Abstract: The present system is employed to generate and transmit information which is needed to construct or assemble truth tables and pertinent data which are directed to associated circuits which require testing. The present method employs a technique whereby information is nested, or compacted, in accordance with certain rules of grammar and is transmitted from a circuit design group to a vendor, i.e., a manufacturer of the circuit designed by a design group. When the nested information is expanded by a translator device, or by a translation program, at the manufactuer's location, it is directly expandable into truth table information for use by various logic testers. Each of the truth tables defines a specific function that the designer wants tested in the associated circuit. The manufacturer supplies the test platform hardware which generates the desired signal patterns defined by the truth table information and pertinent data.

Abstract: A processor forms part of a computer network wherein the processor, designated as the User Interface Processor, operates to initialize and maintain and communicate to remote diagnostic terminals for purposes of confirming integrity of the system and also for finding the location of any faults or problems in the system. The User Interface Processor involves a microprocessor unit working in conjunction with a serial communications controller, random access memory and read only memory memories, a communications input/output (I/O) system, a multiple set of timer units and a priority interrupt controller. The User Interface Processor provides interfaces to a power control card unit, an I/O subsystem (of data link processors), and a remote terminal for diagnostic intercommunication.

Abstract: A maintenance processor forms part of a computer network wherein the processor (also designated as the User Interface Processor) operates to initialize and maintain and communicate to remote diagnostic terminals for purposes of confirming integrity of the system and also for displaying data for locating any faults or problems in the network. The maintenance subsystem initiates start-up and self-test routines in a sequenced order for establishing the integrity of the units in the network. The subsystem includes means for testing two types of subsystems, that is, one having I/O controllers with self-test capability and another subsystem having I/O controllers without self-test capability. The UIP provides means for complete control of the network. It can interface the network to a remote service center where all operations such as power-up and initialization can be also effectuated.