Method for initializing a set of ISDN adapter cards being plugged in a workstation operating as an ISDN primary gateway, and apparatus

Abstract: Method for initializing a set of at least two ISDN adapter cards (210-240) being plugged within a workstation including a main processor and an ISDN primary adapter (222) for allowing the connection of said ISDN adapter cards (210-240) to an ISDN primary gate, each of said ISDN adapter cards being provided with means (640-670) for handling at least one B-channel, first processing means (140) associated with memory storage (140). The ISDN primary adapter (222) comprising second processing means (100) associated with second memory storage. The method involving the step of: performing a polling (12) in said ISDN primary adapter (222) consisting in the transmission of a specific polling pattern to each of said ISDN adapter cards, in response to the reception of said polling pattern in one of said ISDN adapter cards, transmitting a first pattern consisting of a request pattern (14) to said the processor located in the workstation for requiring a loading of the second memory storage with operational code transferred from the workstation to the ISDN adapter card (210) and the ISDN primary adapter (222), in response to the request pattern received by the main processor (260), transmitting a second pattern to the ISDN adapter (222) via the ISDN adapter card (210) that have transmitted the first pattern, so that the main processor in the workstation and the processor in the ISDN primary adapter recognize the ISDN adapter card that has respectively transmitted the first and third pattern to the workstation and to the ISDN primary adapter (222) be considered as the master ISDN adapter card which will be used in the future for the transmission of the control information and the D-channel. Additionally, that ISDN adapter card is used for the downloading of the operational code from the workstation to the memory storage located into the ISDN primary adapter (222). This results in the possibility of loading the different required software routines in the appropriated locations within the cards so that all work together together to handle a full primary ISDN frame.

Description: Technical field of the invention The invention relates to the telecommunication field and more particularly to a method for initializing a set of ISDN adapter cards being plugged in a workstation operating as a ISDN primary gateway. Background art. Integrated Services Digital Network (I.S.D.N) is an international communications standard that makes it possible to deliver multiple services in addition to the normal telephone (voice) service - so that fax, video, data and all kinds of images can be transmitted to a terminal over a single line. The ISDN is provided by public network operators at both national and international levels which offer a choice of Basic or primary Rate access to the ISDN network. The basic access (also called 2B+D) provides two 64 Kbps channels for voice or data communications plus one D channel for the controlling and the monitoring of the transmission, giving an aggregate speed of 144 Kbps. The primary rate (which is called 30B +D) offers up to 30 simultaneous 64 Kbps B channels and one 64 Kbps D channel for an aggregate speed of 2 Mbps. The performances offered by the ISDN networks, and particularly the speed provided by the primary rate has allowed the possibility of effective national and international communications between host computers, either IBM or non IBM running X25, SNA, TCP/IP or OSI applications, and a wide range of terminal equipments and users. Thus, a wide range of users, who are generally not specialized in the telecommunication field and in the structure and operating of the sophisticated telecommunication equipments, take benefit from the high rates and possibilities of the ISDN equipments. For instance, the possibilities offered by the ISDN networks have allowed the creation and the development of electronic catalogs and multimedia databases. Electronic images which are stored on a central database can thus be accessed in a few seconds by multiple users within a country or across borders. Electronic and up-to-date catalogues allows the frame agents to show specific resorts and hotels with much more details than using a printed catalogue. The tour operators can also take benefit from these possibilities since the update of one signal central data base appears easier and cheaper. Also distributers and retailers can demonstrate products clearly whether the items are cars, fashion or technical products, and let users browse through catalogues and place order directly. Retailers can show a wide variety of models electronically without having to keep the whole expensive range on hand, and additions and deletions are easily handled. The ISDN network allows a set of 30 users to simultaneously be connected to one electronic catalogue. Further, the possibilities which are offered by the ISDN networks also allows the development of the file transfers where software can be downloaded or retrieved from a central host by remote branch office or distribution centers to take advantage of lower tariffs during non-peak hours. As a conclusion, a wide number of different telecommunication users are allowed to benefit the possibilities which are offered by the ISDN primary communications, including data, voice, and image transfers by means of a corresponding wide number of telecommunication applications. Generally speaking operators are aware of the numerous possibilities which are provided by the use of the personal computers. Since