Rand/UCSB network graphics experiment
A progress report on connecting Rand graphics consoles over the ARPANET to UCSB's On-Line System.
Harslem, E. and R. Stoughton, "Rand/UCSB network graphics experiment", RFC 225, DOI 10.17487/RFC0225, September 1971, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc225>.
@misc{rfc225,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 225,
howpublished = {RFC 225},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC0225},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc225},
author = {E. Harslem and R. Stoughton},
title = {{Rand/UCSB network graphics experiment}},
pagetotal = 5,
year = 1971,
month = sep,
} RFC text
Contents
Network Working Group E. Harslem Rand
Request for Comments: 225 UCSB
NIC 7624 13 September 1971
Category: D.6
Updates: RFC #74
RAND/UCSB NETWORK GRAPHICS EXPERIMENT
INTRODUCTION
During the Network Graphics Meeting in July, several experiments were
outlined to explore graphics over the Network. One of these was the
use of the UCSB On-Line System (OLS) from graphic consoles at Rand.
The connection was completed in the latter half of August and has
been used on an experimental basis since then. OLS users from UCSB
and TRW (in Los Angeles) have visited Rand and accessed OLS via Rand
consoles and the Network. Thus, the first phase of the experiment
was completed in August.
We are still in the midst of the second phase of the experiment which
involves cleaning up the initial implementation and reviewing and
modifying our initial strategies for the OLS connection.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXPERIMENT
UCSB
UCSB has had a Network interface on the OLS for some time. For a
description, see RFC #74. The descriptions in RFC #74 were modified
to conform to current Network protocols (NCP and ICP) and to conform
to what we considered a general graphics description.
Basically, the OLS receives an EBCDIC-like input byte stream and
generates an unstructured graphical output stream. These protocols
will be documented at the completion of our experimentation and
presented at the Network graphics meeting in October.
The Rand Video-Graphics System (VGS) was used to access the OLS via
the Network. The Video-Graphics System and its consoles are
described in R-753-ARPA available from the Rand Reports Department.
VGS consoles had been connected previously to the Network via the
Rand Network Services Program (NSP). Originally, NSP was designed to
afford NCP checkout features, logging in to and use of remote systems
and access to UCSB RJE and UCLA RJS. An additional module was easily
added to access the OLS.
Input to the OLS was done via a Rand tablet on a VGS console. Input
to the OLS module in NSP is accomplished by moving the tablet cursor
(not shown in the attached figures) which appears as a small dot on
the screen to the desired function button and pressing the tablet pen
down on the tablet.
Figure 1 shows the initial display from the OLS module. The top of
the screen has a feedback line, the remainder of the upper half is
the output display from the OLS, and the lower half is a large
sensitive area containing various function buttons (pic-table).
The sensitive areas fall into three classes:
(1) the right most column (CALL, CLOSE)
connects/disconnects to OLS over the Network.
The third function (COPY) generates hardcopy
via an SC 4060. (The figures are, in fact,
SC 4060 hardcopy.)
(2) The grid area contains the OLS function
buttons normally on a special function keyboard.
(See RFC #74.)
(3) The lower area allows entry of number,
characters and punctuation.
Figure 2 shows the login sequence to OLS and Figure 3, SIN and COS
curves from -PI to +PI generated by OLS.
Completion of the Experiment
We plan to present the experiment at the October graphics meeting in
two forms. First, a description of the protocols and techniques used
in implementing the remote network connection along with conclusions.
Second, we will make a film showing the use of the OLS from Rand and
present it at the meeting.
