA connector defines means for connecting at any one time to only one PCMCIA interface of a personal computer; a PCMCIA adapter circuit connected to the PCMCIA connector; first program storage memory, connected to the PCMCIA adapter circuit; dual port random access memory connected to the PCMCIA connector and the PCMCIA adapter circuit; an intelligent peripheral device connected to the PCMCIA adapter circuit, which intelligent peripheral device includes a microprocessor, a serial communications controller and a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter; second program storage memory; a microprocessor bus connected to the dual port random access memory, the intelligent peripheral device and the second program storage memory; means for connecting the serial communications controller to a local area network; and means for connecting the universal asynchronous receiver transmitter to an RS-232 device.

The present invention also provides a method of transferring data from multiple devices to a personal computer through a single interface of the personal computer. The method comprises the steps of: receiving an interrupt from a first device; communicating the received interrupt through a single interrupt line of a PCMCIA interface of a personal computer; transferring data from the first device through data lines of the PCMCIA interface to the personal computer in response to the personal computer processing the communicated interrupt; receiving data from a second device; storing the received data in a memory; and transferring stored data from the memory through the data lines of the PCMCIA interface to the personal computer.

Therefore, from the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus, and a novel and improved method, for communicating multiple devices, whether of the same or different operating features (i.e., protocols), with a personal computer through a single PCMCIA interface of the computer even though the computer may have more than one such interface. Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a personal computer to which an apparatus of the present invention is connected through one PCMCIA interface of the computer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic circuit diagrams of a particular implementation of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a program for a microprocessor-based controller of the preferred embodiment apparatus.

Relevant features of a personal computer 2 (as defined above) will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The personal computer 2 has a microprocessor (not shown) which communicates with external devices through one or more ports. One of these ports is defined by a PCMCIA interface 4 (specifically the PCMCIA Type II input/output and memory card interface in the preferred embodiment). The interface 4 has a mechanical coupling 6 and a PCMCIA interface circuit 8.

The coupling 6 is a known 68-pin receptacle to which external connections are made in a known manner. In the preferred embodiment, the coupling 6 is a connector to which a Type II PC card can be connected. By way of example, an HRS IC6 Series two-slot connector can be used in a particular implementation.

The PCMCIA interface circuit 8 performs signal conversion and other handling for transferring signals between the internal microprocessor bus of the personal computer 2 and external devices outside of the personal computer. The circuit 8 of the preferred embodiment is a conventional one, such as implemented in a single PCMCIA integrated circuit chip. This chip and the coupling 6 of the preferred embodiment are defined and operate in conformance with the pin assignments of the PCMCIA PC card standard release 2.00 for the aforementioned interface.

FIG. 1 also illustrates three ways that internal communications with the PCMCIA interface circuit 8 occur inside the personal computer 2. One of these is via protocol-specific applications resident in program memory within the personal computer 2. Examples of these are shown in FIG. 1 as a local area network (LAN) application program 10 and an RS-232 application program 12. These can be implemented by known programs for communicating with a local area network or an RS-232 serial communication device. These are written to communicate with the predetermined protocol of the external device. Prior to the present invention, only one of such programs would communicate with a given PCMCIA interface 4 because such interface would be connected to only a single external device. With the present invention, however, multiple devices, utilizing either the same or different protocols, can communicate with the personal computer 2 through the single PCMCIA interface 4.

A second way of internally working with the PCMCIA interface 4 is through a customized "client" program 14. This is a custom program specific to a known external device which is to be connected to the interface 4.

A third way, and the way used in conjunction with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is through a card services program 16 and a socket services program 18. Computer vendors implement programs 16, 18 to work with their specific hardware systems. The socket services program is a known type of program which is in effect a software layer on top of the hardware of the PCMCIA interface 4. The card services program 16 is in effect a software layer on top of the software of the socket services program 18. These are known programs with which communications can be conducted upon compliance with their standards. Such compliance only needs to be with regard to the card services program 16 because it is itself written to handle communications with one or more respective socket services program 18. A card services program standard relevant to the present disclosure is the PCMCIA card services specification release 2.0. As shown in FIG. 1, communications with the card services program 16 is via customized programming in the client program 14. Using this way of working with the PCMCIA interface 4 allows the present invention to be used with different computer platforms without additional software for each platform.