those are more and more "user-friendly", by means of the use of keyboard, mouse, icons and prompt messages displayed on the screen, the operator is used to control a highly sophisticated computer. However, those workstations, as such, are not adapted to the telecommunication field and particularly the ISDN primary communications involving serious and stiff constraints. As mentioned above, since the ISDN telecommunication primary are more and more developing, and are likely to be used by a wide range of operator having different skills, such as in travel agency, real estates, retailing and distribution applications, a need has appeared in a ISDN primary gateway which would be based on a "user-friendly" workstation so that any operator, whatever its skill and experience in the telecommunication field, be provided with a simple and efficient apparatus allowing the customization, the configuration, lines connections, the errors and directory management and data traffic control. European Patent Application EP-A-0 515 760 (Chevalier et al.) entitled "Communication Controller having Line Adapters Loadable with an Application Program and Method for Performing the Loading of a Line Adapter in a Communication Controller" discloses a communication controller comprising line adapters having each a storage which is loaded with a general application program during an initialization phase. The line adapters allow the attachment and the communication of different telecommunication entities. The communication controller is further connected by means of a control adapter to a local control terminal which is associated to a storage for storing the different general application programs which are likely to be required by the line adapters. The communication controller includes means for storing an access key comprising data relative to the types and the number of line adapters of one type which are authorized to be loaded with the general application program transferred from the storage associated to said control terminal. It includes also means for checking whether a loading request received from one adapter complies with the contents of said stored access key in order to prevent the loading of an unauthorized line adapter. Summary of the invention The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a ISDN primary gateway which is based on a workstation such as a personal computer so that the operator is provided with a sophisticated telecommunication apparatus with the facilities such as the mouse, icons, windows displayed in the screen for controlling the apparatus. This problem is solved by the method and apparatus according to the present invention which comprises a workstation in which a set of ISDN cards and X.25 cards are plugged, the ISDN cards being connected to a ISDN primary adapter, while the X.25 adapter cards provide the X.25 links with host computers. According to the present invention the numerous ISDN and X.25 cards cooperate with the processor of the workstation by means of a specific procedure which assures that one of the ISDN cards get the management of the D-channel while the others are charged with that of B-Channels only. The cards and the workstation cooperate together in order to provide the handling of a ISDN primary frames consisting of 30B channels and a D-channels. The cooperation between the cards and workstation is achieved by means of the method according to claim 1 and the associated dependent claims. The invention in accordance with the appended claims results in the possibility of loading the different required software routines in the appropriated locations within the cards so that all work together in order to handle the 30B+D channel of the ISDN primary frame. Description of the drawings. Figure 1 illustrates the general environment of an ISDN primary gateway using the method according to the present invention. Figure 2 details the technical architecture of the ISDN primary gateway which is based on a personal workstation equipment with adapter cards. Figure 3 is a view of the structure of the workstation 500 and the four ISDN adapter cards 210, 220, 230 and 240. Figure 4 illustrates the internal structure of each ISDN adapter card 210-240. Figure 5 is a view of the internal structure of the coupler of the ISDN primary adapter 222. Figure 6 illustrates the different steps involved during the initialization process. Description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. With respect to the figure 1, there is shown the general technical environment of one ISDN primary gateway equipment 1 which can advantageously incorporate the different technical steps of the method according to the present invention. ISDN primary gate equipment 1 allows different Data Terminating Equipments (DTE), such as a terminal 10, interactive terminal 11, a terminal 12 being connected to a cluster controller of the type IBM 3174 via a ISDN terminal adapter of the type IBM 7820, and also data processing system 13, 14 and 15 of the type IBM RISC System/6000 which are connected to the ISDN network through their associated IBM 7820 terminal adapter, for instance. In one embodiment of the invention, each DTE 10 to 15 being located in different towns, for instance DTE 15 being located in Paris while DTE 14 operates in London and DTE 13 in Munich, and each is provided a 2B+D basic access to their national respective ISDN network, in order to get an access to an electronic database being placed in a host computer 25 of the type IBM 3090 being also located in Paris via a telecommunication controller equipment 21 such as a IBM 3745. Such a