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Barrier unit
Synchronous/asynchronous converter
Magnetic-stripe reader
Magnetic-stripe reader terminal Informer Inc. have added the ability to read magnetically encoded credit cards to their line of intelligent terminals. The D303/9655 is designed for the track-2 standard developed for the American Bankers Association on the automation of financial transactions. This information track is also used by most systems that require an identification number and a small amount of other control information. Other track allocations are available, particularly for IATA automation of airline ticketing, or similar applications using one or more field separators on the track. The magnetic stripe holds account information (card numbers, valid dates, credit level etc.) which can be read sliding the card through a slot in the back of the keyboard, past the reader head. The terminal may operate in either the interactive or polled block modes, to be specified when ordering. The standard display of characters is 40 x 12 on a 6 in VDU. Also available are 32 x 16 and 80 x 24 displays on a 9 in VDU. The interfacing conforms to the V.24 standard. Up to four operator consoles may be clustered on a single control unit. Units may then be connected in series in a daisy-chain expansion, so that numerous mixed informer terminals can be operated from one computer or modem outlet. Of these terminals, one may be a composite read/write unit for encoding information on the magnetic-stripe card. (Informer Inc.,
I Nursery Close, The Meadows, A mersham, Bucks. HP7 9A5, UK. Tel: Amersham (02403) 4122) []
342
CGS-Consyst, Italy, have introduced an SAC-4/4 synchronous/ asynchronous converter that allows the support of asynchronous start/ stop terminals on synchronous data streams. The device can support up to four full-duplex synchronous/ asynchronous channels. Each channel can operate at a different speed, depending on the DCE transmitting clock source, and at a different code length, depending on the programming. The equipment can be used as an elastic interface between a synchronous modem or multiport modem and an asynchronous terminal without direct speed relationship between DCE or DTE. The converter is V.24/V.28-compatible, has up to four plug-in channel modules, can support speeds of 150, 300, 600, 1 200, 2 400, 4 800 and 9 600 bit/s, uses 7- and 8-level communications codes with even, odd, no parity and up to two stop elements, has parity control and codeconversion abilities, and has a builtin indicator and test function. The bidirectional channel module passes asynchronous data and control functions. Five LED indicators on the front panel of the module provide
Synchronous/asynchronous converter the ability to monitor Tx Data, Rx Data, RTS, D CD and test operation. A switch provides the ability to perform asynchronous loopback. The modules may also be strapped to provide signal discipline required to support various applications. Typical applications are connections between asynch CPU port and asynch DTE on high-speed (voice-band or baseband) modems; operation over a multiport modem (Codex 4800 LSl) up to four asynchronous channels at I 200 bit/s (ASCII or EBCDIC code) without using a character-interleaved TDM; interconnections of a DTE device using EBCDIC with one operating on ASCI I. (Interep SA, 4 Cours de
Bastions, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland. Tel: 022/2083 46, Tx: 22138)
Computer-controlled PAX A computer-controlled PAX communications system has been produced by Reliance Systems. The SL-1 allows the subscriber to allocate a range of facilities for use by extensions by keyboard entry of instructions to the computer. The facilities include
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• •
•
multiextension conferences, denial of access to certain areas of the system or network on specific extensions, • automatic dialling of frequently used numbers, • keying of numbers without lifting handset, • hands-free (direct-speech) option on all extensions, • call forwarding to other extensions
• •
•
• •
where user can temporarily be found, extensions with one number but simultaneous calling facilities, incoming-call pickup by any of several extensions in one department, 'ring again' automatically connecting a call after an engaged extension is freed, speed calling - abbreviated numbers for frequently called extensions, hunting of calls across grouped extensions in several ways changeable by keyboard entry, priority override by certain extensions to interrupt established calls, interfaces for dictation systems, telephone answering machines, radio paging, public adress etc.
