Patent GB-1410353-A (GB)
Title: Text processing system
IPC: G06F3/12
Filed: 1972-09-25
Abstract: 1410353 Text processing ING C OLIVETTI & C SpA 25 Sept 1972 [29 Sept 1971 19 April 1972 14 July 1972] 44238/72 Headings G4H and G4C In a text processing system for preparing and revising multi-line printed texts, lines of text information entered manually are stored on a record medium, and are printed together with identifications of their storage addresses in visual association with the printed lines, manually-operable line searching means permitting a desired address on the record medium to be accessed after which text information can be entered manually thereinto. As disclosed, a central unit having a core memory and processing circuitry and controlled by a programme selected by one of two keyboards from a magnetic tape loop in a cartridge tape memory and read into the core memory in order to control the central unit, can be interrupted by the tape memory, a typewriter (to which one of the keyboards belongs) or a console (to which the other keyboard belongs) for data transfer and execution of functions ordered from the keyboards. The identity of the programme selected by the operator is typed out. The tape loop has N + I tracks, N of which are data tracks each having a sequence of data blocks separated by gaps. Each data block can hold the characters for one line of print, the address within the track of the next block for this text (see below), a constant for track selection, the identity of the cartridge, the number of characters that the line can contain (selectable by the operator), the actual number of characters in the line, the code(s) of function(s) to be carried out on the line (e.g. centring, underlining etc., commanded by the operator) and a longitudinal parity check character for the block. Each character also has a parity bit. In the case of underlining the operator specifies the words to be underlined by actuating an underline key instead of the space key just before and after the (sequence of) word(s) to be underlined. Each of the data tracks also contains a table block containing a pair of bits for each data block in the track to indicate whether it is free and recordable, occupied and recordable, free but not recordable, or not usable. The table block also contains an instruction used to select the track having the first free and recordable block, the address of the first free and recordable block, and the identity of the cartridge. The remaining track contains the addresses of the blocks in the data tracks, and also contains programme blocks. The typewriter can be used to enter a text, this being passed via the core store to the tape loop where it is recorded in a sequence of free and recordable data blocks, the first of which was specified by a table block and the remainder of which were deduced from the bit-pairs in the table block (see above), the ether information in each data block (including the address of the next block in the sequence) being derived by the central unit and recorded also. The addresses of the blocks used are printed out at the line beginnings on the typewriter. The data entered is also printed. The operator can then order insertions and deletions of lines or paragraphs, alterations of line lengths and corrections of typing errors, lines being identified to the system by the block addresses typed out by the system. Insertions and deletions are performed by the system by altering the addresses in the data blocks which specify the respective next data blocks used for the text. The modified text can be printed out on the typewriter, with performance of the underlining etc. functions commanded. Centring is performed by adding space characters before and after the stored line, with incrementing of the stored indication of the number of characters in the line, until the latter equals the stored indication of the number of characters that the line can contain. Changes to information recorded on the tape are made by reading from tape to the core memory, making the changes, and writing back on to the tape. Justification can also be ordered, being performed by expanding interword spaces with incrementing of the indication in the block of the actual number of characters in the line until it equals the indication of the number that the line can contain.