telecommunication architecture could be particularly useful in the real estate field where up to 30 different remote DTEs, each one being located in one corresponding real estate agency, can get the access to a centralized database of the houses for sale in Europe, containing a wide and comprehensive description, including data, images and possibly music or voice, from the data base located within Host computer 25 in Paris. It should be noticed that the architecture is not limited to one single host computer 25. The ISDN primary gateway 1 could also provide the access to additional host computers, such as a IBM ES/9221 host 22, a RISC System/6000 host 23 and an AS/400 computer 24. With respect to the figure 2, there is described now the general architecture of the ISDN primary gateway which uses the method according to the present invention. Gateway 1 comprises a computer 500, which is of the type such as the IBM Personal System/2 8595 - AH9 and follow-on models in the preferred embodiment of the invention, to which is plugged one or two X25 cards 211 for allowing the X.21/V.35 or HPTSS connections to the host computers, and additionally comprises one to four ISDN cards 210, 220, 230 and 240 which allow the connection of the computer to a ISDN primary adapter 222. Each of the X25 card 211 or ISDN card 210-240 is currently available under the reference "IBM Real Time Interface Coprocessor Portmaster Adapter/A" card (RIC) which is marketed by IBM and is well known to the skilled man. Briefly, each RIC Portmaster card 211 or 210-240 comprises its own microprocessor operating with some memory and a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller, I/O devices etc... That microprocessor is associated with an operating system providing time sharing and priority management. Each RIC Portmaster card is directly connected to the Micro-channel Architecture (MCA) bus of the workstation 500, which resources are therefore available to all the cards which are plugged into the machine. It should be noticed that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, each RIC Portmaster card is a MOTHER board, on which is plugged an additional corresponding DAUGHTER card (not shown in the figure) of the type ELECTRICAL INTERFACE BOARD providing the electrical interface, either conforming with the X21 or V35 CCITT Recommendations, that is to say the well known functions corresponding to the layer 1 of the OSI model. Assuming that one Host computer to which the ISDN primary gateway 1 is intended to be connected has a V35 interface, the corresponding RIC Portmaster card 211 will be fitted with a V35 DAUGHTER board card. In the reverse case, i.e. the case of a Host computer communicating through a X21 interface, the RIC Portmaster card will be fitted with a DAUGHTER card matching the CCITT X21 Recommendations. Similarly, each ISDN RIC Portmaster card 210-240 is fitted with a corresponding ISDN DAUGHTER card 170, 180, 190 or 200 which allows the electrical connection to a ISDN primary adapter 222 achieving the Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) of the 30 B channels whereby the ISDN primary gateway provides the primary access to the ISDN network. With respect to figure 3 there is shown the structure of the workstation having its possibly four ISDN adapter CIB cards 210-240, each card being a MOTHER card associated with a DAUGHTER card 170, 180, 190 or 200 as mentioned above. Each ISDN card provides the handling of up to 8 B-channels, or 7 B-channels plus the D-channel, which channels are multiplexed by means of the ISDN primary adapter 222, which organization is illustrated in figure 5. With respect to figure 5 now, the coupler part of ISDN primary adapter 222 comprises a set of two line-transformers 600 which provides the electrical connection to the primary Network Terminator (NT) of the ISDN network. Line-transformers 600 are respectively connected to the transmit (resp. Receive) balanced lines Tx1 and Tx2 (respectively Rx1 and Rx2) of a Primary Rate Adapter and Clock Transmitter (PRACT) module 610, the latter being driven by an oscillating circuit 620. PRACT module 610 is a well known module which is marketed by SIEMENS under the reference PEB 2235 and will not be detailed further. PRACT module 610 also communicates with an Advanced CMOS Frame Aligner (ACFA) module 630 by means of a set of four balanced transmit and receive wires O1/O2 and I1/I2 carrying the HDB3 transmit and receive signal. The ACFA module provides the management, including network management functions, of the channel 0 which is used for the reporting of the incidents. On the occurrence of such incidents, ACFA module 630 generates an interrupt signal on a lead 80 which is transmitted to a microprocessor 100 contained in the coupler of ISDN Primary adapter 222. ACFA module 630 transmits and receives TDM data to and from a set of four internal HSCX modules which are located inside the RIC Portmaster card by means of two Receive Rx and Tx lead 62 and 61 as described below. In addition to the above circuits and modules contained in the coupler of the ISDN primary adapter 222, which main purpose is to handle the ISDN data traffic, the latter further comprises a set of circuits which are not part of the invention and which provides .... 