All of the aforementioned ways of communicating with the PCMCIA interface 4 operate within an operating system 20 of the personal computer 2 or an adaptive shell overlying the operating system.

The aforementioned programs are described above to exemplify the environment of the personal computer 2 with which the PCMCIA interface 4 functions. They are, however, otherwise not part of the present invention except to the extent they are used within any of the following explanations of the apparatus and method of the present invention. Such apparatus of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as the multiple device adapter 22. This apparatus will be more fully described with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

The apparatus 22 to be described is specifically adapted for communicating a local area network and an RS-232 device with the personal computer 2 through the single PCMCIA interface 4. In a specific implementation, the local area network is one which uses the ILAN protocol from Halliburton Energy Services (this protocol is based on the known SDLC and HDLC standards) and the RS-232 device is one which uses the EIA RS-232-C protocol (e.g., a modem, another computer, etc.). It is to be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to these two particular types of external devices or to these protocols. In general, the present invention can be adapted for use with multiple devices of the same or different protocols.

For connecting to the coupling 6 of the PCMCIA interface 4, the apparatus 22 includes a connector 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3A) that has a single interrupt line (pin 16 of connector 24 in FIG. 3A) which connects to a corresponding single interrupt request line of the PCMCIA coupling 6 when these two mating couplings are connected. This "computer-side" connector means 24 of the preferred embodiment includes the 68-pin connector shown in FIG. 3A, which connector has a plurality of pins designated in conformance with the aforementioned PCMCIA input/output and memory card interface standard (it is to be noted, however, that not all the pins of the connector 24 need be used). This computer connector means 24 of the preferred embodiment is a known type of connector used with PCMCIA devices known as "PC cards."

The apparatus 22 includes a device connector means 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3A) for connecting to a respective one of the external devices. In the preferred embodiment, this is a part of one consolidated connector assembly to which a connector from the RS232 device attaches. This connector is also a conventional piece of hardware for use with a PC card.

The apparatus 22 includes a device connector 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3A) for connecting to another respective external device. In the preferred embodiment, this is another part of the one consolidated connector assembly to which the local area network connects.

Line drivers and receivers are typically needed to maintain proper signal integrity or levels when communicating with external devices of the type with which the present invention can be used, as would be readily understood in the art. To facilitate the reduced size of the preferred embodiment apparatus 22, such line drivers and receivers are molded into a cable that connects at one end to the single connector assembly embodying the connector means 26, 28 and connects at its other end (or split ends) to the respective cables for the respective external devices.

Connected to the connector 26 is a communication channel means 30 (FIG. 2) for communicating data within the apparatus 22; this data is communicated over this channel to or from the external device connected to the connector 26. This particular channel in the preferred embodiment includes means for generating an interrupt in response to a communication received from the respective external device (in this case, the connected RS-232 device). This is particularly implemented by a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) 32 (FIG. 2) which is connected to the connector 26 and mounted on a PC card 34 (FIG. 2) which forms another part of the apparatus 22. In a specific implementation, the UART 32 is part of an intelligent peripheral device 36 (FIG. 3B). The intelligent peripheral device 36 further includes a microprocessor 38 (FIG. 2), a serial communications controller 40 (FIG. 2) and a direct memory access controller 42 (FIG. 2). In the particular implementation of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the device 36 is a model Z80182 Zilog Intelligent Peripheral (ZIP). In this embodiment, the UART 32 is set-up initially and can be modified by the microprocessor 38 and it informs the microprocessor 38 of its status; otherwise, the UART 32 operates independently from the microprocessor 38.

