Rapid message transmission system between computers and method

摘要

In a computer network having a central computer, a plurality of peripheral computers, and a time-shared common memory accessible to the network computers over a single bus connected to the common memory, an electronic switch of the telephone type is connected to all of the computers so that direct links may be established between respective members of one or more selected pairs of computers. Data is transmitted between computers via the direct links effected by the switch, and the bus is thus primarily reserved for access to the main memory for each of the computers. Direct links for transmitting data from a peripheral computer and another computer are established in accordance with connection orders sent from the peripheral computer to the central computer via the common memory. If the other computer is available to receive data, the central computer instructs the electronic switch to connect the peripheral computer directly to the receiving computer.