SIGMINI NEWSLETTER THE CONCEPT OF ATTACHED PROCESSING AND ATTACHED RESOURCE COMPUTER SYSTEMS Victor D. Poor Datapoint Corporation 9725 Datapoint Drive San Antonio, Texas 78284 Attached Processing, an innovative concept in business data processing demanding novel computer systems architecture, divides computing into three broadly specialized functions: applications processing~ data storage and management, and communications. In its realization, the Attached Resource Computer, communications are handled by combining hardware and software in a high-speed, short-range interprocessor bus managed by bipolar microprocessors; data storage and management is the province of dedicated small processors attached to the interprocessor bus through the bipolar microprocessors; applications processing is done in other small processors similarly attached but entirely unburdened by communication processing requirements. The system is capable of indefinite extension and essentially unlimited throughput at very modest cost. April, 1978 DECISION TABLES - AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMING TOOL Daniel F. Langenwalter Integrated Business Systems North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 The manager or owner of a small to medium size business often has strong ideas on how he wants to run his business. The "packaged" software to go with the mini computer that he can afford just doesn't give him the flexibility he wants. To keep the software costs down and still be able to get the desired programs, a programming method that gets the results at low cost is needed. Two companies reported reduction of 3 to I, i.e., costs were down to one-third of the previous methods, by using decision tables to write the logic. With such substantial reductions in costs, the mini computer owner can have the tailored programs he wants with a reasonable investment. A decision table processor, MUSCL, has been developed and is implemented on mini computers. This paper shows how to write and solve decision tables as implemented. BASIC FOR REALTIME CONTROL APPLICATIONS A MINI-MICRO COMPUTERS LINK PROMOTES DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING IN SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING COMPUTATIONS Shmuell Gruber Meir Tahan Michael Z. Hanani The Computation Center Ben-Gurion University Beer-Sheva, Israel John E. Buxton, Jr. Graham Computer Enterprises, Inc. Birmingham, AL 35223 Basic is a general purpose programming language commonly used in business applications. There are many versions of Basic with varying capabilities. These capabilities range from simple games to large multi-terminal business applications. However, Basic is seldom used to implement a large realtime control system. Since Basic was a standard high-level language for other mini-computers, in January, 1977, G.C.E. began designing a Basic for the IBM Series/1. Basic/1 corresponds closely to the minimal standards for Basic proposed by the American National Standard Institute in December, 1976. Extentions to Basic/1 include features such as: Integrated DI/DO, Timed Input, Line Input, and extensive file management just to mention a few. The decision to implement various extentions resulted from the experience of the designers with other Basic implementions. Engineering and scientific work often requires complex computations of different types that should be carried out on different types of computers on the one hand, but must communicate and support each other on the other. In recent years, the availabilityof minicomputers and microcomputers and their special characteristics increased their popularity in industry and in research laboratories where they usually perform specific tasks they are best fit to do, but leave a host of other computation needs wanting on account of their small sizes, lack of peripherals, etc. To help solve such problems, and to enable efficient distribution of processing, a network composed of mini and micro computers with the support of a large computer has been built and is described in this paper. Volume 4 Number 2 Page 7

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