computer communications
Extension telephones can be of the push-button type, but an electronic station set is also available. This provides key operation of the system's facilities, and volume control of ring and voice channels. Key calling and the use of digital switching mean that call connection times are a few milliseconds rather than seconds. The switching system uses 8-bit PCM and u255 signal companding. The full traffic capacity of an SL-1 is over 5 000 stations at 5ccs per line. The system is suitable for network operation via tie lines and may be configured as a tandem exchange. The computer's keyboard and printout unit can be at, or remote from, the computer itself. Built-in self diagnosis means that details of faults are printed out. In most cases, faults can be rectified by amending program instructions at the keyboard. Traffic monitoring is also provided. (Reliance
Systems Ltd, Turnells Mill Lane, Wellingborough, Northants, UK. Tel: Wellingborough 225000) []
~
/i~? ¸
Computer-controlled PAX
Barrier unit A barrier unit for the protection of private British Post Office lines connected to VDU terminal equipment believed to be the first to be BPO approved, has been developed by Serck Controls. It allows users of privately owned and maintained terminal equipment using voltages in excess of 650 V AC (RMS) or DC to conform with the October 1977 BPO regulations, which will become part of Technical Guide 26. The Model 65738M 10 kV barrier is suitable for use in data systems with voice frequency links, having a typical insertion loss of 0.5 dB. It is housed in
vol I no 6 december 1978
Interactive hotel system The NCR 250-8000 front-desk hotel accounting machine and NCR 2508000 electronic restaurant sales terminal have been upgraded and enhanced. The machines can now communicate with each other, to form an interactive hotel system. The 250-8000 provides front-office control over all hotel HTbarrier transactions, enabling management to monitor guest expenditure from arrival a robust enclosure protected against time to departure; it handles advance dust and damp, and is designed for surreservation deposits and the city ledger, face mounting on walls and partitions, and can provide detailed management or in equipment cabinets. (Serck Controis Ltd, Queensway, Leamington Spa, reports. The memory stores real-time guest Warwick. CV31 3]7, UK. Tel: Learningbalances, enabling printout of previous ton Spa (0926) 27030) [] balance and line storage retrieval on posting. As guests arrive, their initials and room numbers are entered into the 8000 and stored for posting update, and guest balances can be read at any The Sperry Univac 70-6470 terminal time. There are up to 52 major departsystem is compatible with the IBM ments. Up to four 250-8000s can be 3270 (3271/3277) information display linked to a common extended memory. system, and is based on the binary synchronous communication line discipline. This avoids having to direct guests to When used with a Pronto teleprocessing specific machines. monitor on a V77 Series minicomputer, The NCR 250-8000 restaurant terthe system allows the clustering of many minal can now store three menus and terminals on a single transmission line. hold up to 500 price look-up items on memory, it has 128 waiter totals. The The control unit supports up to 32 machine can hold current real-time terminal devices and handles all the protocol and buffering necessary to interbalances for every restaurant table. It face the terminal devices to the procesprovides additional reports, including the percentage of gross sales by menu sor through a communications line. item, and can calculate sales per emThe CRT display handles up to 1 920 character in 24 lines of 80 character each. ployee hour. The 250-8000 can interact and be The screen formatting provides protecbuffered with four 250-5000 terminals, ted/unprotected fields, numeric-only all of which can access to one common fields, display/nondisplay and dual inmemory. Each of the four 250-5000s tensity. The remote control provides can in turn be online to a further 250insert and delete modes and full cursor 5000s, giving the hotel a communicapositioning. Communications are up tions network of sixteen terminals. to 9 600 bit/s and transmission of modiBy keying in the guest initials and fied fields only. room number, the cashier can receive The printer will handle pin-fed forms an instant answer on the 5000 screen at a rated speed of 40 character/s; the as to whether the guest is credit-worthy. printer's effective speed can be over 60 character/s. It has a I 920 character The account can then be entered into buffer, typewriter quality, I0 character/ the terminal and transmitted to the in x 6 line/in and 132 character/line. 250-8000, with an instant printout (Sperry Univac, Remington House, 65 held for posting. (NCR Ltd, 206