74138 : address decoder 34C85 : V11 receiver for communication purpose between Fox and Mink 34C87 : drivers V11 for communication purpose between Fox and Mink power supply switcher - LED drivers Processor 100, of the type INTEL 8031, is associated with a PROM storage 300, and communicates by means of an Address/data bus which is demultiplexed by latches 310. Processor 100 is also associated with a RAM storage 320 which is particularly used for storing the operational code which is down-loaded from the Personal System/2 main storage through one RIC Portmaster card as will be described later on. A multiplexing circuit 130 (resp. a demultiplexing circuit 110) is used for multiplexing (resp. demultiplexing) the exchange of serial control data between processor 100 of coupler of the ISDN primary adapter and the four distinctive DAUGHTER cards 170, 180, 190 and 200. All the control logic signals which are needed, particularly including the ACFA ChipSelect (CSACFA), RAM WR, RAM RD, PROM RD control signals are provided by a CONTROL LOGIC circuit 330. As already mentioned, each RIC Portmaster card 210, 220, 230 or 240 is fitted with a DAUGHTER card 170 (resp. 180, 190, 200) and a mother card which is plugged in the Personal System/2 computer. The internal structure of each RIC card 210-240 (with its associated DAUGHTER card 170-200) is illustrated in figure 4. Each card 210-240 comprises a set of four different HSCX 1 to 4 modules 640, 650, 660 and 670 which provide the TDM slot management for the multiplexed data traffic, each module providing the management of two full-duplex communication channels. Therefore, the four modules provides the managing of 8 full-duplex channels in order to constitute an unique TDM traffic of data which be be transmitted and received from the ACFA module 630 located in the coupler of the ISDN primary adapter 222. The HSCX modules communicates with a microprocessor 140, being of the type INTEL 80452, by means of a 8 bit data bus 91 carrying the data flow of the 8 full duplex channels. An A0-A15 address bus 92 is decoded by a decoder 680 for controlling the internal registers of the HSCX modules 640, 650, 660 and 670. A set of two registers 150 and 160 are used for the communication between main computer 260 and the microprocessor 140 through the Micro Channel Architecture bus. The access to the latter registers is controlled by a decoder 176 receiving the address carried by the address bus 68 of the MCA bus. Having described the main components of the different cards of the ISDN primary gateway, there will now be described how all cards cooperate in order to provide the handling of one ISDN primary frame. The procedure first starts by an initialization process as illustrate in figure 6. The power-on reset of the machine is immediately followed by a general test procedure during which every card performs the testing of all the components, step 10. Then, step 11, the processor 100 in ISDN primary adapter 222 executes a program which is stored within the PROM storage 300. To achieve this, the Program Store ENable (PSEN) control signal which is generated by processor 100 is directly transmitted to the PROM RD output lead of control logic 330 in order to fetch the initial operational code. Therefore, after the test procedures, the PROM storages delivers the program instructions to processor 100 so that the latter executes the technical steps of the downloading of the operational code which is stored within the main storage of the Personal System/2 500 and which will be used for the transmission of the data. Then, step 12, the processor 100 located in the coupler of the ISDN primary adapter 222 performs a polling procedure to determine the number and the position of the RIC Portmaster cards which are likely to be connected. This is achieved by the setting of the programmable Input/Output control bits (reference P1.0 and P1.1 in the figure 4), which are transmitted to the SELA and SELB selection input leads of demultiplexor 110 and also to the SELA and SELB input leads of multiplexor 130. According to the value of the two programmable Input/Output bits, the multiplexor 130 provides at its output lead the data which is received from the TXD output lead 64 of one among the four RIC Portmaster card. Similarly, according to the value of the two programmable Input/output bits, the demultiplexor 110 transmits the data coming from the TXD output lead 64 of processor 100 to the RxD serial lead 63, 73, 74 or 75 of one among the four daughter cards 170, 180, 190 and 200. Thus, processor 100 can successively transmit and receive data with each of the four RIC Portmaster cards. During this successive exchanges of data, processor 100 transmit a polling byte which results in a acknowledgment when an RIC adapter actually exists in the slot. The first RIC portmaster is tested with the byte 'C1' (in Hexadecimal), the second being tested with 'C2', the third with 'C3' and the fourth with 'C4'. When a RIC Portmaster card receives such a polling byte, processor 140 generates an interrupt signal which appears at one programmable Input/output bit lead 65 being P.3.4 in the preferred embodiment of the invention, and which is transmitted through the MCA bus to one INT input lead of processor 260. Processor 140 also generates a determined pattern, being a LOAD REQUEST pattern 'B0' (in Hexadecimal) which is transmitted to the I0-I7 input bus of Register 150. Then, the considered RIC Portmaster card sends back to processor 100 an acknowledgment byte 'CF' (in Hexadecimal). When processor 260 receives the above mentioned interrupt signal, it performs a READ operation of the register 150 of the RIC Portmaster card which has generated the interrupt signal. This is achieved by means of the generation of an appropriate address on its address bus, the latter being decoded by decoder 176, thus resulting in the loading of register 150 with the pattern which was just generated by processor 140. The latter pattern is thus transmitted