Abstract: A computer system automatically senses characteristics of diverse peripheral devices connected to a common communications port, and automatically maximizes the communications speed with the devices. Coupled in daisy chain fashion to the communications port, all peripheral devices receive every signal issued from the controller port, each device responding only to signals addressed to that device or signals addressed to a universal address. The controller first receives an identifier from peripheral devices attached to the controller port. The controller then interprets the received identifiers to determine a maximum communications speed for each device. Next, the controller and the attached peripheral devices are configured to communicate at the maximum communications speed of the slowest device. This guarantees that all messages sent by the controller are compatible with all peripheral devices.

Abstract: A controller and a properly equipped peripheral device of a computer system easily exchange messages having a compressed data format. Both the controller and the peripheral device are configured to communicate using a predefined basic command set employing a predefined communications format. The controller first verifies that the peripheral device supports a second predefined communications format in addition to the first predefined communications format. Compared to the first format, the second format utilizes messages with greater compression, i.e., an optimized bit stream ("OBS"). The controller next sends the peripheral device a number of commands, including a command of the basic command set accompanied by an OBS enable code. In the case of a write operation, the controller also sends the peripheral device an encoded dataset having the second predefined communications format and representing an underlying unencoded dataset.

Abstract: An automatic palletizer system loads a random set of different size and weight boxes onto a pallet without a prior knowledge of the boxes to be loaded. As the boxes pass along a conveyor belt on the way to the pallet, a weighing, dimensioning, and scanning station determines the weight, dimensions and contents of each box. A processor uses this information to continuously remap the optimal pallet configuration for the loading of the remaining boxes as the pallet is loaded. A queuing station, under direction of the processor, reshuffles the sequence of a limited number of boxes to improve the final pallet configuration. The pallet is loaded by a robot arm under direction of the processor.