# US 2024/0202155 A1 · Computer system for controlling peripheral devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0202155 A1 - Document ID: US20240202155A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/129,438 - Filed: 2023-03-31 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-20 - Assignees: dSPACE GmbH - Applicants: dSPACE GmbH - Inventors: Noel NOTTBECK; Henry BATHKE; Gregor SIEVERS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240202155A1 ## CPC - G06F 13/4022: {using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence)} - G06F 9/546: {Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract The invention relates to a computer system and method having at least one peripheral device, a control module for controlling the peripheral device, and a connection module, which is connected to the control module via a first data link. The connection module has I/O data ports for exchanging pieces of information with the peripheral device, and the peripheral device is connected to one or multiple of the I/O data ports via a second data link. The number of channels in the first data link is smaller than the number of I/O data ports of the connection module. The control module includes a first gateway, which receives pieces of setpoint state information relating to the I/O data ports of the connection module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer system comprising: at least one peripheral device; a control module to control the peripheral device; and a connection module that is connected to the control module via a first data link, the connection module comprising I/O data ports for exchanging pieces of information with the peripheral device, the peripheral device being connected to one or a plurality of the I/O data ports via a second data link, wherein a number of channels in the first data link is smaller than a number of I/O data ports of the connection module, wherein the control module includes a first gateway, which receives pieces of setpoint state information relating to the I/O data ports of the connection module, wherein the first gateway is configured to send, in response to the receipt of pieces of setpoint state information of an I/O data port, a configuration message to the connection module via the first data link, which predefines a setpoint state of the I/O data port on the connection module, and wherein the connection module is configured to receive the configuration message via a second gateway and to set the I/O data ports accordingly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system includes one or multiple drivers, which are configured to generate at least one setpoint state for the peripheral device and transmit it to the first gateway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration message comprises an I/O data port index and a setpoint state of the indexed I/O data port concerned. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The computer system according to claim 3, wherein the configuration message comprises pieces of information relating to the ability of the I/O data port to be written and read out. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The computer system according to claim 3, wherein multiple channels are provided for the purpose of transmitting the configuration message. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer system according to claim 5, wherein the computer system transmits the configuration message on the multiple channels in parallel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the first gateway is configured to create exactly one configuration message for each setpoint state received. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer system according to claim 7, wherein the first gateway is configured to log the actual states of the I/O data ports and to create exactly one configuration message for each non-redundant setpoint state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the second gateway is configured to register I/O data port state changes and generate a message at least for each state change not initiated by the second gateway itself in order to notify the first gateway of the state change, and configured to send the message via the first data link (2). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer system according to claim 9, wherein the second gateway is configured to generate a message for each state change of an I/O data port, regardless of whether the state change was carried out by the second gateway itself or by the peripheral device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The computer system according to claim 9, wherein the second gateway is configured to recognize state changes it did not initiate itself and to generate a configuration message only for these state changes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the connection module includes at least one programmable unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the connection module includes an FPGA as the programmable unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the connection module includes a microcontroller apparatus. ### Claim 15 A method for operating a computer system, which includes a control module that controls at least one peripheral device, and a connection module that is connected between the control module and the peripheral device, and is connected to the control module via a first data link, the method comprising: exchanging, via the connection module, pieces of information with the peripheral device via one or multiple I/O data ports via a second data link, a number of channels in the first data link being smaller than a number of I/O data ports of the connection module; receiving, via the control module, pieces of setpoint state information relating to the I/O data ports of the connection module via a first gateway; sending, via the first gateway, in response to the receipt of pieces of setpoint state information of an I/O data port, a configuration message to the connection module via the first data link, which predefines a setpoint state of the I/O data port on the connection module; and receiving, via the connection module, the configuration message via a second gateway and sets the I/O data ports accordingly.