Patent ID: 6122073
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
A communications terminal, comprising:an interface for exchanging data with a host device;a buffer in communication with said interface for storing data received by said interface;a first processor in communication with said buffer for retrieving and processing the data stored in said buffer in a first-in-first-out sequence;a second processor in communication with said interface and said first processor for interpreting at least a portion of the data received by said interface and for controlling said first processor to recover from a disabled state in accordance with interpreted data comprising a first predetermined data;a status transmitter in communication with said first processor and said interface for transmitting status of at least said first processor to the host device; anda communications enabling unit in communication with said interface, said buffer and said first processor for selectively signalling the host device to halt transmission of data from the host device upon detection of at least one of a buffer full condition and said first processor being in the disabled state, said communications enabling unit defining:a first mode in which said communications enabling unit signals the host device to halt data transmission when said first processor is detected as being in the disabled state;a second mode in which said communications enabling unit permits data transmission between the host device and the terminal even when said first processor is detected as being in the disabled state; anda switching unit responsive to at least one of an operator and the host device for selecting one of the first and second modes of said communications enabling unit.