Connected to the device connector 28 is a communication channel means 44 (FIG. 2) for communicating data within the apparatus 22; this data is communicated over this channel to or from the external device connected to the connector 28. This communication channel means 44 includes the intelligent peripheral device 36 (specifically the microprocessor 38, the serial communications controller 40 and the direct memory access controller 42 thereof) and a dual port random access memory 46 (FIGS. 2 and 3B). A microprocessor bus 48 (FIG. 2) connects the microprocessor 38 and the dual port random access memory 46. The bus 48 also connects to a program storage memory 50 (FIGS. 2 and 3A) and a static random access memory 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3B), which static random access memory is also used in the communication channel 44 as an intervening or intermediate storage location. The intelligent peripheral device 36 is also connected to the device connector 28 as indicated by the common labeling in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The dual port random access memory 46 includes port address lines 54 (FIGS. 2 and 3B) connected to the computer connector 24. It also includes port data lines 56 (FIGS. 2 and 3B) connected to an adapter means subsequently described. The memory 46 further includes port address lines 58 (FIGS. 2 and 3B) connected to address lines of the microprocessor 38 and port data lines 60 (FIGS. 2 and 3B) connected to data lines of the microprocessor 38 via the microprocessor bus 48.

The apparatus 22 still further includes the aforementioned adapter means for transferring data between the communication channel means 30 and the computer connector 24 and for transferring data between the communication channel means 44 and the computer connector 24. The adapter means includes means for sending an interrupt over the single interrupt line of the connector 24 in response to the interrupt from the communication channel means 30 (specifically, from the UART 32). The adapter means still further includes means for retrieving data from the communication channel 44 at an address provided directly to the communication channel 44 from the personal computer 2 through the PCMCIA connector 6 and the computer connector 24.

The foregoing are defined in the preferred embodiment apparatus 22 by a PCMCIA adapter integrated circuit chip 62 (FIGS. 2 and 3A) connected to each of the universal asynchronous receiver transmitter 32 of the communication channel 30, the dual port random access memory 46 of the communication channel 44, and the 68-pin computer connector 24. This also includes a program storage memory 64 (FIGS. 2 and 3A) connected to the PCMCIA-adapter circuit 62.

In accordance with the foregoing, the intelligent peripheral device 36 is connected to the PCMCIA adapter circuit 62 so that data communications with a connected RS-232 device pass through the universal asynchronous receiver transmitter 32 and the PCMCIA adapter circuit 62. The intelligent peripheral device 36, the dual port random access memory 46 and the PCMCIA adapter circuit 62 are connected so that data communications with a connected local area network pass through the serial communications controller 40, the static random access memory 52, the dual port random access memory 46 and the PCMCIA adapter circuit 62.

The apparatus 22 also comprises the PC card 34 (FIG. 2) containing printed circuits making appropriate electrical connections and providing a support member for the other aforementioned elements of the preferred embodiment apparatus 22.

To control the operation of the apparatus 22, there are programs stored in the memory 50 and the memory 64. Programs of a particular implementation of the apparatus 22 are set forth at the end of this specification. The operations implemented by these programs include the following.

Upon reset or start-up, the intelligent peripheral device 36 reads from the memory 50 (a flash EEPROM in a particular implementation) which in turn sends device 36 information to set up its internal peripherals (DMAC 42, SCC 40, UART 32), initialize microprocessor 38 (memory locations, wait states, etc.), place LAN initialization code into the dual port RAM 46, and enter a loop that checks dual port RAM 46 for a LAN response. The information inside the flash EEPROM 50 is the flash EEPROM program set forth at the end of this specification. See FIG. 4, "Initialization."

Also upon reset or start-up, the PCMCIA adapter 62 reads information from the memory 64 (a serial EEPROM in a particular implementation). This information is used to set up the PCMCIA adapter 62 for its particular mode of operation and inform the PCMCIA adapter 62 of the apparatus 22 power requirements, the input/output space and interrupt usage, and the vendor information (vendor name, product version, etc.). This information is known as the Tuple Code and is in the serial EEPROM program for the particular implementation set forth at the end of this specification.

Both of the above processes occur simultaneously within the PCMCIA apparatus 22. Both programs (flash EEPROM and serial EEPROM) can be modified through the PCMCIA interface 24 from a program inside the personal computer 2.

Both PCMCIA processes, RS-232 and LAN in the depicted embodiment, operate concurrently within the PCMCIA apparatus 22. That is, even though the microprocessor 38 is a single tasking device (i.e.,--only one instruction can be executed in a given time period), the speed of instruction execution on the microprocessor 38 allows several events to be processed in rapid succession giving the appearance of simultaneous process execution. The speed of operation is such that many processes can be executed without any delay in process performance and without any loss of data.