Terminal system
Holborn Viaduct, London ECI P lAB, UK. Tel: 01-236 1010, Tx: 884403) []
Marylebone Road, London NWI 6L Y, UK. Tel: 01-723'7070)
[]
343
Magnetic-stripe reader
Magnetic-stripe reader terminal Informer Inc. have added the ability to read magnetically encoded credit cards to their line of intelligent terminals. The D303/9655 is designed for the track-2 standard developed for the American Bankers Association on the automation of financial transactions. This information track is also used by most systems that require an identification number and a small amount of other control information. Other track allocations are available, particularly for IATA automation of airline ticketing, or similar applications using one or more field separators on the track. The magnetic stripe holds account information (card numbers, valid dates, credit level etc.) which can be read sliding the card through a slot in the back of the keyboard, past the reader head. The terminal may operate in either the interactive or polled block modes, to be specified when ordering. The standard display of characters is 40 x 12 on a 6 in VDU. Also available are 32 x 16 and 80 x 24 displays on a 9 in VDU. The interfacing conforms to the V.24 standard. Up to four operator consoles may be clustered on a single control unit. Units may then be connected in series in a daisy-chain expansion, so that numerous mixed informer terminals can be operated from one computer or modem outlet. Of these terminals, one may be a composite read/write unit for encoding information on the magnetic-stripe card. (Informer Inc.,
I Nursery Close, The Meadows, A mersham, Bucks. HP7 9A5, UK. Tel: Amersham (02403) 4122) []
342
CGS-Consyst, Italy, have introduced an SAC-4/4 synchronous/ asynchronous converter that allows the support of asynchronous start/ stop terminals on synchronous data streams. The device can support up to four full-duplex synchronous/ asynchronous channels. Each channel can operate at a different speed, depending on the DCE transmitting clock source, and at a different code length, depending on the programming. The equipment can be used as an elastic interface between a synchronous modem or multiport modem and an asynchronous terminal without direct speed relationship between DCE or DTE. The converter is V.24/V.28-compatible, has up to four plug-in channel modules, can support speeds of 150, 300, 600, 1 200, 2 400, 4 800 and 9 600 bit/s, uses 7- and 8-level communications codes with even, odd, no parity and up to two stop elements, has parity control and codeconversion abilities, and has a builtin indicator and test function. The bidirectional channel module passes asynchronous data and control functions. Five LED indicators on the front panel of the module provide
Synchronous/asynchronous converter the ability to monitor Tx Data, Rx Data, RTS, D CD and test operation. A switch provides the ability to perform asynchronous loopback. The modules may also be strapped to provide signal discipline required to support various applications. Typical applications are connections between asynch CPU port and asynch DTE on high-speed (voice-band or baseband) modems; operation over a multiport modem (Codex 4800 LSl) up to four asynchronous channels at I 200 bit/s (ASCII or EBCDIC code) without using a character-interleaved TDM; interconnections of a DTE device using EBCDIC with one operating on ASCI I. (Interep SA, 4 Cours de
Bastions, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland. Tel: 022/2083 46, Tx: 22138)
Computer-controlled PAX A computer-controlled PAX communications system has been produced by Reliance Systems. The SL-1 allows the subscriber to allocate a range of facilities for use by extensions by keyboard entry of instructions to the computer. The facilities include
•
• •
•
multiextension conferences, denial of access to certain areas of the system or network on specific extensions, • automatic dialling of frequently used numbers, • keying of numbers without lifting handset, • hands-free (direct-speech) option on all extensions, • call forwarding to other extensions
• •
•
• •
where user can temporarily be found, extensions with one number but simultaneous calling facilities, incoming-call pickup by any of several extensions in one department, 'ring again' automatically connecting a call after an engaged extension is freed, speed calling - abbreviated numbers for frequently called extensions, hunting of calls across grouped extensions in several ways changeable by keyboard entry, priority override by certain extensions to interrupt established calls, interfaces for dictation systems, telephone answering machines, radio paging, public adress etc.