to processor 260 by means of D0-D7 data bus 261, which is made aware that this RIC Portmaster card is available for the down-loading of the operational code first in the RAM storage which is internal in the processor 140 and then inside the RAM storage 320. On the occurrence of a LOAD REQUEST from one RIC Portmaster card, main processor 260 sends the latter a LOAD CODE pattern, step 14, the latter code being '80' (in Hex.) in the preferred embodiment of the invention. This is achieved by the generation of an appropriate address which is transmitted and decoded by decoder 176, and results in a validation of the LOAD input lead of register 160. That validation signal is also used as an interrupt signal which is transmitted to INTO lead of processor 140. On the occurrence of the latter interrupt signal, processor 140 performs a READ operation through its programmable P4 I/O port the contents of register 160. Then, processor 140 transmit the LOAD CODE pattern via its TXD serial bus to the corresponding input lead of multiplexor 130, step 15, and processor 140 proceeds to a state where it waits for an acknowledgement byte, being 'FF' in the preferred embodiment, from the RXD serial bus connected to demultiplexor 110. Since processor 100 continuously polls the four input leads of multiplexor 130, processor 100 will be made aware of the LOAD CODE pattern which is serially transmitted through one input lead of multiplexor 130. On the detection of the latter LOAD CODE, processor 100 generates the acknowledgement 'FF' signal which is sent back to processor 140 via the demultiplexor 110 and the serial RXD bus. From this instant, processor 100 recognizes the RIC Portmaster card that has generated the LOAD CODE pattern as being the master card, step 16, and this RIC Portmaster card will be used parallely for downloading the operational codes in the cards and also for the handling of the D channel of the primary TDM frame. However, it should be noticed that the polling procedure which is performed by processor 100 is maintained so that the latter becomes aware of any incident which might occur in another of the RIC Portmaster card which is plugged in the machine. Then, step 17, processor 260 transmits to processor 100 via the above master RIC Portmaster card a set of two bytes which are representative of the length of the whole code which will be loaded inside the RAM storage 320. It should be noticed that, in order to improve the security of the transmission, each byte which is transmitted from processor 260 to processor 140, and similarly from processor 140 to processor 100, is systematically followed by the acknowledgement byte 'FF' (in Hexadecimal). Therefore, the simultaneous exchange of the control information between processor 260 and processor 100 (via processor 140) and the continuous polling of the other RIC Portmaster cards can be achieved. When, the two bytes representative of the length of the operational code which will be downloaded have been transmitted, and acknowledged by processor 100, the main processor 260 which is located within the Personal System/2 500 starts that transmission. The operational code is then transmitted byte per byte, each byte being acknowledged, to processor 100 via the TXD serial bus of processor 140 and multiplexor 130, step 18. The operational code also includes a checksum which is computed by the processor 260 prior to the transmission of the bytes, and also by processor 140 and 100 after the reception of the bytes. If the checking of the latter checksum reveals the existence of an error which has occurred during the exchange of control data between the three processors 100, 140 and 260, the processor which has detected the error sends to the processor from which it has received the operational code, an ERROR CODE which is 'FF', and in the reverse case a final acknowledge CODE (being 'F0' (in Hex.) is sent. The operational code which has been received, and acknowledged by processor 100, appears on data bus D0-D7 of processor 100, and is then stored into the RAM storage 320. When the whole operational code has been stored into RAM storage 320 by means of the initial operating code controlling the first steps of the procedure, processor 100 resets its programmable Output control bit P1.3 so that control logic 330 disables its PROM RD output lead and conversely enables the RAM RD output lead with the PSEN control signal generated by processor 100. Therefore, the latter control signal is directly transmitted to the RD input lead of RAM storage 320, what results in the processor 100 being under control of the operational code which was just transmitted from the main storage of processor 260 and stored into the RAM of the coupler of the ISDN Primary adapter 222. From this instant, the coupler, in association with the four RIC Portmaster cards 200, 220, 230 and 240, becomes capable of handling the ISDN data transmission with the appropriate operational code which was loaded into the RAM storage of the coupler. This results in a significant advantage since the possibility of downloading the operational code from the main storage of the Personal System/2 into the RAM of the Coupler of the ISDN primary adapter 222, the latter being not fitted with diskettes facilities or any hard disk device contrary to the Personal System/2 which has such capabilities. This permits to facilitate the update or the maintenance of the machine, what is substantially desirable in view of the continuous evolution of the different standards existing in the telecommunication field. The operational phase starts first by the initialization of the ACFA