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |-+
| UCSB OLS INIT STATS | |Feed-
| |-+back
| |-+
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |OLS
| | |Dis-
| | |play
| | |Area
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |-+
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ |-+
|| 0 | I | II|III|IV | V |VI |VII|REL|CMX|SYS|USR|TYP|LST|CALL | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
||PLS|MIN|TIM|DIV|SQ |SQT|CNJ|INV|DIF|SUM|PRD|SOR|PRD|TST|CLOSE| |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |Input
||LS |RS |REF|UP |DWN|EVL|SUB|MAX|MOD|NEG|CTX|ENL|CON|RPT|COPY | |But-
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |tons
||SIN|COS|LOG|EXP|PWR|ATN|ARG|DEL|CNV|ID |LOD|STO|ENT| | | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
||CAS| | | | | | |DIS|<<<|BEL| |ERS|RST| | | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
| ABCDEFG + = / # 12345 | |
| HIJKLMN , ; = . 67890 | |
| OPQRSTU <-<-<-<- ()? | |
| VWXYZ b ' \ \ |-+
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |-+
| UCSB OLS CONNECTED | |Feed-
| |-+back
| ENTER USER NUMBER 196 |-+
| ID NUMBER= | |
| USER NAME= ARPA | |
| JOB NAME= RAND/RFC | |
| AUTOSAVE CODE = 3 | |
| LOAD MOLSF | |
| FILE LOADED | |
| | |
| | |
| | |OLS
| | |Dis-
| | |play
| | |Area
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |-+
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ |-+
|| 0 | I | II|III|IV | V |VI |VII|REL|CMX|SYS|USR|TYP|LST|CALL | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
||PLS|MIN|TIM|DIV|SQ |SQT|CNJ|INV|DIF|SUM|PRD|SOR|PRD|TST|CLOSE| |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |Input
||LS |RS |REF|UP |DWN|EVL|SUB|MAX|MOD|NEG|CTX|ENL|CON|RPT|COPY | |But-
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |tons
||SIN|COS|LOG|EXP|PWR|ATN|ARG|DEL|CNV|ID |LOD|STO|ENT| | | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
||CAS| | | | | | |DIS|<<<|BEL| |ERS|RST| | | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
| ABCDEFG + = / # 12345 | |
| HIJKLMN , ; = . 67890 | |
| OPQRSTU <-<-<-<- ()? | |
| VWXYZ b ' \ \ |-+
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| ___ ___ |-+
| / \ / \ | |
| / \ / \ | |
| / \ / \ | |
| / \/ \ | |
| / /\ \ | |
| / / | |
| / \ \ | |
| / \ \ | |
| / / | |
| \ \ | |
| / / \ \ | |
| ___________________________________________ | |
| | |
| \ | | \ | |OLS
| / / | |Dis-
| \ \ | |play
| / / | |Area
| \ / \ | |
| / \ | |
| \ / / | |
| \/ / \ | |
| \ / \ | |
| / \ / \ | |
| / \ / \ | |
| __/ \___/ \__ | |
| |-+
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ |-+
|| 0 | I | II|III|IV | V |VI |VII|REL|CMX|SYS|USR|TYP|LST|CALL | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
||PLS|MIN|TIM|DIV|SQ |SQT|CNJ|INV|DIF|SUM|PRD|SOR|PRD|TST|CLOSE| |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |Input
||LS |RS |REF|UP |DWN|EVL|SUB|MAX|MOD|NEG|CTX|ENL|CON|RPT|COPY | |But-
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |tons
||SIN|COS|LOG|EXP|PWR|ATN|ARG|DEL|CNV|ID |LOD|STO|ENT| | | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
||CAS| | | | | | |DIS|<<<|BEL| |ERS|RST| | | |
|+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+ | |
| ABCDEFG + = / # 12345 | |
| HIJKLMN , ; = . 67890 | |
| OPQRSTU <-<-<-<- ()? | |
| VWXYZ b ' \ \ |-+
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
[ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
[ into the online RFC archives by Mark Davidson 1/00 ]
AI ELI5
On this page
§1The Experiment
After the July Network Graphics Meeting, one outlined experiment was using the UCSB On-Line System (OLS) from graphic consoles at Rand. The connection was completed in the latter half of August and used experimentally since then. OLS users from UCSB and TRW visited Rand and used OLS via Rand consoles and the Network, completing the first phase in August.
The second phase involves cleaning up the initial implementation and reviewing and modifying the initial strategies.
Visitors used a faraway computer from a screen in another building and it worked.
§2How It Was Built
UCSB had a Network interface on the OLS described in RFC 74, modified to match current Network protocols (NCP and ICP) and a general graphics description. The OLS receives an EBCDIC-like input byte stream and generates an unstructured graphical output stream.
At Rand, the Video-Graphics System (VGS) was used. VGS consoles were already connected through the Rand Network Services Program (NSP), which had been designed for NCP checkout, logging in to remote systems and use of UCSB RJE and UCLA RJS. An extra module for the OLS was easily added.
Rand already had a way to reach other computers, so they just added one more piece for the drawing computer.
§3The Console Screen
Input is by moving a tablet cursor, shown as a small dot, to a function button and pressing the pen down. The screen has a feedback line at the top, the OLS output display in the rest of the upper half, and a sensitive area of buttons in the lower half.
The sensitive areas have three classes: a right-most column (CALL, CLOSE) that connects and disconnects, plus COPY for hardcopy on an SC 4060; the grid of OLS function buttons normally on a special function keyboard; and an area for numbers, characters and punctuation. The figures show the initial display, the login sequence and SIN and COS curves from -PI to +PI.
You point a pen at buttons on the screen instead of typing, like a touchscreen.
§4What Comes Next
The authors planned to present the experiment at the October graphics meeting in two forms: a description of the protocols and techniques with conclusions, and a film showing OLS used from Rand. The protocols were to be documented when experimentation was complete.
They will show everyone what they learned with a talk and a movie.