Digital device for time-multiplexing multiple tasks

A digital system including first and second digital devices;

• said first device having means for sending to said second device output messages calling for respective response messages;
• and said second device having means for sending to said first device said response messages as well as unsolicited nonresponse messages;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• input means in said first device for receiving said response messages and said nonresponse messages in any sequence as well as for receiving control signals from said second device along with said response messages with said control signals being representative of respective resume addresses;
• and
• control means in said first device for operating on said nonresponse messages by executing control words in a control memory beginning at a fixed address as well as for operating on said response messages by executing control words in said control memory beginning at said respective resume addresses represented by said control signals.

A digital system including first and second digital devices, said first device having a control memory for storing control words which direct the operation of said first deivce;

• the improvement comprising:
• sending means in said first device for sending an output message along with control signals to said second device with said control signals being representative of a resume address and said output message calling for a response message;
• sending means in said second device for sending said called for response message to said first device along with said control signals;
• and
• executing means in said first device for executing control words from said control memory to operate on said response message beginning at the resume address represented by said control signals from said sending means.

A digital device having input lines, output lines, and a control memory;

• the improvement comprising:
• means for sending control signals representative of a resume address along with an output message on said output lines with said output message calling for a response message;
• means for receiving said called for response message on said input lines along with said sent control signals;
• and
• means for executing control words in said control memory beginning at the resume address represented by said received control signals which control words operate on said received response message.