I/o handler

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An i/o handler providing communication between a host computer and a plurality of peripheral stations has an abutting member positioned adjacent to the computer and a distributing member removed from the computer. The two members are connected by a communication link with data paths and separate control paths. Communication on the link are by a protocol with synchronized time multiplexed channels and exchange of synchronizing signals in every frame. The handler minimizes the space required at the immediate site of the computer for external communications.