module 630, particularly by setting the appropriate operating mode. Such an initialization of the ACFA is well known to the skilled man and is largely addressed by the technical manuals which are available. Similarly, processor 140 on the daughter card 210 performs an initialization of the four HSCX modules 640, 650, 660 and 670 which are located on the card. Naturally, each processor on the other RIC Portmaster daughter card 180, 190 and 200 and which corresponds to processor 140 located on the daughter card 210 performs a similar initialization procedure. This is achieved by the generation of appropriate addresses on the address bus of processor 140, which addresses are decoded by decoder 680 so that to generate one unique chip select control signal which is transmitted to one among the four HSCX module. This results in the loading of the register in the latter HSCX module with the setting parameters which are also generated by processor 140 on data bus D0-D7. The ISDN transmission and reception of frames can then be started. The SDLC frames which are to be transmitted on the primary interface are generated at the level of the MCA bus 261. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the succession of the bytes of the SDLC frame is generated by well known Direct Memory Acess means which are located inside the Personal System/2 in order to partial discharge the computing resources of the main processor 260. Since the main processor 260 also generates an appropriate address on the address bus, and particularly on A18-A19-A20 bits of the address bus, decoder 176 activates the output O0 lead which signal is transmitted to the LD input of register 160 and INT0 interrupt lead of processor 140. Therefore, the current byte of the considered SDLC frame is received by processor 140 via register 160 through its P4 port. This byte is processed by processor 140 under the control of the appropriate routine called by the above interrupt signal generated at the O0 output lead of decoder 176. Then, processor 140 generates the current byte on its D0-D7 data bus so that to transmit the byte to the HSCX module which will handle the corresponding SDLC frame. It should be noticed that the allocation of one ISDN slot, or still numerous different ISDN slots to one determined SDLC frame will be allowed by the initialization of the different HSCX modules located in the same card, in accordance with the initialization general program which runs in the processor 260. This allocations of numerous ISDN slots, each ISDN slot offering a speed of 64 kbps, to one determined SDLC frame permits to define the speed at which the SDLC frame will be transmitted through the ISDN network. The SDLC frame which is received by the set of four HSCX modules, each HSCX module having the capability of handling two distinctive ISDN slots (the set of four RIC Portmaster cards 210, 220, 230 and 240 handling the 30 B +D primary ISDN communication), is serialized on the Time Division Multiplex serial data bus Tx which is connected to the RX input lead62 of the ACFA module 630 located in the coupler of the ISDN primary adapter 222. The SDLC frame is then transmitted to the ISDN primary NT via the PRACT module 610 and the line transformer 600. Conversely, the TDM serial data bus TX of ACFA module 630 transmits the digital data to the RX input lead of all the HSCX modules which is located on the daughter cards of the four RIC Portmaster cards. In accordance the initialization parameters which was loaded within the HSCX modules, and defined by processor 260, the current ISDN slot of the TDM frame is stored and processed by one among the 16 HSCX modules which are used for handling the ISDN primary communication. It should be noticed that each HSCX module contains some First-In-First-Out storage means which, when full, results in the generation of an interrupt control signal to processor 100. This causes the latter to unload the considered FIFO inside the HSCX, and transmits it to the input bus of register 150, also with an interrupt signal which is transmitted to the INT0 input lead of processor 260. Consequently, the latter performs the addressing of this register 150 by means of an appropriate address generated on address bus A18-A19-A20 decoded by decoder 176 as previously. Thus, the contents of the FIFO storage is transmitted to the main storage associated with the main processor 260, in which the whole SDLC frame is progressively re-assembled. Below are described a set of commands, in addition to the already mentioned LOAD PROGRAM CODE command, which the main processor 260 is likely to transmit to processor 100 via processor 140 and the backward channel consisting of the RX/TX serial data bus of processor 140 and the set of multiplexor 130 and demultiplexor 110. A first additional command which can be transmitted by main processor 260 to processor 100 is a SET LOCAL LOOP command, being coded '40' then followed by '03' (in Hex.), which results in processor 100 reinitializes ACFA module 630 is such a way that the TDM data channel received at the RX serial input be looped back to the TX output lead of ACFA 630. This particularly allows the testing of some internal parts of the machine. The command '40' '02' is used for resetting the local loop. Similarly, when processor 100 receives from processor 260 via the backward channel the two following bytes '40' and '07', processor 100 interprets the latter as a REMOTE LOOP, resulting in PRACT module 610 disconnects the line from the Personal System/2 and generates a loop inside the PRACT between the output leads of the two transmit and receive line transformers. The