The RS-232 process is initiated when a reset or power-on occurs. Information is read from the flash EEPROM 50 by the microprocessor 38. The microprocessor 38 interprets the information and sets up the UART 32 to the appropriate settings for communication. Once the UART has been set-up, it operates independently from the microprocessor 38 and behaves like an industry standard 16550 UART. Once a program on the personal computer 2 sets up the appropriate configuration for communicating with the serial port through Card and Socket Services (FIG. 1), Card and Socket Services handles the details of transferring the data between the personal computer 2 and the PCMCIA device 22. In the particular implementation of FIGS. 3A and 3B, RS-232 communications, both control and data, are handled through the PCMCIA adapter 62 as apparent from the signal labeling in those drawings.

Data flows from the personal computer 2 through the PCMCIA interface port 24 to the transmit holding register of the UART 32 via the PCMCIA adapter 62. The PCMCIA adapter 62 routes the data to the appropriate device (in this case, the UART 32) depending upon its configuration. For example, if the PCMCIA adapter 62 is configured to use serial communications port number two, then when the personal computer 2 sends data to serial communications port number one, no data is sent to the UART 32 on the PCMCIA device 22. Only when the serial communications port request matches the configuration of the PCMCIA adapter 62 is the data sent to the UART 32. The PCMCIA adapter 62 can be configured to handle multiple devices and route data accordingly. Once the data (a single byte) is in the transmit holding register of the UART 32, it is copied to the transmit shift register of the UART 32 where it is shifted out serially through the serial bus of the communication channel 30 to the RS-232 port connector 26. After the data has been shifted out of the transmit shift register, the UART 32 signals the personal computer 2 through the PCMCIA adapter 62 that the transmit holding register is empty. The personal computer 2 then sends the next byte of data and the process is repeated until the personal computer 2 has no more data to transmit. One having knowledge of an 16550 UART can readily operate the UART 32 in accordance with the foregoing.

Data flows in serially from the RS-232 port 26 through the serial bus of the communication channel 30 into the receive shift register of the UART 32. Once the complete data (a single byte) has been shifted into the receive shift register, it is transferred to the receive holding register of the UART 32. After the data has entered the receive holding register, the UART transmits an interrupt signal. This interrupt signal is captured by the PCMCIA adapter 62 and is re-transmitted to the personal computer 2 through the PCMCIA port 24. The PCMCIA adapter 62 transmits the interrupt signal according to its configuration. For example, if the PCMCIA apparatus 22 serial port has been configured to use interrupt request line 3 (IRQ3), then a receive interrupt from the UART 32 would cause the PCMCIA adapter 62 to send IRQ3 to the personal computer 2. Once the personal computer 2 has detected the interrupt, it obtains the data from the UART 32 receive holding register through the PCMCIA port 24 via the PCMCIA adapter 62. This process occurs each time data is received by the UART 32. Note that the personal computer 2 must retrieve the data from the receive holding register of the UART 32 before the next byte of data has been shifted into the receive shift register because the receive shift register automatically overwrites the receive holding register once it becomes full. One having knowledge of the 16550 UART can readily operate the UART 32 in accordance with the foregoing.

The LAN process is initiated when a reset or power-on occurs. Information is read from the flash EEPROM 50 by the microprocessor 38. The microprocessor 38 interprets the information and sets up the SCC 40 and the DMAC 42 to the appropriate settings for communication. The PCMCIA adapter 62 is configured by information in the serial EEPROM 64 upon reset or power-on to retrieve information sent to a particular set of memory addresses. This set of memory addresses corresponds to the memory of the dual port RAM 46 which is "mapped" into the personal computer 2 memory area at the location specified in the PCMCIA adapter 62 configuration. When data is written by the personal computer 2 to the "mapped" area of the dual port RAM 46 via the PCMCIA adapter 62, it can be read by the PCMCIA microprocessor 38 from the dual port RAM 46. Also, when data is written to the dual port RAM 46 by the microprocessor 38, it can be read by the personal computer 2 through the PCMCIA adapter 62 and the PCMCIA port 24. The "mapped" memory area can be changed by modifying the PCMCIA interface circuit 8 configuration in the personal computer 2 through the card services program 16.

