Showing papers on "Application software published in 1985"

A survey of Application Generators

Abstract: By encouraging the unsophisticated computer user to develop his own dataintensive programs, application generators can significantly improve software productivity.

Automatic restart apparatus for a processing system

Abstract: An automatic loading apparatus for a processing system (10) to restart an application program upon detection of a failure of the software. The application program periodically execute at least a portion of a reset code (16) which is for a controller of a peripheral device (30). The controller device of the measuring device the frequency of access by the processing system to determine if the execution program is executed successfully. If the application program does not have access to the device controller in the period of normal performance for the reset code, this is an indication of failure of the software to run in the correct sequence or discontinuation of the application program. When an indication of failure, the peripheral controller wins the power connection (A32) to the processing system and resets the power connection (A24) to permit self-priming to reload the program application and restart the application software.

Abstractions for user interface design

Abstract: There is a consensus among designers on the need for a rigorous separation of the functionality of a computer system from its user interface. The principle remains sterile unless some way is provided to put it into practice. It is argued that designers of the interface between users and computer systems need a toolkit of abstractions that embody human factors knowledge while automatically executing the low-level details of the interaction. We believe that the notion of a user interface toolkit constitutes a reasonable way to enforce this separation. Given this approach, the next goal is the definition of a toolkit that is useful. The author points at some general benefits resulting from the toolkit abstractions. In particular, the user can avoid "communication deadlocks" by running several applications simultaneously; or he can obtain distinct views of an object through the external view mechanism; or, as a last example, he can interact by means of the dialog socket with the various applications on the workstation in a consistent way through a unique (refinable) dialog-handler (or a dialog-handler of his choice). Therefore, the proposed abstractions improve the quality of user interfaces when viewed in the large. Conversely, when viewed in the small, these abstractions cannot be guaranteed 100% "user-friendly": each class of users and each class of tasks have specific requirements that are to be satisfied on a case-by-case basis.

Image information systems

Abstract: Recent advances in hardware technology have made feasible the design of sophisticated image information systems. There is need for image information systems in many application areas. A survey of commercial systems that are currently available indicates the diversity of product orientations, nonuniformity, and lack of integration in their capabilities. A survey of R & D efforts indicate that many sophisticated techniques and concepts have been developed, but lack of integration again prevents their immediate applications. Based upon these considerations, an approach to software design for image information systems to achieve system integration is suggested, which emphasizes program portability and modularity, self-descriptive data structures, unified image processing language and programming environment, and flexible user interface. The concept of generalized icons is proposed as a means to help achieve such system integration.

Antenna design using personal computers

Abstract: A Personal Compuler Graphics Paskage to Supplement the Teaching of Electromagnetic Waves Warren L. Stutzman, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Alison B. Garrett, IBM Corporation.. ..... 617 Macintosh Movies for Teaching Undergraduate Electricity and Magnetism Blas Cabrera, Stanford University; Edmund Miller, University of Kansas.. ...................................... 621 CUFfEE BREAK Workstations and Personal Computers in a Research Environment S.J. Kubina and C.W. Trueman, Concordia University, Montreal.. ................................................. 625 Applicalion of a Microvax II in Electromagnelics Education and Research Antonije R. Djordjevic, University of Belgrade; Tapan K. Sarkar, Syracuse University.. ...................... 629 Sargasses: Interactive Computer Pragram with Graphics Based on GTD, for Antennas Mounted on an Aircraft Dominique Clair and Jacky Toumeur, Thomson-CSF, France; Frederic Molinet and Catherine Louet, Mothesim, France. .......................................... 633 Devendra K. Misra, The University of Wisconsin.. ............. 613

Expert Control

Abstract: The application of expert systems technology is currently being extended to real-time process control. The potential benefit is to allow rapid application of defined expertise to dynamic problems involving hundreds of variables. The system's approach to this requires the consideration of the challenges of real-time inference, in particular the dynamic nature of the domain, the large knowledge base and the requirements for efficient execution.

A study of application program development techniques

Abstract: A survey of application development techniques in 43 organizations identifies the methods and tools found most effective in application software development.

A Survey of Graphics Standards and Their Role in Information Interchange

Abstract: / e in this issue, you can ut the efforts of several ns to integrate text, graph-and image descriptions into document format. However, al standardization activity in ea has just begun. Furthermore, e has been little progress in specify-details of the integration of these fferent technologies into an official national or international standard. However, current graphics standardization work provides a clear indication ofthe nature and function ofthe graphics components of these future standardized integrated document files.