bytes '40' and '06' causes the reset of the remote loop. Additionally, when processor 100 receives byte 'D0' through the backward channel, corresponding to an ACTIVATE LINK command, the processor 100 transmits a control signal to ACFA module 630 so that the latter activates the ISDN slot number 0 which is the slot being managed by the ACFA module. The reverse operation is carried out by means of a DISACTICATE LINK command (being 'E0' in the preferred embodiment of the invention). As mentioned previously, the data transmission is simultaneously performed with a constant polling of the four RIC Portmaster cards which are possibly plugged inside the machine. More precisely, every 250 milliseconds, processor 100 sends to processor 140 via its RXD serial bus (and demultiplexor 110) a byte, a so-called NORMAL POLLING 'C0', which results in the call of an appropriate interrupt routine. That routine interrupt generates the transmission of an acknowledgement byte, 'CF' in hexadecimal, to processor 100, thus indicating the latter that no problem or incident has occurred in the considered card. In the case where the latter acknowledgment byte is not received by processor 100, the latter concludes of the possible occurrence of an incident. If successive NORMAL POLLING bytes still remains without any acknowledgement from one processor 140, then the latter transmits an IPL request to the main processor 260 via one of the remaining RIC Portmaster cards being plugged within the machine. Consequently, main processor 260 proceeds to a new Initialization Program Loading Procedure which will results in a new ISDN data transmission by means of the cards which are still operational.

Claims: Method for initializing a set of at least two ISDN adapter cards (210-240) installed within a workstation (500) comprising a main processor (260) connected to a primary adapter apparatus (222) for allowing the connection of said ISDN adapter cards (210;240) to an ISDN primary gateway, each of said ISDN adapter cards comprising means (640-670) for handling at least one B-channel and a first processing means (140) associated with a first memory storage, said primary adapter apparatus (222) comprising a second processing means (100) with associated second memory storage (320), wherein said method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: performing a polling procedure (12) in said primary adapter apparatus by the transmission to each of said ISDN adapter cards of a first byte pattern selected from a plurality of specific polling patterns ; in response to the reception of said first byte pattern in one ISDN adapter card of said plurality of ISDN adapter cards, transmitting to said main processor (260) located in said workstation (500) a second byte pattern indicative of a request to load said second memory storage (320) of said primary adapter apparatus (222) with operational code transferred from said workstation to said one ISDN adapter card, so that said main processor (260) recognizes said one ISDN adapter card which transmitted said second byte pattern as the master ISDN adapter card which will be used for the future transmission of control information on the D- channel; in response to the reception of said second byte pattern by said main processor (260), transmitting a third byte pattern to said master ISDN adapter card and thereafter transmitting a fourth byte pattern from said master ISDN adapter card to said primary adapter apparatus (222), so that said second processing means (100) recognizes and acknowledges said master ISDN adapter card, said third and fourth byte patterns being indicative of the commencement of the requested loading of said operational code from said workstation (500); transferring the operational code stored within said workstation (500) into the second memory storage located in said primary adapter apparatus via said master ISDN adapter card. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of transferring from said workstation (500) to said primary adapter apparatus (222) via said master ISDN adapter card, prior to the loading of operational code in said primary adapter apparatus (222), a byte pattern representative of the size and the address where said operational code has to be stored within the memory storage (320) in said primary adapter apparatus (222). The method according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising the step of transferring said operational code byte-by-byte from said main processor (260) to said second processing means (100) via said master ISDN adapter card, with each byte of code transferred followed by an acknowledgement byte pattern which is respectively transmitted from said second processing means (100) in said primary adapter apparatus (222) to said master ISDN adapter card, and from said master ISDN adapter card to said main processor (260). The method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said polling procedure is repeatedly performed in order to detect, during the loading of the operational code, the occurrence of a technical problem in any of said ISDN adapter cards (210-240) installed in the workstation (500). The method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the step of transferring in addition to said operational code, a checksum to said primary adapter apparatus (222) which is computed by said main processor (260) in said workstation (500) and checked by said second processing means (100) in said primary adapter apparatus '(222). An apparatus (222) arranged to allow the connection of a workstation (500) to an ISDN primary gateway of an ISDN network, said