Apparatus for editing and correcting displayed text

Abstract

A console for keyboard editing and correcting of text, such as newspaper copy, displayed on the screen of a cathode ray tube. The encoded text copy is recirculated in a refresh memory having a large capacity dynamic shift register and a small capacity random access memory where various editing and correcting changes may be made. The text displayed on the cathode ray screen may be "rolled up" or "rolled down" one line at a time as the editing proceeds. Any selected block of the text may be transmitted from the output of the recirculating memory to an output device, such as a punch, and deleted from the refresh memory at the same time.

We claim: 
     
       1. An editing apparatus for editing a train of data items and including memory means for storing said train of items, said memory means comprising a progressive memory having an input and an output and through which said train of data items travels and a non-progressive memory having a plurality of storage locations: said memory means outputting data at a frequency determining a timing period for said memory means, write means for writing successive data items from the output of the progressive memory into successively addressed storage locations of the non-progressive memory, read means for sequentially accessing said successively addressed storage locations and tracking said write means to read successive data items out of said storage locations of the non-progressive memory into the input of the progressive memory, timing means for actuating said read means and said write means in timed relationship to the movement of said data train through said progressive memory to sequentially address said storage locations, and editing means cooperating with said non-progressive memory for modifying the number of items in said data train comprising means cooperating with said timing means to vary said timed relationship in at least one of said read and write means to change the number of data items stored in said successively addressed locations between the write means and the read means on a change in the number of data items in said train. 
     
     
       2. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the number of storage locations for data items in said non-progressive memory exceeds the number of data items between said write means and said read means in the absence of editing operations. 
     
     
       3. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said editing means is effective to perform limited editing during each traversal of the entire data train through said memory means and said timing means comprises resetting means responsive to a signal for resetting each of said write and said read means to a predetermined initial storage location and to then effect the continued writing of said successive data items by said write means, and said apparatus includes circuit means for providing said signal when said data train reaches a predetermined position in said memory means, and read inhibit means for inhibiting operation of said read means for a predetermined number of data items subsequent to the resetting of said read means and said write means to establish a predetermined number of storage locations intermediate said read means and said write means in which the data items in said non-progressive memory are stored. 
     
     
       4. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said editing means comprises edit inhibit means responsive to the positions of said read and write means for inhibiting certain editing operations for the remainder of the current traversal of said data train when the number of storage locations between said read and write means becomes less than a minimum number. 
     
     
       5. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said editing means comprises edit inhibit means responsive to the positions of said read an write means for inhibiting certain editing operations for the remainder of the current traversal of said data train when the number of storage locations between said read and write means becomes greater than a maximum number. 
     
     
       6. An edition apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said editing means comprises edit inhibit means responsive to the positions of said read and write means for inhibiting certain editing operations for the remainder of the current traversal of said data train when the number of storage locations between said read and write means becomes less than a minimum number and for inhibiting certain editing operations for the remainder of the current traversal of said data train when the number of storage locations between said read and write means becomes greater than a maximum number. 
     
     
       7. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said circuit means comprises means responsive to a data item stored in said train. 
     
     
       8. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein an item is to be deleted from said train, said editing means comprises delete means for deleting the item from the train comprising means cooperating with said timing means for changing the sequencing for at least a timing period of said write means from said timed relationship to prevent a change in the storage location addressed by the write means. 
     
     
       9. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said delete means comprises means for blocking data from being transmitted to said non-progressive memory from said progressive memory during a period in which said write means is inhibited. 
     
     
       10. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said delete means comprises block delete means for deleting a plurality of successive items in said train comprising means for initiating a delete operation at a predetermined position in said train, said timing means comprising sequencing control means responsive to said block delete means and actuatable to a first state in response thereto to prevent the sequencing of said write means when an items is deleted and actuatable to a second state to restore the sequencing of said write means, first means for signaling when the number of said items to be deleted has been deleted, second means for signaling that the number of storage locations between said read and write means are less than a predetermined number, and means connecting said first and second means to said sequencing control means to actuate the latter to its second state to reinitiate the sequencing of the write means. 
     
     
       11. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said delete means comprises means for blocking data from being transmitted to said non-progressive memory from said progressive memory during a period in which said write means is inhibited. 
     
     
       12. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said block delete means comprises first and second data items circulating in the memory means in said data train to indicate the beginning and end of a section to be deleted, and means responsive to said first and second data items for actuating said control means between its said states. 
     
     
       13. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 10 further comprising output device means responsive to data items appearing at the output of said progressive memory to issue output data from said editing apparatus, and comprising gate means cooperating with said delete means to prevent transmission from said progressive memory to said nonprogressive memory of data items to be deleted, and enablng means responsive to said block delete means to actuate said data output device means while said sequencing control means is in said first state. 
     
