System for controlling multiple controllable devices according to a script transmitted from a personal computer

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of controllable devices wherein each of said controllable devices includes a plurality of different control settings with each of said control settings corresponding to a character of a predetermined set of characters, said apparatus comprising:

• a file for storing a plurality of said characters to control each of said controllable devices pursuant to a predetermined script;
• personal computer means for processing said file, said personal computer means including:
• input means for entering said plurality of characters into said file;
• manipulation means for creating and editing said file to arrange the entered characters in a predetermined sequence;
• editing means for arranging said entered characters into lines of script wherein each line comprises a plurality of said entered characters equal in number to the number of said controllable devices, wherein each of said entered characters in said line relates to a different controllable device, and wherein the identity of each of said entered characters corresponds to one of said control settings such that the characters relating to each controllable device are in the same order in all said lines of script;
• keyboard means included in said editing means for inserting a carriage return code at the end of each of said lines of script and thereby establish said lines of script;
• memory means for storing said file;
• encoding means for encoding said entered characters and carriage return codes stored in said file for transmission;
• output port means operative in response to a plurality of command signals for transmitting separately each of said encoded entered characters and carriage return codes pursuant to said predetermined script whereby each of said plurality of command signals causes a single one of said encoded entered characters or one carriage return code to be transmitted;
• printer port means for transmitting said encoded entered characters and carriage return codes in the sequence of said predetermined script;
• and
• pulse source means for issuing said plurality of command signals at predetermined evenly spaced time intervals;
• and
• interface means for decoding said encoded entered characters received from said output port means and controlling each of said controllable devices in accordance with the control settings corresponding to said decoded entered characters, said interface means including:
• a plurality of memories wherein each said memory is associated with one of said controllable devices for storing said entered characters from said file corresponding to said control settings of said one of said controllable devices;
• a shift register for enabling said entered characters from said file transmitted from said output port means to be latched sequentially into each of said memories in sequences corresponding to said lines of script;
• data detection means for detecting said carriage return code at the end of each of said lines of script thereby controlling said shift register to begin a new sequence corresponding to each new line of script;
• and
• a plurality of distribution means, wherein each said distribution means is associated with one said controllable device and one associated memory for decoding said entered characters latched in each said associated memory, each said distribution means including a plurality of terminals with each of said terminals being associated with a respective one of the control settings for the associated controllable device such that at any time only the terminal associated with the control setting corresponding to said entered character latched in said associated memory at that time is held at a first predetermined voltage while others of said terminals are held at a second predetermined voltage.