Abstract

Communications and computer systems are described utilizing an architecture which makes possible the transmission and storage of data in an efficient and rapid manner. The system architecture embodies a plurality of communication sites and computer sites which interact with each other by means of matrices having special properties which permit the control, transmission and storage of data in many time and space saving ways. The matrices also serve as a means of governing the activities of the system. A plurality of computer sites act upon the data in the matrices by transforming, processing and transferring data for the communications network and processing loops. The processing loops provide the basic processing for the system and contain processing units which act independently and respond to the matrices. The matrices contain both the data which is to be operated upon and tutors (instructions) for directing the activities of the processing units. The system provides simultaneous services to a large number of users. The system does not contain a central processing unit (CPU) and its associated programs and does not require fetch, put and interrupt actions inherent in CPU programs. The system architecture, by virtue of the hardware and its special configuration, the matrices and their operation, and the response of the hardware to the matrices, confers great flexibility on the system's operations from both the communications and the computer standpoints.