     
       14. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said editing means comprises insertion means for inserting data into said train and said timing means comprises means for incrementing said write means to the next successive storage location for each item appearing at said output and for incrementing said write means in a plurality of steps during a timing period to a plurality of successive locations in response to said insertion means to write a plurality of items into said memory during the period. 
     
     
       15. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which said train of data includes a cursor code for indicating the position at which editing will occur in said train and said editing means comprises multiplexing means for inserting a cursor code into a storage location on one of said plurality of steps. 
     
     
       16. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said editing means cooperating with said nonprogressive memory comprises cursor means for producing a signal when said data train is at a predetermined position in said memory means and means responsive to said cursor means for initiating an editing operation. 
     
     
       17. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said non-progressive memory is a random access memory and said editing means further comprises register means responsive to a data item remembering a storage location of said random access memory into which a particular data item was written, and said write means further comprises write addressing means responsive to said register means for subsequently addressing said storage location, and said read means further comprises read addressing means responsive to said register means for subsequently addressing said storage location, whereby said storage location may be addressed for writing and reading at times in addition to sequentially addressed successive writing and reading times. 
     
     
       18. An editing apparatus having editing means for modifying coded data stored in the apparatus, the data representing information to be reproduced in lines, display means for displaying said data by frames, each of which comprises a plurality of lines, memory means for storing a number of lines of data to be edited which is greater than said plurality and for continuously outputting the data in sequence, and display control means comprising circuit means for limiting the response of said display means to a portion of the data being outputted by said memory means with said portion corresponding to said plurality of lines including first means for rendering said display means responsive to the ouputted data beginning at a first line and terminating at a subsequent line, and scrolling means cooperating with said first means to incrementally shift the portion of the output data to which the display means is responsive to shift the lines of the outputted data which are displayed. 
     
     
       19. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said data includes end of line codes for terminating a line of display on said display means and wherein said first means for rendering said display means responsive comprises start circuit means responsive to said end of line codes for initiating the display at a selected line. 
     
     
       20. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said start circuit means comprises a counter incremented in response to an end of line code. 
     
     
       21. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said first means for rendering said display means responsive comprises terminate means responsive to said end of line codes for terminating the display on said display means. 
     
     
       22. An editing apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said terminate means comprises a counter. .Iadd. 
     
     
       23.  In a video display terminal having a refresh memory, a character generator and a display means wherein said refresh memory is utilized to enable said character generator to provide signals to said display means for displaying characters, the codes of which are stored in said refresh memory, said refresh memory having stored therein a plurality of contiguous lines of character codes larger than the number of lines of characters which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means, means responsive to said refresh memory for enabling the display of a selected plurality of lines of character codes from said refresh memory on said display means, and said means responsive including selection means for changing the selected contiguous lines of character codes obtained from said refresh memory and supplied therefrom to said character generator for providing said signals to said display means for displaying lines of characters thereon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The video display terminal of claim 23 wherein said refresh memory comprises a recirculating register. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. In a video display terminal having a refresh memory, a character generator and a display means wherein said refresh memory is utilized to enable said character generator to provide signals to said display means for displaying characters, the codes of which are stored in said refresh memory, said refresh memory having stored therein a plurality of contiguous lines of characters larger than the number of lines which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means, means responsive to said refresh memory for enabling the display of a selected plurality of lines of characters from said refresh memory on said display means, and said means responsive including selection means for changing the selected contiguous lines from said refresh memory which are displayed on said display means, and wherein control characters are provided in said refresh memory for indicating the end of a line of data so that all of said characters in said refresh memory are sequentially stored in said 
     
     
        refresh memory. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  In a video display terminal having a refresh memory, a character generator and a display means wherein said refresh memory is utilized to enable said character generator to provide signals to said display means for displaying characters, the codes of which are stored in said refresh memory, said refresh memory having stored therein a plurality of contiguous lines of character codes larger than the number of lines of characters which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means, means responsive to said refresh memory for enabling the display of a selected plurality of lines of character codes obtained from said refresh memory on said display means, and said means responsive including selection means for changing the selected contiguous lines of character codes obtained from said refresh memory and supplied therefrom to said character generator for providing said signals to said display means for displaying lines of characters thereon, said selection means being capable of moving said displayed lines up and down said display with all of said lines of characters in said refresh memory being selectable by said selection means to be displayed without said selection means erasing any of said lines of characters in said refresh memory. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     An editing apparatus having editing means for modifying coded data stored in the apparatus, the data representing information to be reproduced in lines, display means for displaying said data by frames, each of which comprises a plurality of lines, memory means for storing a number of lines of data to be edited which is greater than said plurality and for continuously outputting the data in sequence, and display control means comprising circuit means for limiting the response of said display means to a portion of the data portion corresponding to said plurality of lines including first means for rendering said display means responsive to the outputted data beginning at a subsequent line, and scrolling means cooperating with said first means to incrementally shift the portion of the output data to which the display means is responsive to shift the lines of the outputted data which are displayed without said circuit means erasing any of said lines of data in said memory means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. In a video display terminal having a refresh memory, a character generator and a display means wherein said refresh memory is utilized to enable said character generator to provide signals to said display means for displaying characters, the codes of which are stored in said refresh memory, said refresh memory having stored therein a plurality of lines of character codes larger than the number of lines of characters which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means, means for enabling the display of a selected plurality of lines of character codes from said refresh memory on said display means, and said means for enabling including selection means for changing the selected lines of character codes obtained from said refresh memory and supplied therefrom to said character generator for providing said signals to said display means for displaying lines of characters thereon, said selection means being capable of moving said displayed lines up and down said display means with all of said lines of character codes in said refresh memory being selectable by 
     
