Object-oriented modular electronic component system

An object-oriented modular electronic component system comprising:

• a plurality of self-contained operating modules, each having internal electronic apparatus and external mechanical and electromagnetic means for interconnecting said internal electronic apparatus to said internal electronic apparatus of others of said operating modules including:
• a user module for performing a specific end function;
• a database module for identifying the presence, location, and function of each of said operating modules of said system;
• a communications module for transmitting digital electromagnetic messages among said operating modules;
• a power supply module for providing electrical power to said operating modules;
• and
• power bus means for delivering power from said power supply module to said operating modules;
• said communications module, said power supply module, said data base module, and said user module all being capable of being selectively operatively releasably connected as a unit, mechanically and electromagnetically, said modules all being electromagnetically disconnected in an inoperative mode and being electromagnetically connected in an operative mode;
• and
• said plurality of self-contained operating modules including a specialization module for transmitting non-digital and trigger pulse type electrical signals among said user modules;
• whereby configuration and operation of said modular object-oriented electronic component system may be achieved without accessing said internal electronic apparatus of any of said operating modules.

A method of initializing operation of an object-oriented modular electronic component system comprising:

• a plurality of self-contained operating modules, each having internal electronic apparatus and external mechanical and electromagnetic means for interconnecting said internal electronic apparatus to said internal electronic apparatus of others of said operating modules including:
• a user module for performing a specific end function;
• a database module for identifying the presence, location, and function of each of said operating modules of said system;
• a communications module for transmitting digital electromagnetic messages among said operating modules;
• a power supply module for providing electrical power to said operating modules;
• and
• power bus means for delivering power from said power supply module to said operating modules;
• said communications module, said power supply module, said data base module, and said user module all being capable of being selectively operatively releasably connected as a unit, mechanically and electromagnetically, said modules all being electromagnetically disconnected in an inoperative mode and being electromagnetically connected in an operative mode;
• control port means for electromagnetically connecting said power supply module, said data base module, and said user module to said communications module for transmission of digital electromagnetic messages solely between said communications module and each of said power supply module, said data base module, and said user module;
• and
• data port means for electromagnetically connecting each of said power supply module, said data base module, said communications module, and said user module for unrestricted transmission of electromagnetic signals among all of said operating modules;
• and
• wherein each of said operating modules includes:
• a ROM component containing information regarding the characteristics and operation of said operating module;
• and
• microprocessor means for transmitting the information contained in said ROM component to another one of said operating modules
• whereby configuration and operation of said modular object-oriented electronic component system may be achieved without accessing said internal electronic apparatus of any of said operating modules;
• the method comprising the operations of:
• (a) mechanically and electrically interconnecting the power bus means and all of the operating modules;
• (b) activating the power supply module;
• (c) operating the power supply module to initially activate the ROM component and the microprocessor of the communications module to place the communications module in a stage one power-up condition whereat the communications module is able to negotiate communications and power requirements without being able to transmit digital electromagnetic messages among the operating modules;
• (d) operating the power supply module to transmit digital electromagnetic messages to the communications module via the control port means containing information regarding the software protocol version of the control port means and the characteristics of the data port means of the power supply module;
• (e) operating the communications module to transmit digital electromagnetic messages to the power supply module via the data port means containing information regarding the power requirements of the communications module;
• (f) operating the power supply module to fully activate the remainder of the internal components of the communications module to place the communications module in a stage two power-up condition whereat the communications module is able to transmit digital electromagnetic messages among the operating modules;
• (g) operating the communications module to transmit digital electromagnetic messages to the power supply module via the data port means containing information regarding the number and locations of the user modules and the database module;
• (h) operating the power supply module to initially activate the ROM component and the microprocessor of the database module and the user modules to place the database module and the user modules in a stage one power-up condition whereat the modules are able to negotiate communications and power requirements and respond to queries from other modules without being able to perform any other operations;
• (i) operating the database module and the user modules to transmit digital electromagnetic messages to the communications module via the control port means containing information regarding the software protocol version of the control port means and the characteristics of the data port means of the database module and the user modules;
• (j) operating the database module and the user modules to transmit digital electromagnetic messages to the power supply module via the data port means containing information regarding the power requirements of the database module and the user modules;
• (k) operating the power supply module to arrange the power bus means such that an optimal number of the user modules and the database module become operational;
• and
• (l) operating the power supply module to fully activate the remainder of the internal components of the database module and of the user modules to place the database module and the user modules in a stage two power-up condition whereat the database module and the user modules are able to perform their respective operations.

