Abstract: A programmable controller module (PCM) for operably coupling a plurality of peripheral devices (PDs) of various communication disciplines to a data processor (DP) or to remote PCMs through a serial interface adapter (SIA) or parallel interface adapter (PIA). The PCM is comprised of a special purpose computer having a program of subroutines arranged in memory modules which define and implement specific communication protocols (routines) for different communication disciplines. Each PD connected to a PCM by an SIA or PIA is assigned a channel code and is addressed by channel code. A discipline identification (DID) line is connected from each adapter channel to one of a predetermined number of terminals in the PCM. There is one terminal for each communication discipline for which there is stored in a memory module an appropriate protocol. Each channel has its DID line connected to the appropriate terminal according to the communication discipline of the PD connected to it.

Abstract: A communication control unit useful for operably coupling a plurality of peripheral devices to a data processing system including a central processing unit (CPU) and a main system memory. The communication control unit is comprised of three major sections: (1) A direct memory access module (DMA) for communicating with the memory of the CPU; (2) A serial interface adaptor module (SIA) for converting parallel data to serial data for transmission to a peripheral device and serial data to parallel data on receiving from a peripheral device; and (3) A programmable controller module (PCM) connected between the DMA and SIA for providing the overall control of message reception and transmission. The PCM comprises a small special-purpose programmable parallel computer. A program (firmware) stored in a read-only memory of the PCM enables the PCM to handle the different communication disciplines observed by various peripheral devices operable with the communication control unit.