     
        said selection means to be displayed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  In a video display terminal as set forth in claim 28, wherein said means for enabling includes means responsive to said refresh memory. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. In a video display terminal having a refresh memory, a character generator and a display means wherein said refresh memory is utilized to enable said character generator to provide signals to said display means for displaying characters, the codes of which are stored in said refresh memory, said refresh memory having stored therein a plurality of lines of characters larger than the number of lines which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means, means for enabling the display of a selected plurality of lines of characters from said refresh memory on said display means, and said means for enabling including selection means for changing the selected lines from said refresh memory which are displayed on said display means, said selection means being capable of moving said displayed lines up and down said display means with all of said lines of characters in said refresh memory being selectable by said selection means to be displayed, said means for enabling including means responsive to said refresh memory, and wherein said refresh memory has end of line codes stored therein and wherein said means responsive includes means responsive to said end of line codes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. In a video display as set forth in claim 28, wherein said selected lines are displayed on said display means as contiguous lines. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. In a video display as set forth in claim 31, wherein said selected lines are stored in said 
     
     
        memory as contiguous lines. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  In a video display terminal having a refresh memory, a character generator and a display means wherein said refresh memory is utilized to enable said character generator to provide signals to said display means for displaying characters, the codes of which are stored in said refresh memory, said refresh memory having stored therein a plurality of lines of characters larger than the number of lines which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means, means for enabling the display of a selected plurality of lines of characters from said refresh memory on said display means, and said means for enabling including selection means for changing the selected lines from said refresh memory which are displayed on said display means, said selection means being capable of moving said displayed lines up and down said display means with all of said lines of characters in said refresh memory being selectable by said selection means to be displayed, said selected lines are displayed on said display means as contiguous lines, and wherein said refresh memory has end of line codes stored therein and said means responsive includes means responsive to said end of line codes for enabling the display of said selected lines. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. In a video display terminal as set forth in claim 33, wherein said selection means includes means for selecting a plurality of lines for display equal to the number of lines which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means starting at a location in said refresh memory adjacent to a said end of line code and wherein all of said lines of characters in said memory are selectable so that said displayed lines may be moved up and down on said display means without erasing any of said lines of characters in said refresh memory. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. An editing apparatus having editing means for modifying coded data stored in the apparatus, the data representing information to be reproduced in lines, display means for displaying said data by frames, each of which comprises a plurality of lines, memory means for storing a number of lines of data to be edited which is greater than said plurality and for outputting the data, and display control means comprising circuit means for limiting the response of said display means to a portion of the data stored by said memory means with said portion corresponding to said plurality of lines including first means for rendering said display means responsive to said portion of said stored data beginning at a first line and terminating at a subsequent line, and scrolling means cooperating with said first means to incrementally shift said portion of said stored data to which the display means is responsive to shift the lines of the stored data which are displayed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. An editing apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein said portion of said stored data to which said display means is responsive is a number of lines of data to be displayed as contiguous lines corresponding with the number of lines which can be simultaneously displayed as a frame by said display means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. An editing apparatus as set forth in claim 36, wherein said memory means has end of line codes stored therein and said circuit means includes means responsive to said end of line codes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. An editing apparatus as set forth in claim 37, wherein said scrolling means cooperates with said first means to shift said portion of said stored data such that the displayed lines may be moved up and down by said display means without erasing any 
     
     
        of said lines of data in said memory means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39.  A video display apparatus comprising memory means, a character generator and a display means wherein said memory means is utilized to enable said character generator to provide signals to said display means for displaying characters, the codes of which are stored in said memory means, said memory means having stored therein a plurality of lines of character codes larger than the number of lines of characters which can be simultaneously displayed on said display means, means for enabling the display of a selected plurality of lines of character codes from said memory means on said display means, and said means for enabling including selection means for changing the selected lines of character codes obtained from said memory means and supplied therefrom to said character generator for providing said signals to said display means for displaying lines of characters thereon, said selection means being capable of moving said displayed lines up and down said display with all of said lines of character codes in said memory means being selectable by said selection means to be displayed. .Iaddend.