User interface management systems : proceedings of the Workshop on User Interface Management Systems, held in Seeheim, FRG, November 1-3, 1983

Abstract: 1 Subgroup Reports.- Report on Role, Model, Structure and Construction of a UIMS.- Report on Dialogue Specification Tools.- Report on the Interface of the UIMS to the Application.- Report on the User's Conceptual Model.- 2 Role, Model, Stmcture and Constmction of a UIMS.- Issues Pertaining to the Design of a User Interface Management System.- Components of Interactive Applications.- Communication Mediator - A Structure for UIMS.- Some Issues in Future User Interface Management System (UlMS) Development.- Architecture for A User Interface Management System.- 3 Dialogue Specification Tools.- Design Notations and User Interface Management Systems.- Parallel Input and Feedback in Dialogue Cells.- Presentational, Syntactic and Semantic Components of Interactive Dialogue Specifications.- 4 Interfaces and Implementations of UIMS.- DIMS as Part of a CAD System.- The Unification ofa Dialogue Manager and a Graphics System.- The Flexible Configuration of Interaction Environments using GKS and Workspaces.- Recent Experiences with Input Handling at PMA.- Some Thoughts on the Interface Between User Interface Management Systems and Application Software.- 5 User's Conceptual Model.- The Role of a User's System Model, and its Relevance to User Interface Management.- A Model of a User's Conceptual Model of...

Large Software Problems for Small Computers: An Example from Medical Imaging

Abstract: Small computers can be called on to perform large tasks. Doing so requires careful organization of input, output, auxiliary data structures, and memory.

A reconfigurable multiprocessor architecture for reliable control of robotic systems

Abstract: The paper describes a reliable multiprocessor system designed for real time control applications and specifically applied to the control of a six legged walking machine. The system consists of four Intel 8086 based computers with four buses and can execute tasks in parallel or in a redundant configuration with two or three processors executing the same task in a loosely synchronized manner. The system is continuously reconfigured so that every processor gets checked out by participating in a redundant configuration. A combined hardware-software scheme is used for voting. Hardware comparators compare outputs of pairs of processors whereas buffer selection, fault identification and error correction are done by software. Thus advantages of both hardware and software schemes are exploited. The hexapod is simulated by a fifth computer.

User Interface Management System with Geometric Modeling Capability: A CAD System's Framework

Abstract: Since practical designing involves both ?bottom-up? and ?topdown? approaches, a CAD system should be able to cope with all types of data.

A Performance Analysis of MC68020-based Systems

Abstract: T he determination of processor performance during the early stages of design is essential to the proper analysis of design trade-offs as well as to the evaluation of product viability. This problem is common to both the developer of the processor and the developers of systems based on the processor. In each case, an understanding of the processor's behavior is essential to proper design. Here, we describe a method for estimating the performance of the MC68020, a 32-bit microprocessor, and computer systems based on the 68020. We undertook two separate studies in developing this methodology. First, we devised a general model of computation for the 68000 by tracing typical programs executing on a 68000-based workstation. From these traces, we developed a profile of instruction frequency that served as a model for processor execution. Second, we made traces of bus activity in a 68000-based Hewlett-Packard 9000, Series 200, Model 236 computer. We used these traces to develop a model of bus behavior-a model that includes locality, types of accesses, and DMA activity. (This model was later used in the design of the new HP 9000, Series 300 computer family.) By combining these models, we can predict the performance characteristics of the 68020 microprocessor and any system based on the 68020. In this article, we will examine the models to understand the factors affecting performance of the processor and a system based on the processor. We will then correlate the predicted performance characteristics to the 68020 chip and system, respectively, to determine the validity of our method. When developing processor-specific computation models that will be used to evaluate performance, determine resource utilization, and describe the nature of processing, one should avoid comparing the results to those produced by a different architecture. However, the methods we used to develop the models of computation and bus behavior are applicable to, and valuable for, the evaluation of any architecture.

GEM: Operating system primitives for robots and real-time control systems

Abstract: To increase the speed and reliability of robots and of industrial control systems, multiple processing elements are used in their computing hardware. However, performance increases are not attained by hardware, alone. It is the hardware's operating software that must exploit the possible parallelism to gain the increases desired. Such software consists of control programs written by application programmers and operating system software offering means of task scheduling, inter-task communication, and hardware configuration control. The Generalized Executive for real-time Multiprocessor applications (GEM) is an operating system that addresses several problems arising due to the unique requirements of operating software, including: (1) GEM supports two different sizes of tasks and task scheduling, called processes and micro-processes, and offers a variety of real-time scheduling calls, and (2) GEM supports multiple models of communication.

