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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.

Stoughton [Page 1]  RFC 225 RAND/UCSB NETWORK GRAPHICS EXPERIMENT September 1971

 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.

Stoughton [Page 2]  RFC 225 RAND/UCSB NETWORK GRAPHICS EXPERIMENT September 1971

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Stoughton [Page 3]  RFC 225 RAND/UCSB NETWORK GRAPHICS EXPERIMENT September 1971

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Stoughton [Page 4]  RFC 225 RAND/UCSB NETWORK GRAPHICS EXPERIMENT September 1971

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        [ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
        [ into the online RFC archives by Mark Davidson    1/00 ]

Stoughton [Page 5]