The microprocessor 38 continuously checks to see if a frame (block) of data has been received from the LAN port connector means 28 or if a frame of data has been entered into the dual port RAM 46 for transmission. If either event is true, the microprocessor 38 performs the appropriate transmit or receive operation for the data frame.

For the LAN process, data to or from the personal computer 2 is transferred through the PCMCIA adapter 62; however, the personal computer 2 can directly address the memory 46 as indicated by the address signal labeling in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

A data frame to be transmitted is placed into the "mapped" memory area by the personal computer 2 via the PCMCIA adapter 62. This "mapped" memory area corresponds to the dual port RAM memory 46 on the PCMCIA device 22. When the microprocessor 38 detects, via a control bit in the memory 46, that data has been placed in the dual port RAM 46, it transfers the data frame to the static RAM 52. The microprocessor 38 then activates the DMAC 42, which then transfers the data frame from the static RAM 52 to the SCC 40. The SCC 40 transmits the data frame serially through the bus of the communication channel 44 to the LAN port 28 where it is sent out on the network. The SCC 40 appends the data frame with a CRC checksum for data validation.

A data frame is received serially from the port 28 through the bus of the communication channel 44 to the SCC 40 thereof. The microprocessor 38 detects that data is being received and activates the DMAC 42, which transfers the data frame into the static RAM 52. Once the data has been received, the SCC 40 checks the CRC checksum that was appended to the data frame. If the data frame is valid, the microprocessor 38 receives a valid signal from the SCC. If the data is not valid, no valid signal is received by the microprocessor 38 and the data is discarded. Once the data is validated, the microprocessor 38 transfers the data from the static RAM 52 to the dual port RAM 46 where it is then read by the personal computer 2 at the "mapped" memory area. In the particular implementation, reading by the personal computer 2 occurs via a polling process rather than by an interrupt process as used in the aforementioned RS-232 process. Polling occurs by the personal computer causing appropriate addresses to be output through the PCMCIA interface 4 to the address lines of the computer connector 24 to which the memory 46 is connected.

The apparatus 22 is used in the preferred embodiment in accordance with, and to perform, the foregoing method whereby data is transferred from multiple external devices to the personal computer 2, and vice versa, through the single PCMCIA interface 4. In the preferred embodiment, the method is performed on the single PC device 22 which is connected to the PCMCIA interface 4 of the personal computer 2 and to the external devices.

Although the apparatus 22 of the preferred embodiment is described with reference to only two external devices, the present invention contemplates accommodating even more external devices through a single PCMCIA interface 4. The number is limited by the bus speed of the personal computer 2 and the space restrictions of the PCMCIA apparatus 22.

To accommodate more than the two devices referred to above and shown in the drawings, either of the following changes, for example, could be made to the illustrated embodiment:

(1) An area of the dual port memory 46 could be used by the apparatus 22 to store information about the device that needs to be serviced. The apparatus 22 could then throw the interrupt line, signaling the personal computer 2 that a device needs to be serviced. The personal computer 2 could then read the dual port memory 46 to obtain information about the device needing to be serviced. This could also work with a polling method in place of an interrupt method.

(2) A prioritization interrupt controller could be used on the apparatus 22 to send a vector (program pointer) to the personal computer 2 when the apparatus 22 throws an interrupt. This vector would tell the computer 2 which device needs servicing and what its needs are.

Returning to the illustrated embodiment, there is no need for the apparatus 22 to itself arbitrate between the two external devices to determine which one needs to be handled. This is so because only one of the two internal communication channels (specifically, communication channel 30) uses the PCMCIA interrupt request line. The other communication channel (i.e., communication channel 44) simply leaves retrieved data in the dual port memory 46 where the data awaits retrieval by polling from the personal computer 2. It is, however, contemplated that the apparatus 22 can be programmed to arbitrate among two or more external devices and to send appropriate sequential interrupts over the single PCMCIA interrupt request line.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for the purpose of this disclosure, changes in the construction and arrangement of parts and the performance of steps can be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims. ##SPC1##