ITT CAP - Toward a Personal Supercomputer

Abstract: A s microprocessor technology has advanced, greater and greater computational power has _migrated down to the level of the personal computer. Today we can speak of the \"personal minicomputer,\" and many even speak of the \"personal mainframe.\" But is a \"personal supercomputer\" within reach anytime soon? ITT thinks it is, and tc that end the company initiated the Cellular Array Processor Project at its Advanced Technology Center in January 1982. The objective of the CAP Project is to design a processor providing performance far beyond what is economically feasible with processors using commercially available parts. The CAP will be applied particularly to digital signal processing and image processing as well as to engineering analysis and database manipulation. Its performance will be able to be scaled to an application, and it will be able to be used as an embedded or attached processor.

Analyzing Software Performance in a Multiprocessor Environment

Abstract: Efficient multiprocessing requires new methods of problem decomposition— and new debugging and analysis tools for developing and evaluating asynchronous, parallel programs.

IFS — A tool to build integrated, interactive application software

Abstract: The Interpretive Frame System (IFS) is a tool for creating application software with sophisticated interactive interfaces. IFS is based on the notion of a frame network. A frame network consists of many interconnected modules called frames, each of which represents a logical activity in the system. Frames are written in a high-level language. Besides the usual computational constructs such as conditionals, loops, or arithmetics and Boolean expressions, the IFS language also includes facilities for building program/program interactions, such as subprocess invocations or coprocess communications, and constructs for building user/program interactions such as menus or forms. IFS is a suitable tool to integrate existing programs by providing a uniform and easy-to-use user interface. It can also be used to build a new system in a top-down manner by first defining the network of frames and their interactions and user interface, then programming problem-specific parts. Therefore, it provides a general framework supporting any combination of top-down and bottom-up software development methodologies. This paper gives an overview of the frame network concept, the user interface of frame network systems, the frame programming language, and the IFS system implementation.

A Tour of Computing Facilities in China

Abstract: China is committed to bringing its technological capabilities in line with those of Western nations by the year 2000. This followup to a separate September 1984 conference report describes computing facilities visited during the First International Conference on Computers and Applications. The People's Republic of China has put a high priority on the electronics and computer sector of its economy. It believes that these fields are key to its modernization goals. Advances in the fields of computerization and telecommunications are being sought as China attempts to create, by the year 2000, an up-to-date industrial, agricultural, scientific, technological, and defense base in line with those of Western nations. Evidence of China's commitment to technology was provided in the First International Conference on Computers and Applications held in Beijing, China, June 1984.1 It was a landmark for the PRC, since it was the first major international computing event held there. This report describes visits made to computing facilities in Beijing and Shanghai by three American conference attendees. The visits provided some representative examples of computer development and use in China as well as some indicators of current priorities and strategies for harnessing that technology. Sites visited included three universities, a government scientific institution, a radio factory, a computer factory, and a public computer store. One of the authors had previously visited China2 and was able to draw some inferences on trends and directions based on personal observations. National Institute of Metrology

A Data Flow Language for Controlling Multiple Interactive Devices

Abstract: System designers construct a conceptual model ? independent of, and interfacing with, application and device models ?and apply it to the PS300 graphics display system for assembly purposes.

Use of the Fermilab Advanced Computer Program Multi-Microprocessor as an on-Line Trigger Processor

Abstract: The Fermilab Advanced Computer Program is constructing a powerful multi-microprocessor system for data analysis in high-energy physics. The system will use commercial 32-bit microprocessors and be programmed in Fortran-77. A large array of support software allows easy migration of user applications from a uniprocessor environment to the multiprocessor, as well as providing sophisticated program development, debugging, and error handling and recavery tools. This system will provide computing power with a cost effectiveness of $3000-4000 per VAX 11/780 equivalent. We describe here the applications of this system as an on-line trigger processor. The low cost, commercial availability, compatibility with off-line analysis programs, and high data bandwidths (up to 160 MByte/sec) make this system an ideal choice for such real-time applications.

