Showing papers on "Upload published in 1991"

Remote query communication system

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for downloading compressed audio/visual (AV) data and/or graphical/tabular information from a remote Server to an End User Station (EUS) for the purpose of decompressing and/or displaying said downloaded data. The EUS may transmit a query to the Server manually and/or automatically for the purpose of initiating a process in the Server (e.g. data compression, indexing into a very large database, etc.), which requires the high speed processing, large capacity and multi-distributed data storage, etc.) which are typically preferred at a Server. The EUS provides appropriate inverse processing (e.g. data decompression) which, by its nature, requires relatively little processing power to accomplish. Thus, the method of this invention exploits the inherent asymmetry in the overall process of an EUS querying a remote Server (and/or Server Network) for a data service (e.g. retrieval of AV data in faster than real time) where most of the processing power and global scheduling is performed by the Server.

Generic remote boot for networked workstations by creating local bootable code image

Abstract: A system and method for booting a client workstation from a remote data processing system over a network includes initializing the client workstation sufficiently to establish network communications with a remote disk on the remote data processing system, establishing a network communications link between the local and remote systems, issuing a request from the client workstation to the remote data processing system over the network communications link for a task image code module for providing a network interface between the client workstation and the remote disk on the remote data processing system, downloading the task image code module from the remote to the client workstation in response to the request for the task image code module, invoking the task image code module by the client workstation to establish a network interface between the client workstation and the remote disk, copying an image of the remote disk over the network to the client workstation to create a local disk image stored in the client workstation, disconnecting the client workstation from the network, booting the client workstation from the disk image stored in the client workstation, including loading an operating system module from the disk image into the client workstation, invoking the operating system module to control the client workstation, loading network environment modules from the disk image into the client workstation under control of the operating system module, and invoking the network environment modules to establish a network communication link between the client workstation and the remote data processing system.

Method of evaluating data relating to a common subject

Abstract: A method of determining the winners of, for example, a game of skill in conjunction with a football or baseball game without the input of all the scores is provided. By the use of statistical sampling a small fraction of the remote players upload their scores to a central station via a telephone line, for example. Then, when the tentative winners are determined from this small statistical sample, the mass communications link of the system downloads the statistical curve to all of the players and only those players who are equal or better than the winning score telephone. Thus, time and money are saved for the telephone up-link. Furthermore, overcrowding of the telephone system is avoided by a proper delay given the individual remote sources.

Stock control system

Abstract: A stock and price control computer system includes a host computer system (1) for communication with a distribution computer system (10) which, in turn, includes various sub-systems including a warehouse sub-system (12) and remote communications sub-system (13). Price and stock data is transmitted from the host computer system (1) to a host processor (15) of the distribution computer system. The host processor also receives data relating to the warehouse sub-system (12). The remote communications sub-system (13) includes polling computers (35) for polling computer systems in retail stores and downloading of price and stock data and also for uploading of order data. The order data is transmitted to a warehouse sub-system microcomputer (25) via the host processor (15) for automatic generation of picking lists.

Dart game statistics collection and distribution system

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting dart leagues or tournaments from multiple remote locations. Each electronic dart game is capable of receiving data from and transmitting data to player cards (60). Each dart game player has a card that identifies a player to a respective dart game, and the player card also stores player data and game statistics. A master dart game (30) is located at each location, interfaces with each of the non-master dart games (50) at that location, and stores statistical data received from the non-master games (50). The central control device (10) polls each master game (30) at a predetermined time to upload and assimilate current statistical data. The central control device (10) then calculates the current standing of each player and downloads player standings to each location. The standings of the players can be displayed at each location via a portable display (40).

