Description
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE CLASS SUBJECT MATTER
This class provides for an electrical computer or digital dataprocessing system or corresponding data processing method includingapparatus or steps for transferring data or instruction informationbetween a plurality of computers wherein the computers employ thedata or instructions before or after transferring and the employingaffects said transfer of data or instruction information.
The class includes the following subject matter:
Process or apparatus for transferring data among a pluralityof spatially distributed (i.e., situated, atplural locations) computers or digital data processingsystems via one or more communications media (e.g., computer networks).
SCOPE OF THE CLASS
This class is limited to digital data processing systems andfuntions for transferring unspecified data or instruction informationand the proceesing thereof by digital data processing systems. Systemsconcerned with movement or processing of other specific types ofinformation and digital signals, per se, areclassifiedelsewhere. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
A. Electric Computers and Data Processing Systems, RelatedSystems and Functions in General.
(1) Systems directed to a specific end useof information, for example, senor data processedby a computer means for control purposes in systems classified externalto this class, are classified elsewhere. See theSEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below
B. Communications Classes
This class includes significant data processing in combinationwith communication of data, and allowed types of information, amongstdigital processing systems.
For multiplexing see the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.
For systems directed to selective communication systems. Seethe SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.
For systems directed to communication techniques such as pulseor digital communications. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASSnotes below.
C. Additional Notes
(1)Note. The subject matter of this class is characterizedby data transfer occurring as an external communication betweenseparate computers which themselves are distinguishable processingentities.
(2)Note. The basic distinctions between this classand the communications classes are (a) the subclassesherein include computers, rather than other data communications devices, and (b) thecomputers perform data processing in addition to transferring datathere between; overall combinations directed to a systemfor performing communications functions only are classified in thecommunications art classes. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASSnotes below.
(3)Note. Processes and apparatus for preprocessingor postprocessing of signals in the data transfer to effect a particularmethod of communications (e.g., modulating, demodulating, encoding, decoding, phaselocking) are classified in the appropriate communicationsclass. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below for examples.
(4)Note. Subject matter relating to transmission orinterconnection systems not classifiable herein and not appropriatefor the communication classes is classified in the residual classfor all transmission or interconnection systems. See theSEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.
(5)Note. Processes and apparatus for error detectionand correction (EDAC), fault detectionand recovery, and for increasing the probability of a computer, digitaldata processing system, or computer network performingcorrectly (i.e., increasingits reliability and availability), per se, areclassified elsewhere. See the SEE OR SEARCH CLASS notesbelow.
(6)Note. Processes and apparatus for enhancing thesecurity of computers, digital data processing systems, andcomputer networks, per se, are classified elsewhere. See theSEE OR SEARCH CLASS notes below.
(7)Note. Processes and apparatus for housing or mountingcomputers, digital data processing systems, calculators, orcomponents thereof are classified elsewhere. See the SEEOR SEARCH CLASS notes below.
(8)Note. Subject matter relating to neural networks, perse, are classified elsewhere. See the SEE OR SEARCHCLASS notes below.
(9)Note. Subject matter relating to distributed orremote accessing of databases or files, per se, isclassified elsewhere. See the SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS notesbelow.