Engineering a Large Application Software Project: The Controls of the CERN PS Accelerator Complex

Abstract: The CERN PS accelerator complex has been progressively converted to tull computer controls without interrupting its tull-time operation (more than 6000 hours per year with on average not more than 1% of the total down-time due to controls). The application software amounts to 120 man-years and 450'000 instructions; it compares with other large software projects, also outside the accelerator world: e.g. Skylab's ground support software.1 This paper outlines the application software structure which takes into account technical requirements and constraitnts (resulting from the complexity of the process and its operation) and economical and managerial ones. It presents the engineering and management techniques used to promote implementation, testing and commissioning within budget, manpower and time constraints and concludes with experience gained.

A Dispatcher Training Simulator Design with Multi-Purpose Interfaces

Abstract: An advanced Dispatcher Training Simulator (DTS) design which also facilitates software testing is described in this paper. In other EMS enviromnents, special software must be developed to support facility installation and new applications software testing. The DTS is designed such that no substantial changes are required in order for it to be used as a Software Testing Simulator (STS). The key to such a design is a flexible communication interface.

System for measuring the use of application software on a computer or a microcomputer

Abstract: System for measuring the use of application software on a computer or a microcomputer. The system comprises a measurement unit 10, constituted by at least one microprocessor 11 and a permanent memory 12, which is directly connected to the bus of a computer in order to permit, by direct memory access, reading and writing of codes into the central memory 5 of the computer. The codes, which are constituted by one-to-one pairs of question code and of response code, are each associated with a function executable by the measurement unit 10 and the exchange of codes between the measurement unit 10 and the computer allows control of the use of software. At least one of the functions associated with the code is constituted by a coding function.

A Module for Improving Data Access and Management in an Integrated CAD Environment

Abstract: A modular system is presented for handling design data, centered around the relational DBMS Ingres, taking advantage of a very careful database schema generation and of the use of software modules to comply with the specific requirements of design data. This work is mainly concerned with one of these modules, called LIPS, which enables the system to handle design data local to an application program with a high level query language, interactive level performances and the ability to support complex design objects. LIPS is composed of two programs: a schema analyzer and a precompiler, and its query language (Loquel) must be embedded in Pascal source code.

Cronus: A Testbed for Developing Distributed Systems

Abstract: Planners have recognized for some time the potential of distributed architectures for supporting the requirements of Command and Control (C2) systems. One area where distributed system technology is maturing is that of a distributed operating system (DOS). Cronus is a DOS that integrates interconnected heterogeneous computers. The DOS establishes a distributed architecture and facilitates the development and operation of application programs requiring the resources of multiple machines for reasons of functionality, interoperability, survivability, scalability, and performance. We are now in the early stages of an evaluation phase where we are applying the Cronus system concepts and support base to prototype C2 applications. The intent is to use specific application scenarios to demonstrate the utility of distributed system technology for a variety of C2 problems. In this paper we provide an overview of the Cronus system architecture, discuss the emerging C2 experiment, and describe our current testbed configuration.

A Portable Database Driven Control System for SPEAR

Abstract: The new computer control system software for SPEAR is presented as a transfer from the PEP system. Features of the target ring (SPEAR) such as symmetries, magnet groupings, etc., are all contained in a design file which is read by both people and computer. People use it as documentation; a program reads it to generate the database structure, which becomes the center of communication for all the software. Geometric information, such as element positions and lengths, and CAMAC I/O routing information is entered into the database as it is developed. Since application processes refer only to the database and since they do so only in generic terms, almost all of this software (representing more then fifteen man years) is transferred with few changes. Operator console menus (touchpanels) are also transferred with only superficial changes for the same reasons. The system is modular: the CAMAC I/O software is all in one process; the menu control software is a process; the ring optics model and the orbit model are separate processes, each of which runs concurrently with about 15 others in the multiprogramming environment of the VAX/VMS operating system.

Optimizing Data Access in the LAMPF Control System

Abstract: The LAMPF control system data access software offers considerable power and flexibility to application programs through symbolic device naming and an emphasis on hardware independence. This paper discusses optimizations aimed at improving the performance of the data access software while retaining these capabilities. The only aspects of the optimizations visible to the application programs are "vector devices" and "aggregate devices." A vector device accesses a set of hardware related data items through a single device name. Aggregate devices allow run-time optimization of references to groups of unrelated devices. Optimizations not visible on the application level include careful handling of: network message traffic; the sharing of global resources; and storage allocation.