Abstract: Apparatus under microprocessor control for use in communicating over a serial communication loop with a remote attached control unit. It is capable of establishing frame synchronization, interpreting commands, assembling data and transmitting bits on the loop. The apparatus also communicates with I/O devices over a demand/response interface.A microprocessor interface with the loop includes loop sync control which establishes bit synchronization and generates a restart pulse at bit receive time and bit send time. The execution of instructions by the microprocessor is stopped and the microprocessor enters a wait state when it has finished all previous work and is ready to receive a loop bit. When it is time to receive the loop bit the microprocessor is restarted in response to the restart pulse from the loop synchronization control.For output operations to a device, the microprocessor loads the device address and a device command or data into shift registers and initiates the transfer by setting a latch.

Abstract: In a time division multiplexed loop communication system, a plurality of terminals share one or more channels of a multichannel frame, with a second plurality of terminals assigned to different channels. The communications controller may dedicate one or more of the channels to one of the terminals automatically and dynamically. Alternatively, one of a plurality of terminals assigned to a particular channel group can interrupt the controller and become automatically selected for communication.