Word processing system employing a plurality of general purpose processor circuits

A data processing system, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of data processing stations each having a first communications means for connecting each of said stations to a common communications channel and having a second communications means for communicating with one or more associated controlled units, each of said data processing stations further comprising a processor and a memory, said first communications mean, said second communications means and said processor each operatively connected to said memory, so that each may access said memory, and to contention resolving means, said resolving means being operatively connected to said memory and to each other device operatively connected to said memory, for resolving conflict between said other devices for access to said memory;
• (b) said common communications channel operatively connected to said first communications means of each of said plurality of data processing stations, whereby each of said processors may access said memory of any of said processing stations;
• (c) a first one of said controlled units further comprising mass storage means for entering data for storage and for retrieving stored data and including a controlled unit communications means for data communications, said first controlled unit communications means coupled to said second communications means of a first one of said plurality of data processing stations, whereby said first controlled unit may communicate with said first station;
• (d) a second one of said controlled units further comprising a keyboard for entering data into said system and a first display means for displaying a single line of data and including a controlled unit communications means for data communications, said second controlled unit communications means coupled to said second communications means of a second one of said plurality of data processing stations whereby said second controlled unit may communicate with said second station;
• and
• (e) a third one of said controlled units further comprising second display means for displaying multiple lines of data and including controlled unit communications means for data communications, said third unit communications means coupled to second communication means of a third one of said plurality of data processing stations, whereby said third controlled unit may communicate with said third station.