computer communications
Extension telephones can be of the push-button type, but an electronic station set is also available. This provides key operation of the system's facilities, and volume control of ring and voice channels. Key calling and the use of digital switching mean that call connection times are a few milliseconds rather than seconds. The switching system uses 8-bit PCM and u255 signal companding. The full traffic capacity of an SL-1 is over 5 000 stations at 5ccs per line. The system is suitable for network operation via tie lines and may be configured as a tandem exchange. The computer's keyboard and printout unit can be at, or remote from, the computer itself. Built-in self diagnosis means that details of faults are printed out. In most cases, faults can be rectified by amending program instructions at the keyboard. Traffic monitoring is also provided. (Reliance
Systems Ltd, Turnells Mill Lane, Wellingborough, Northants, UK. Tel: Wellingborough 225000) []
~
/i~? ¸
Computer-controlled PAX
Barrier unit A barrier unit for the protection of private British Post Office lines connected to VDU terminal equipment believed to be the first to be BPO approved, has been developed by Serck Controls. It allows users of privately owned and maintained terminal equipment using voltages in excess of 650 V AC (RMS) or DC to conform with the October 1977 BPO regulations, which will become part of Technical Guide 26. The Model 65738M 10 kV barrier is suitable for use in data systems with voice frequency links, having a typical insertion loss of 0.5 dB. It is housed in
vol I no 6 december 1978
Interactive hotel system The NCR 250-8000 front-desk hotel accounting machine and NCR 2508000 electronic restaurant sales terminal have been upgraded and enhanced. The machines can now communicate with each other, to form an interactive hotel system. The 250-8000 provides front-office control over all hotel HTbarrier transactions, enabling management to monitor guest expenditure from arrival a robust enclosure protected against time to departure; it handles advance dust and damp, and is designed for surreservation deposits and the city ledger, face mounting on walls and partitions, and can provide detailed management or in equipment cabinets. (Serck Controis Ltd, Queensway, Leamington Spa, reports. The memory stores real-time guest Warwick. CV31 3]7, UK. Tel: Learningbalances, enabling printout of previous ton Spa (0926) 27030) [] balance and line storage retrieval on posting. As guests arrive, their initials and room numbers are entered into the 8000 and stored for posting update, and guest balances can be read at any The Sperry Univac 70-6470 terminal time. There are up to 52 major departsystem is compatible with the IBM ments. Up to four 250-8000s can be 3270 (3271/3277) information display linked to a common extended memory. system, and is based on the binary synchronous communication line discipline. This avoids having to direct guests to When used with a Pronto teleprocessing specific machines. monitor on a V77 Series minicomputer, The NCR 250-8000 restaurant terthe system allows the clustering of many minal can now store three menus and terminals on a single transmission line. hold up to 500 price look-up items on memory, it has 128 waiter totals. The The control unit supports up to 32 machine can hold current real-time terminal devices and handles all the protocol and buffering necessary to interbalances for every restaurant table. It face the terminal devices to the procesprovides additional reports, including the percentage of gross sales by menu sor through a communications line. item, and can calculate sales per emThe CRT display handles up to 1 920 character in 24 lines of 80 character each. ployee hour. The 250-8000 can interact and be The screen formatting provides protecbuffered with four 250-5000 terminals, ted/unprotected fields, numeric-only all of which can access to one common fields, display/nondisplay and dual inmemory. Each of the four 250-5000s tensity. The remote control provides can in turn be online to a further 250insert and delete modes and full cursor 5000s, giving the hotel a communicapositioning. Communications are up tions network of sixteen terminals. to 9 600 bit/s and transmission of modiBy keying in the guest initials and fied fields only. room number, the cashier can receive The printer will handle pin-fed forms an instant answer on the 5000 screen at a rated speed of 40 character/s; the as to whether the guest is credit-worthy. printer's effective speed can be over 60 character/s. It has a I 920 character The account can then be entered into buffer, typewriter quality, I0 character/ the terminal and transmitted to the in x 6 line/in and 132 character/line. 250-8000, with an instant printout (Sperry Univac, Remington House, 65 held for posting. (NCR Ltd, 206
Terminal system
Holborn Viaduct, London ECI P lAB, UK. Tel: 01-236 1010, Tx: 884403) []
Marylebone Road, London NWI 6L Y, UK. Tel: 01-723'7070)
[]
343