US 4,366,553 AGranted

Electronic computing apparatus employing basic language

AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company

InventorsRichard M. Spangler, Eugene V. Burmeister, Frank E. Cada, Wayne F. Covington, Chris J. Christopher, Myles A. Judd, Freddie W. Wenninger, Robert E. Watson, Kent W. Simcoe

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

An adaptable programmable calculator is provided by employing a modular read-write and read-only memory unit capable of being expanded to provide the calculator with additional program and data storage functions oriented towards the environment of the user, a central processing unit capable of performing both serial binary and parallel binary-coded-decimal arithmetic, and an input-output control unit capable of bidirectionally transferring information between the memory or central processing units and a number of input and output units. The memory, central processor, and input-output control units are controlled by a microprocessor included in the central processing unit. Also the calculator may be operated manually by the user from an alphanumeric keyboard input unit or automatically by a program stored within the memory unit to perform calculations and provide an output indication of the results thereof. It may also be employed to load programs into the memory unit from the keyboard input unit. Also, the computer language allows the user to enter a line comprising an alphanumeric statement into the calculator from the keyboard input unit while visually observing an alphanumeric display of that line to check for errors therein, permitting the user to cause the entered lines to be immediately executed by the calculator or stored as part of a program within the memory unit, and permitting the user to subsequently recall the executed or stored line so that it may be reinspected, reevaluated, and, if necessary, edited and executed or re-executed, or restored in edited form. The calculator employs a compiler for converting each statement entered into the calculator in BASIC language into an internal stored format. It also employs an uncompiler for regenerating in the BASIC language statement any entered line converted to the internal stored format. The compiler and uncompiler operate on a line-by-line basis.

Electronic computing apparatus comprising:

keyboard input means having a plurality of alphanumeric keys for entering alphanumeric information, including BASIC languge statements, into the computing apparatus, and having an execution control key for initiating immediate execution of a valid, individual, self-contained BASIC language statement entered into the computing appartaus;
first storage means, coupled to the keyboard input means, for storing said BASIC language statement as it is being entered into the computing apparatus from the keyboard input means;
second storage means, coupled to the first storage means, for storing alphanumeric information, including BASIC language statements, that has been entered into the computing apparatus from the keyboard input means;
third storage means for storing routines and subroutines of instructions to be executed in executing BASIC language statements;
processing means, coupled to the keyboard input means and to the first, second, and third storage means, for executing the routines and subroutines stored in the third storage means to execute BASIC language statements;
said processing means including recognition and selection means for syntactically recognizing a string of alphanumeric characters stored in the first storage means as being a valid, self-contained BASIC language statement and for selecting the routines and subroutines stored in the third storage means to be executed for immediately executing the recognized valid, self-contained BASIC language statement;
said processing means including means responsive to actuation of the execution control key following entry from the keyboard input means of said string of alphanumeric characters representing a valid, self-contained BASIC language statement for executing the routines and subroutines stored in the third storage means that have been selected by the recognition and selection means to execute the valid, self-contained BASIC language statement represented by said entered string of alphanumeric characters;
and
output means, coupled to the processing means, for providing an output of results obtained from executing BASIC language statements.

6 more elements

Facts

Application

06/200,281Filed 24 Oct 1980 · continuation

Priority

7 Jul 1972

Granted

28 Dec 1982

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

G06F 15/0233
User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems: with printing provisions
G06F 15/02
Digital computers in general ; Data processing equipment in general: manually operated with input through keyboard and computation using a…
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

Serial269,899Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Jul 1972

Serial469,727Parent of this division · filed 30 May 1974

Serial758,961Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Jan 1977

Serial969,754Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Dec 1978

Serial99,101Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Nov 1979

US 4,012,725 AParent of this division

US 4,366,553 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Abstract

Claims9