workstation comprising a main processing means (260) and having a plurality of ISDN adapter card capable of handling at least one B-Channel or one D-channel of an ISDN primary 30B+D frame and including a first processing means (140) with associated storage, said apparatus comprising: second processing means (100) with associated second memory storage (320), said second processing means having a serial data bus for exchanging control signals with said first processing means (140) of each ISDN adapter card; multiplexing (130) and demultiplexing means (110) for respectively multiplexing and demultiplexing the control signals which are transmitted between said second processing means (100) and each ISDN adapter card (210-240) installed within said workstation (500); said apparatus being characterized by : means for sending a first byte pattern selected from a set of specific polling patterns to each of said plurality of ISDN adapter cards (210-240), said plurality of ISDN adapter cards being so arranged that one ISDN adapter card thereof will transmit a second byte pattern to said main processing means (260) to indicate that it will act as the master ISDN adapter card to be used for the management of the D- channel of the ISDN frame ; means for monitoring the reception of a fourth byte pattern transmitted by said first processing means (140) in said master ISDN adapter card following the reception by said master ISDN adapter card of a third byte pattern which was transmitted by said main processing means (260), said third and fourth byte patterns being indicative of the commencement of loading operational code from said workstation (500) into said second memory storage (320) in said apparatus (222) ; said second processing means (100) in said apparatus being arranged to recognize and acknowledge said master ISDN adapter card in response to reception of said fourth byte pattern. The apparatus according to claim 6 further characterized in that it is arranged to load operational code from said workstation (500) into said memory storage (320) associated with said second processing means (100), said operational code being transferred via said master ISDN adapter card. The apparatus according to anyone of claims 6 to 7 further comprising means (630, 100) for receiving via said serial data bus a SET LOCAL LOOP command generated by said main processing means (260) in said workstation and transmitted through said master ISDN adapter card, said SET LOCAL LOOP command enabling said second processing means (100) to control the creation of an internal local loop resulting in the ISDN primary frame which is received from each ISDN adapter card without being transmitted to the ISDN network. The apparatus according to anyone of claims 6 to 8 further comprising means (100, 610) for receiving via said serial data bus a REMOTE LOOP command generated by said main processing means (260) in said workstation and transmitted through said master ISDN adapter card, said REMOTE LOOP command resulting in a disconnection of the workstation (500) from the ISDN primary gateway and the creation of an internal loop resulting in the ISDN primary frames which are received from the ISDN network being transmitted back to said ISDN network. An ISDN adapter card installed within a workstation comprising a main processing means (260) for the connection of said workstation to an ISDN primary adapter (222) allowing the connection to a ISDN primary gateway of an ISDN network, said adapter card comprising : means (640, 670) for handling at least one of the 30 B-channels contained within an ISDN primary frame; first processing means (140) associated with a memory storage for controlling said handling means (640-670), said first processing means having a serial data bus; connecting means (63, 64) arranged to connect said serial data bus of said first processing means to a second processing means (100) of said ISDN primary adapter (222); said adapter card being characterized by: means for detecting a first byte pattern received from said ISDN primary adapter (222), said first byte pattern being a specific polling pattern ; means operative in response to detection of said specific polling pattern for transmitting a second byte pattern to said main processing means (260) in said workstation (500), said main processing means (260) of said workstation (500) being arranged to recognize said ISDN adapter card as the master ISDN adapter card which will be used for the management of the D-channel of the ISDN frame in response to the reception of said second byte pattern; means for monitoring the reception of a third byte pattern transmitted by said main processing means (260); means operative in response to reception of said third byte pattern from said main processing means (260) for transmitting a fourth byte pattern to said second processing means (100) located in said ISDN primary adapter (222), the transmitting of said fourth byte pattern resulting in said second processing means (100) recognizing and acknowledging said ISDN adapter card as said master ISDN adapter card. The ISDN adapter card according to claim 10 further comprising means to download operational code from said workstation (500) to said ISDN primary adapter (222) via said serial data bus.

Inventors: AVARGUES DIDIER, CLARA JEAN-LOUIS, LE PENNEC JEAN-FRANCOIS, MICHEL PATRICK, SICSIC PATRICK, AVARGUES, DIDIER, CLARA, JEAN-LOUIS, LE PENNEC, JEAN-FRANCOIS, MICHEL, PATRICK, SICSIC, PATRICK, Le Pennec, Jean-François, SICSIC, PATRICK, BASTIDE DU LOUP - A/10
Applicants: IBM, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: H04M11, G06F15, H04Q11