Telephone call logging

Printers available range from 120 character/s to 600 ]ine/min. Raysolve starts with basic emulators and can be developed into fullscale distributed processing with the PTS 1200 system. Five types of file structure are supported for data, formats, look-up tables, read access and library maintenance. Files supported are indexed, sequential, random, indirect, physical sequential and logical sequential. The format generator is a parameterdriven facility that allows the user to set up the required screen image. At the same time, the user specifies the validation and verification necessary to ensure clean data. Main features are range checks, table search, file look-up, arithmetic functions, formatted printing, verification, batch control, document totalling, field dependencies and default values. The data-entry system allows the user to key data into formats either for storage on disc or direct to the mainframe. The operator is allowed access to as many formats as the supervisor has allocated to that batch or to that operator. Data stored on disc can be in terminal, operator or job order. A range of data manipulation features are available to the operator for searching, inserting, deleting and correcting. Statistics are stored on disc for system and operator performance. The supervisor can specify the nature of access to any file, format or utility. All functions, from 'operator log on' to 'delete a file' are controlled by password control. All passwords are userspecified° The supervisor is also able to broadcast messages to all operators. Two character codes are supported, ASCII and EBCDIC. The system also emulates a range of interactive communications protocols. Raysolve uses the PTS 100 16-bit processor with a 48 kbyte memory expandable to 128 kbyte in increments of 16k. There are four sizes of display screen: 480, 960, 1 920 and 2 000 characters. Typewriter or data-entry keyboards are supported. Bidirectional serial printers and line printers can be attached. Online disc storage is available from 250 kbyte to 40 Mbyte, and communication line control up to

9 600 bit/s. (Data Logic, The Pinnacles, Harlow, Essex C19 5BB, UK) []

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Communications line controller A microprocessor-based communications line controller, the LC2, has been announced by Data Logic. The LC2 allows up to seven terminals to share the same line, and cuts transmission errors caused by dirty lines. The controller provides initial checking of data from an asynchronous source if required. Data transmitted to the remote end is checked, and, if an error is detected, the controller automatically requests retransmission of that part of the data. It can be configured in half-duplex or full-duplex mode, and can also be configured to switch between the two, allowing normal operation to be via a four-wire private telephone circuit but with the ability to work in half-duplex on the public switched network. This is claimed to be reliabJe at speeds well in excess of those using straight pointto-point asynchronous communication.

The LC2 can handle one synchronous line and up to seven asynchronous lines. Synchronous lines may be at any speed up to 4 800 bit/s, and the asynchronous lines, which are internally configured, may be at speeds of from 300 bit/s to 9 600 bi't/s. The LC2 can transmit simultaneously in both directions. The controller can diagnose and locate faults in the peripheral, computer, modem, telephone line or one of the controllers. It can also optimize line use for peak loads by sharing available bandwidth according to demand. A single terminal can use all the bandwidth if the line is otherwise unloaded. All asynchronous devices can be supported and the LC2 can be configured to allow echoing and local editing.

(Data Logic, The Pinnacles, Harlow, Essex C19 5BB, UK) []

Communications controller A basic entry model in the 380X network-control system has been introduced by ITT. Designed for use as a front-end processor for IBM mainframe computers, the 3805A has a 64k store and supports 4 - 1 6 BSC lines, each at up to 9600 bit/s. It is able to communicate with a variety of teleprocessing devices, using synchronous line-control disciplines, and supports all BSC terminals on leased lines and/or BPO 7C modems. The console unit installed with the 3805A is the ITT 3330 Dataprinter with keyboard, and the SDA2 emulator enables the user to select from a range of terminal types. Site-initiated line switching is standard. This enables the console operator to monitor or alter

system connections and to control which host-computer applications terminals can access. The operator can reconfigure the communications-line assignments through a console type-in or program reload. Diagnostic checks, including the online testing of terminals, can be carried out while the system is running live, without causing interruption. New ITT software systems can be generated on an IBM host computer, transferred across the channel to the ITT 3805A controller, then written on cassette tape for subsequent loading into the controller. (ITTBusiness Sys-

tems, Lion Buildings, Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton, BNI 8AN, UK. Tel: (0273) 507111) []

Telephone call logging Telesystem-2 is an online telephonecall logging system that can handle up to 16 000 PABX inputs, and allows the user to select and produce information about his telephone network.