A method of operating an object-oriented modular electronic component system comprising:

• a plurality of self-contained operating modules, each having internal electronic apparatus and external mechanical and electromagnetic means for interconnecting said internal electronic apparatus to said internal electronic apparatus of others of said operating modules including:
• a user module for performing a specific end function;
• a database module for identifying the presence, location, and function of each of said operating modules of said system;
• a communications module for transmitting digital electromagnetic messages among said operating modules;
• a power supply module for providing electrical power to said operating modules;
• and
• power bus means for delivering power from said power supply module to said operating modules;
• said communications module, said power supply module, said data base module, and said user module all being capable of being selectively operatively releasably connected as a unit, mechanically and electromagnetically, said modules all being electromagnetically disconnected in an inoperative mode and being electromagnetically connected in an operative mode;
• whereby configuration and operation of said modular object-oriented electronic component system may be achieved without accessing said internal electronic apparatus of any of said operating modules;
• the method comprising the operations of:
• (a) assigning to each of the external electromagnetic interconnecting means on the communications module an address which identifies a predetermined location for interconnection of an operating module thereto;
• (b) connecting a plurality of operating modules to the communications module, each at a predetermined location identified by an address as provided in step (a);
• and
• (c) transmitting digital electromagnetic messages among the operating modules such that the digital electromagnetic messages are directed to and from each operating module connected in step (b) via the address assigned to the predetermined location at which the operating module is connected.

A method of operating an object-oriented modular electronic component system comprising:

• a plurality of self-contained operating modules, each having internal electronic apparatus and external mechanical and electromagnetic means for interconnecting said internal electronic apparatus to said internal electronic apparatus of others of said operating modules including:
• a user module for performing a specific end function;
• a database module for identifying the presence, location, and function of each of said operating modules of said system;
• a communications module for transmitting digital electromagnetic messages among said operating modules;
• a power supply module for providing electrical power to said operating modules;
• and
• power bus means for delivering power from said power supply module to said operating modules;
• said communications module, said power supply module, said data base module, and said user module all being capable of being selectively operatively releasably connected as a unit, mechanically and electromagnetically, said modules all being electromagnetically disconnected in an inoperative mode and being electromagnetically connected in an operative mode;
• whereby configuration and operation of said modular object-oriented electronic component system may be achieved without accessing said internal electronic apparatus of any of said operating modules;
• the method comprising the operations of:
• (a) initiating an attempted transmission of a digital electromagnetic message comprising data information from the data port means of a first user module to the data port means of a second user module;
• (b) transmitting a digital electromagnetic message comprising control information from the control port means of the first user module to the communications module;
• (c) operating the communications module to determine the availability of a transfer path between the data port means of the first user module and the data port means of the second user module;
• (d) operating the communications module to determine the availability of the first user module and of the second user module;
• (e) operating the communications module to connect the transfer path from the data port means of the first user module to the data port means of the second user module;
• (f) transmitting a digital electromagnetic message comprising control information from the communications module to the control port means of the second user module;
• (g) transmitting a digital electromagnetic message comprising control information from the communications module to the control port means of the first user module;
• and
• (h) transmitting the digital electromagnetic message comprising data information from the data port means of the first user module to the data port means of the second user module.

A method of initializing operation of an object-oriented modular electronic component system comprising:

• a plurality of self-contained operating modules, each having internal electronic apparatus and external mechanical and electromagnetic means for interconnecting said internal electronic apparatus to said internal electronic apparatus of others of said operating modules including:
• a user module for performing a specific end function;
• a database module for identifying the presence, location, and function of each of said operating modules of said system;
• a communications module for transmitting digital electromagnetic messages among said operating modules;
• a power supply module for providing electrical power to said operating modules;
• and
• power bus means for delivering power from said power supply module to said operating modules;
• said communications module, said power supply module, said data base module, and said user module all being capable of being selectively operatively releasably connected as a unit, mechanically and electromagnetically, said modules all being electromagnetically disconnected in an inoperative mode and being electromagnetically connected in an operative mode;
• whereby configuration and operation of said modular object-oriented electronic component system may be achieved without accessing said internal electronic apparatus of any of said operating modules;
• the method comprising the operations of:
• (a) operating the power supply module to initially activate the ROM component and the microprocessor of the database module and the user modules to place the database module and the user modules in a stage one power-up condition whereat the modules are able to negotiate communications and power requirements and respond to queries from other modules without being able to perform any other operations;
• and
• (b) operating the power supply module to fully activate the remainder of the internal components of the database module and of the user modules to place the database module and the user modules in a stage two power-up condition whereat the database module and the user modules are able to perform their respective operations.