Title: Multi-way program branching circuits

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for multi-way program branching in a digital computer based on the contents of a data register. This is accomplished by loading any data field of interest into a data register and using the output lines as address lines to a plurality of read-only memory devices. Each device contains a set of random memory addresses. Logic circuits under program control select and enable one device, thereby producing one address. Finally, circuits under program control force a program branch to the location address produced. Thus, by programming the read-only memory devices and the computer appropriately, a plurality of sets of data fields are associated with and result in branches to a plurality of sets of locations, thereby giving the programmer the general capability of branching to any one of the plurality of locations within one instruction execution cycle based on the interrogation of any one data word.

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Inventors: Disparte, Charles P. (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, US)
Hall, Jr., Warren L. (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, US)
Isaac, Kenneth N. (Tustin, CA, US)
Mock, C. Howard (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, US)

Application Number: 385949
Filing Date: 1973-08-06
Publication_date: 1976-09-07
Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Rochester, NY)
Primary Class(es): 712/236
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3562713	Feb, 1971	Packard	340/172.
3570006	Mar, 1971	Hoff et al.	340/172.
3623157	Nov, 1971	Slapteford	340/172.
3634883	Jan, 1972	Kreidermacher	340/172.
3665510	May, 1972	Brandt et al.	340/172.
3693162	Sep, 1972	Spangler	340/172.
3699526	Oct, 1972	Iskiyan et al.	340/172.
3713108	Jan, 1973	Edstrom et al.	340/172.
3753236	Aug, 1973	Flynn et al.	340/172.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Zache, Raulfe B.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Ralabate; James J., Colitz; Michael J., Weiss; Franklyn C.