Thomas Benjamin Gafford

US Patent:

20030120851, Jun 26, 2003

Filed:

Sep 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/243537

Inventors:

Thomas Gafford - Redondo Beach CA, US
Botond Eross - Palo Alto CA, US
James Moorer - San Rafael CA, US

International Classification:

G06F013/36

US Classification:

710/306000

Abstract:

The technical field of the invention generally concerns digital computers and, in particular, repeaters or switches () for distributed arbitration digital data buses (and ) to which devices (and ) connect in parallel. The bus repeater/switch () includes a plurality of bus interface cards () that are connected to the distributed arbitration buses (and ) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (and ) connected thereto. The bus interface cards () connect to a control card () which allows signals from one of the sharing buses (or ) to be ex-changed with the shared bus (). The bus switch () also includes selector switch (or ) for choosing which particular one of the sharing buses (or ) exchanges digital data signals with the shared bus (). The bus switch () responds to signals on the distributed arbitration buses (and ) and to phases of the protocol for those signals so that its presence between pairs of buses (--or -) is imperceptible to devices (and ) connected thereto.

US Patent:

20040225824, Nov 11, 2004

Filed:

Apr 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/824072

Inventors:

Thomas Gafford - Redondo Beach CA, US
Botond Eross - Palo Alto CA, US
James Moorer - San Rafael CA, US

International Classification:

G06F013/36

US Classification:

710/314000

Abstract:

The technical field of the invention generally concerns digital computers and, in particular, repeaters or switches () for distributed arbitration digital data buses (and ) to which devices (and ) connect in parallel. The bus repeater/switch () includes a plurality of bus interface cards (48) that are connected to the distributed arbitration buses (and ) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (and ) connected thereto. The bus interface cards () connect to a control card () which allows signals from one of the sharing buses (or ) to be exchanged with the shared bus (). The bus switch () also includes selector switch (or ) for choosing which particular one of the sharing buses (or ) exchanges digital data signals with the shared bus (). The bus switch () responds to signals on the distributed arbitration buses (and ) and to phases of the protocol for those signals so that its presence between pairs of buses (--or -) is imperceptible to devices (and ) connected thereto.

US Patent:

20050216645, Sep 29, 2005

Filed:

May 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/130082

Inventors:

Thomas Gafford - Redondo Beach CA, US
James Moorer - Palo Alto CA, US
Botond Eross - , US

International Classification:

G06F013/14

US Classification:

710309000

Abstract:

A repeater () for Small Computer System Interface (“SCSI”) buses (, and ) to which digital computing devices (and ) connect in parallel. The repeater () includes a plurality of bus interface circuits () that are connected to the SCSI buses (and ) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (and ) connected thereto. The bus interface circuits () connect to a control circuit (), that responds to various phases of the SCSI bus protocol: 1. which stores information for use during a subsequent phase of the SCSI bus protocol; and

US Patent:

56218990, Apr 15, 1997

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/471864

Inventors:

Thomas A. Gafford - Redondo Beach CA
Botond G. Eross - late of Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Thomas A. Gafford - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

G06F 13368

US Classification:

395299

Abstract:

The technical field of the invention generally concerns digital computers and, in particular, repeaters or switches (40) for distributed arbitration digital data buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) to which devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connect in parallel. The bus repeater/switch (40) includes a plurality of bus interface cards (48) that are connected to the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto. The bus interface cards (48) connect to a control card (44) which allows signals from one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) to be exchanged with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) also includes selector switch (84 or 88) for choosing which particular one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) exchanges digital data signals with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) responds to signals on the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) and to phases of the protocol for those signals so that its presence between pair of buses (52-58, 54-58 or 56-58) is imperceptible to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto.

US Patent:

61547999, Nov 28, 2000

Filed:

May 25, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/084163

Inventors:

Thomas Austin Gafford - Redondo Beach CA
Botond Gabor Eross - late of Palo Alto CA
by James A. Moorer - San Rafael CA
by Barbara L. Barrie - San Rafael CA

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

710107

Abstract:

The technical field of the invention generally concerns digital computers and, in particular, repeaters or switches (40) for distributed arbitration digital data buses (52, 54, 56, and 58) to which devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connect in parallel. The bus repeater/switch (40) includes a plurality of bus interface cards (48) that are connected to the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto. The bus interface cards (48) connect to a control card (44) which allows signals from one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) to be exchanged with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) also includes selector switch (84 or 88) for choosing which particular one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) exchanges digital data signals with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) responds to signals on the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) and to phases of the protocol for those signals so that its presence between pairs of buses (52-58, 54-58 or 56-58) is imperceptible to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto.

US Patent:

57581096, May 26, 1998

Filed:

Aug 16, 1993

Appl. No.:

7/923996

Inventors:

Thomas Austin Gafford - Redondo Beach CA
Botond Gabor Eross - late of Palo Alto CA
James A. Morrer - San Rafael CA
Barbara L. Barrie - San Rafael CA

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

395308

Abstract:

The technical field of the invention generally concerns digital computers and, in particular, repeaters or switches (40) for distributed arbitration digital data buses (52, 54, 56, and 58) to which devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connect in parallel. The bus repeater/switch (40) includes a plurality of bus interface cards (48) that are connected to the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto. The bus interface cards (48) connect to a control card (44) which allows signals from one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) to be exchanged with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) also includes selector switch (84 or 88) for choosing which particular one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) exchanges digital data signals with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) responds to signals on the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) and to phases of the protocol for those signals so that its presence between pairs of buses (52-58, 54-58 or 56-58) is imperceptible to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto.

US Patent:

56849664, Nov 4, 1997

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/473567

Inventors:

Thomas Austin Gafford - Redondo Beach CA
Botond Gabor Eross - late of Palo Alto CA
James A. Moorer - San Rafael CA
Barbara L. Barrie - San Rafael CA

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

395309

Abstract:

The technical field of the invention generally concerns digital computers and, in particular, repeaters or switches (40) for distributed arbitration digital data buses (52, 54, 56, and 58) to which devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connect in parallel. The bus repeater/switch (40) includes a plurality of bus interface cards (48) that are connected to the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto. The bus interface cards (48) connect to a control card (44) which allows signals from one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) to be exchanged with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) also includes selector switch (84 or 88) for choosing which particular one of the sharing buses (52, 54 or 56) exchanges digital data signals with the shared bus (58). The bus switch (40) responds to signals on the distributed arbitration buses (52, 54, 56 and 58) and to phases of the protocol for those signals so that its presence between pairs of buses (52-58, 54-58 or 56-58) is imperceptible to devices (62, 64, 66, 68, 72 and 74) connected thereto.