Polling an data communication system having a pulse position to binary address conversion circuit

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A poll command is sent by a central station to a plurality of remote stations connected along a data highway system. Upon receipt of the poll command, a remote station which desires to transmit data to the central station, responds with a reply pulse in a specific time position following the poll command. The position of the reply pulse is measured relative to the end of the poll command from the central station. Upon transmission of the poll commond by the central station a counter is started, at the central station to count clock pulses arranged to occur at the end of each possible reply pulse position. Upon receipt of a reply pulse from a remote station the count in the counter, which …