A computing scale system is provided for particular utility in connection with a point-of-sale merchandising terminal. The system may include a plurality of scales, each interconnected with a checkout counter and each associated with its own display unit. The display units each have electro-optic displays for displaying weight, price per unit weight and total value. The weight as measured by the scale is transmitted to the display unit for storage and display together with storage and display of price per unit weight information as entered by the display unit keyboard. Associated with one of the display units is a computing unit, which computes total price information for all display units on a time sharing basis. The computing unit generates display unit addresses at each of the display units, and the display units in turn respond with status information. So long as a display unit is in condition for servicing by the computing unit, the computing unit continues servicing that display. When a total value computation has been completed, then that total value is transmitted, together with the appropriate display unit address, to the display unit being serviced. If at any time during servicing, a display unit responds with improper status information, then the computing unit enters a program abort loop and begins servicing another display unit.

The invention relates to a high speed central office scanner for use with a plurality of transponding units connected by telephone lines. The scanner is comprised of N, I/O units, each comprised of a multiplexer for connecting the I/O units to M telephone lines; a microprocessor and multiplex logic which sequentially selects one of the M telephone lines; a busy detect circuit for checking the selected telephone line and providing a signal when the line is busy; a TX/RX unit connected to the selected line for transmitting an instruction code to a transponder connected thereto when the signal is absent and for receiving data from the transponder in response to the instruction code; and a storage unit. The scanner further includes a master microprocessing unit, which includes a main microprocessor for sequentially selecting one of the N, I/O units and for generating an interrogating code for transmission to each selected I/O unit. Each master microprocessor unit includes a master storage unit for storing received data from the selected I/O unit and a main TX/RX unit for transmitting the received data stored in the main storage unit, upon receipt of a further interrogation code, wherein each of the N, I/O units scan the M telephone lines independently and asynchronously with respect to each other of the N, I/O units and the master microprocessing unit.

A system for controlling the issuance of a "Sync In" signal by a disk file controller to a control unit to request a byte of data to arrive at the controller at the same predetermined time regardless of the propagation delay of the cables interconnecting the two units. The system includes a circuit arrangement for measuring the actual propagation delay of the interface cable by issuing a "Sync In" signal at a predetermined time and detecting when the return "Sync Out" signal is received. The measured time is converted to a "Sync In" lead time in terms of bits and bytes. This value is stored and subsequently controls circuitry for issuing the "Sync In" pulse at a bit time which provides the exact lead time necessary for the "Sync Out" signal to arrive at the predetermined bit and byte time so that the data byte will be encoded and recorded at the predefined location on the moving magnetic disk. The system further includes circuitry for detecting the occurrence of numerous types of errors which may occur between "Sync In" and "Sync Out" signals.

An apparatus for collecting and recovering medical data which allows a number of different patients to be identified by an ID card or an ID label and has a plurality of keyboard printing units which receive medical data from the particular patient and includes a memory which receives the individual medical data relative to the individual patient identified by the patient's number and the examination number and includes a system for transferring the data in usual form to an output unit after the necessary data has been recorded in the memory. The apparatus further includes a control unit for controlling the input and output units as well as the memory unit and includes error correcting systems.

A web site server provides collaborative web page navigation feature for a group of user terminals. The location information of the web pages are relayed to all following terminals of the group, while a leading terminal of the group is navigating through the web pages by using its web browser. Each of the following terminals has a web navigation synchronizer. Upon receiving the web page location information, the web navigation synchronizer updates its respective web browser and activates the browser to locate web pages according to the web page location information.