The system comprises a scanner that is connected to the PABX, a VDUbased microcomputer with disc storage and a high-speed printer. The scanner detects information about all calls tak-

computer communications

p ing place (but not details of the actual conversation), and passes the call details to the microcomputer, which stores and processes the data. By using screen menus, the user can choose from a variety of costing reports and traffic analysis reports. These can be printed out on the high-speed printer while the system continues to log details of telephone calls. Interscan claim that users of their call-logging equipment have achieved cost savings on their telephone services of over 30% per annum. Telesystem-2 uses a multitask operating system. When it is not producing cost reports and telephone traffic analysis, it has processing capacity to spare, and other programs may be run while call logging is taking place. (Interscan

Communication SystemsL td, 39 Montrose A venue, Slough, Berks. SL 1 6BS, UK. Tel: Slough (0753) 70821, Tx: 848952)

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Tabletop system A tabletop computer system has been introduced by the Digital Equipment Co. as the latest member of the PDP-11 based DEC Datasystem family of small business computers. The system is designed as either an intelligent network node for large corporations or a stand-alone computer system for small companies. The Datasystem 150 uses a dualdrive floppy-disc unit for storage of up to 512000 characters. It runs under CTS-300 Commercial Transaction System 300 (CTS-300) operating software, permitting the processing of business applications such as payroll, accounts payable and receivable, general ledger and inventory in high-level DIBOL. CTS-300 offers sequential, indexed sequential, and random file access methods. D150 programs will also run on DEC's D320 and D350 computers, the multiterminal members of the family that are capable of supporting up to eight terminals. Datasystern 150 systems are available with memories of 32 or 60 kbyte, and use a 180 character/s dot matrix printer. The system uses the VT100 video terminal as the principal data-entry and access device. The terminal displays upper- and lower-case characters

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in a 7 x 9 dot matrix in three sizes normal, double-width and double-height. Reverse video and underlining can be selected character by character. A split screen enables information to be displayed independently from data entry and scrolling. The keyboard includes an 18-key numeric function keypad. The Datasystem 150 can also communicate with other minicomputer or mainframe systems. The DTS-300 2780 communications package permits telephone transmission of data from D150 systems to any remote systems using a similar protocol, including other Datasystems, PDP-8s, PDP-1 ls, DEC system-10s, DEC system-20s, and several IBM System/360 or 370 models. The Datasystem Interactive Communication Access Method, DicaCn, is available for interactive, terminalcentred communication with IBM 360 or 370 host systems. (Digital Equip-

ment Co. Ltd, Digital House, Kings Road, Reading, Berks, UK. Tel: (0734) 583555) []

Data multiplexer The Microplexer M8 microprocessorbased multiplexer developed by RacalMilgo enables up to eight asynchronous data sources to be coupled to one synchronous data line, permitting an effective bandwidth expansion of up to eight times the line capacity. The multiplexer has a separate supervisory data channel that can communicate with any of the inputs and give a statistics report for assessment of system performance. Built-in diagnostics continuously monitor and show the status of the complete datalink and, with the aid of front-panel indicators, display any fault or line degradation. Using statistical techniques, coupled with data buffering, the multiplexer is able to handle cumulative datarates well in excess of line capacity for short periods. The M8 is available in four- or eightchannel versions, and each channel can accept input speeds of up to 2 400 bit/s. Output speeds of 1 200, 2400, 4 800 and 9 600 bit/s are selectable, and control signals are generated for the instruction of modems and other equipment. (RacaI-Milgo Ltd, Bennet

Road, Reading, Berhs. RG2 0SS, UK) []

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Point of sale A family of point-of-sale terminals has been developed by Systime, to be used as part of an integrated stock control and transaction accounting system. The terminals are compatible with the Systime range of processors and corresponding DEC equipment, via a V.24 interface. The terminals are Intel 8080 microprocessor-based, and are available in two forms: a preprogrammed online version, and a stand-alone version with associated cassette tape recording. The terminals are built up from a basic module comprising a keyboard with ten digits and 12 function keys, enter, total and correction keys, a twotone audio generator, a punched badge reader, an integral cash drawer, 16 individual prompts, a 21-column alphanumeric printer that may be used to generate an audit roll as well as a customer receipt, and eight-digit LED displays for operator and customer. A cassette tape unit for the standalone version or as standby for the online version, a magnetic-stripe badge reader, a bar-code reader with wand, a hand-held OCR code reader, and a digital clock with display, may be added. (Systime Ltd, Concourse Com-

puter Centre, 432 Dewsbury Road, Leeds LSll 7DF, UK. Tel: (0532) 707411, Tx: 556283) []

Interface converter A V.24/20 mA converter has been developed by Shade that converts the send and receive circuits of a 20 mA terminal into V.24 (RS232C) compatible signals, and vice versa, allowing V.24 devices to be driven from a 20 mA line or a 20 mA device to be driven from a V.24 line. It provides a solution where terminals do not match computer interfaces or where V.24 terminals are needed to be fed in series with current loop devices on the same current loop. Two convertors can be used where existing V.24 terminals are needed at distances exceeding those allowed by V.24 interfaces. Datarates of up to 9 600 bit/s may be driven by the converter. (Shade(Computer Ser-

vices) Ltd, I Patford Street, Calne, Wilts. SN11 OEF, UK. Tel: (0249) 815757) []

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