Distributing the server function in a multiring PAC system

Abstract: Retrieving medical images from a PACS database presents formidable requirements in terms of communications bandwidth and end-user response time. In the Mayo/IBM PAC System, these requirements are even more challenging due to the size and topology of the Mayo campus and the number of images being handled. Accordingly, early on in the project it was decided to distribute the server function among the local rings that make up the installation. Entities called MIDS Servers -- high-end IBM PS/2 computers with a considerable amount of fast DASD -- were designed to attach to a local ring and provide medical images to the medical review stations attached to that ring. In keeping with the cooperative processing philosophy of the overall system, MIDS Servers are semi-autonomous units that are responsible for their own integrity and communicate with the other components of the system as needed to perform their function. Through a strategy that tries to ensure that medical images reside on the MIDS Servers most likely to require them, the authors attempt to minimize the need to retrieve images from the optical archive and reduce inter-ring image traffic. Distributing the server function this way should provide a total server bandwidth greater than the 4Mb/sec capacity of the Token-Ring, as well as faster end-user response time.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

PC-Mainframe Links: Controlling Their Threats in Government Computer Networks

Abstract: I. INTRODUCTION In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the use of personal computers (PCs) within government agencies. As PC users become more sophisticated and experienced. their expectations and their demands from their PC systems increase. Many agencies now recognize the value of linking personal computers with the agency's mainframe computer allowing PC users to access the mainframe database. The PC-mainframe link is a relatively new technology. However, the demand for it is growing and in time most government PCs will provide some kind of electronic access to the data on a mainframe. This will result in the creation of large computer networks that offer easy access to data and significant computing power to users. The trend toward PC-mainframe networks affects government accountants in two ways. First, government accountants will be major users of these systems so they must know how the networks work. Secondly, because government accountants are responsible for the accuracy of accounting data, they must understand the threats to data introduced by this technology. They must be able to advise their agencies on how to counter these threats. The purpose of this article is to describe these networks and the control problems they produce. The article then suggests recommendations that government accountants can make to overcome these problems. First, the article enumerates common applications of PC-mainframe links and discusses the control threats associated with them. Then it identifies methods for achieving adequate data integrity and security whenever PC-mainframe links are employed. Emphasis is on how these controls differ from those in the teleprocessing networks with which many government accountants are familiar. II. HOW PC-MAINFRAME LINKS WORK The connection between a personal computer and a mainframe can be accomplished in different ways. Each provides some advantages for certain types of applications and each creates its own threats to accounting data. A summary of the different types of PC-mainframe links and of the typical applications for which they are useful illustrates these advantages and problems. CATEGORIES OF LINKS PC-mainframe links exist in four different forms, differing widely in technological sophistication. They are: * TERMINAL EMULATION. The simplest form of link uses a personal computer as if it were an ordinary computer terminal. Hardware and software purchased with the PC allows it to transmit data to a mainframe in the format that the mainframe uses to communicate with its terminals. This form of link is readily available for most PCs and easy to accomplish. However, the user must be familiar with the mainframe operating system and application program. This frequently requires greater expertise than many PC users wish to attain. * DATA DOWNLOAD. Software is also available for many PCs which allow entire data files to be transferred to it from the mainframe. The file will then be formatted in the form required by the mainframe, but will be physically stored on the PC. This allows the user to manipulate the file independently of a mainframe application program, but still requires some knowledge of the mainframe operating system. Also, an application program must exist for processing the downloaded data file. * INFORMATION DOWNLOAD. This type of link is similar to data downloading, except that the data files have been structured and formatted for a specific purpose. The data file on the mainframe has been modified prior to downloading in order to provide only those fields that are of importance to the user of the PC. Both forms of downloading can be difficult to accomplish if the mainframe and the PC use different formats for storing data. The user must have knowledge of the mainframe file layout and the PC data storage methods in order to overcome this difficulty. * ACTIVE INFORMATION EXTRACTION. …

Automated information delivery in a pharmaceutical company

Abstract: The computer system described in this article automates the process to deliver on-line information daily. On-line data (for this study we accessed the Scrip daily update file available through Data-star [Data-Star, Plaza Suite, 114 Jermyn Street, London, UK, SW1Y 6HJ.]) is automatically retrieved, downloaded onto a personal Computer, and uploaded to a VAX computer with a software communication package PROCOMM PLUS (PROCOMM PLUS, Datastorm Technologies, Inc., Columbia, MO.). The information that was then transferred to a database system, System 1032, (System 1032, CompuServe, Data Technologies, Cambridge, MA.) can be accessed and managed easily with a customized menu-driven system. Not only has this automated system saved us a significant amount of time as information providers, but it also allows users to access and utilize important information as soon as it becomes available.