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STANFORD UNIVERSITY
COMPUTER TASK FORCE
A PRESENTATION ON
TELECOMMUNICATIONS STUDY PHASE I RESULTS
AND POTENTIAL CAMPUS NETWORK ISSUES
January 29, 1979 1
AGENDA
TELECOMMUNICATIONS STUDY
NON-VOICE CAMPUS COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES
TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS
IMPACT ON INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
FUTURE NETWORK CONCEPTS \ \
TELECOMMUNICATIONS STUDY }
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (T-C) STUDY
Five Phases:
Phase I — Improvements in tne current telephone system and feasibility of a change
Preliminary analysis of communications requirements
Recommendation of near-term cost-reduction steps
Objective assessment of the feasibility of an alternative system
t > I
t Phase 1 1 — Functional design of a new system Comprehensive determination of Stanford's communications needs
Realistic assessment of "wired/campus"feasibility and timing
Detailed specifications for what the system should do
Identification and evaluation of risks under alternative approaches
Evaluation of on -premises cabling (bus) requirements
Refined assessment of alternative system feasibility
t Phase 111 — Technical Specifications for a new system Detailed specifications of how the new system should perform its function
Recommended telecommunications management structure
Formal request for proposal for new system »
0 Phase IV- Invitation to Bid, System Evaluation, Selection And Implementation
Comprehensive analysis of life-cycle costs for each alternative
Objective ranking of alternatives (technical, functional, financial, overall)
Professional management of the implementation effort
t Phase V— On -going technical counsel
Smooth transition from project to operational mode Timely resolution of post-implementation problems »
T-C STUDY
Calendar Year >
T-C STUDY PHASE I RESULTS
The 701 Centrex is obsolete and should be replaced
Service rudimentary
Will cost $33mm to $39mm over next 10 years
Few management/user features
New PT&T or interconnect systems both better
But Centrex-like service tariffs slated to rise potentially adding $7 mm over next 10 years
Whereas an interconnect system might achieve major cost savings and a 14% - 15% ROI
Centrex $19.3 mm- $22.1 mm ESSX 23.0 mm- 26.1mm Interconnect 16.6 mm- 19.2mm }
T-C STUDY PHASE I RESULTS
Non-voice communications need to be studied:
Stanford spends an estimated $30mm+ per year on information resources
Formal EDP $13. Omm Telecommunications 3.7mm Secretarial 3.6mm W-P/Reprographics/D-E 2.lmm U.S. Postage o.9mm l-D Mail o.6mm Other 6.lmm $30. Omm
(Excludes student computing and telephones)
I,ooo+ known terminals
Word processing interest (over 120 systems now)
11 major computers, over 160 small computers MAJOR COMPUTER FACILITIES BUDGET FULL-TIME CENTER SYSTEM(S) (MILLIONS) STAFF
1. A. I. LAB. DEC-KI-10 $1.5 -$2.0 12
2. GSB DEC-20, HP2OOO 0.1 3
3. IMSSS DECK 1-10 2.1 55
4. LOTS DEC-20 0.3 3
5. SCIP (Campus) 370/168 5.0 96
6. SCIP (SLAC) 2x370/168, 360/91 3.1 63
7. STUDENT SERVICES 370/135 0.3 5
8. SUMEX-AIM DECK 1-10-2X 0.5 7
11 SYSTEMS $12.9 - $13.4 244 COMM ITTEES/GROUPS CONCERNED WITH COMPUTING
1. Academic Working Group
2. Administrative Computing Staff (ACS)
3. Committee On Office Systems And Technology (COST)
4. Consulting Study On T-C -- BA&H
5. Engineering Committee On Computers (New, information)
6. Hospital Data Processing Steering Committee
7. Humanities & Sciences Advisory Committee On Computing
8. Medical Center Computing Subsidy Committee
9. Stanford Advisory Committee on Computer Sciences
10. Task Force on Computing
plus at least one Personal Computing Club
» T-C STUDY PHASE I RESULTS ~
So, the issue isn't whether to replace the current system, it's what is the proper scope and nature of the replacement
Switch deployment: centralized/distributed, on premise/ off premise
Student phones
Shared voice/ data network backbone
Transmission technology
Network "utility" features/ services NON-VOICE CAMPUS COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES
Technological Trends
Impact On Information Resources Management
Future Network Concepts TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS
On Campus:
"Electronic freshmen"
More user EDP sophistication
Richer computerized bibliographic services
"Electronic libraries"
Proliferating data terminals, computers, word processors
Increasing university mail traffic with slower service
Laboratory simulators
More electronic media in education TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS
Off Campus:
USPS— poorer service, higher costs
Soaring telephone, energy rates
Electronic logic and storage costs declining 20% - 25% per year
Communications transmission costs declining 10% - 15% per year
"Friendly" personal computers, data terminals
TV sets used to display data, correspondence, images
Cheap multi-purpose workstations
At-home terminals, personal computers, workstations IMPACT ON INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
Technological Trends
Cheap Powerful Friendly Übiquitous
Will significantly influence how Stanford people deal with their information
Ten examples illustrate how we think these technologies will be applied on the Stanford campus ELECTRONIC MAIL
Definition End to end transmission of correspondence
Stanford Users Potentially "everybody" -- all faculty, administrators students, researchers
Scope l-D and off campus mail ELECTRONIC MAIL
HOW IT WORKS
Getting your mail
User signs onto mail system and requests list of items in "in-box"
System displays/prints requested items
Disposing of mail
User may read and "circular file"
Or user may file in personal storage facility
Or user may annotate and "buck slip"
Writing a letter
Word processing features support text generation
Writer "addresses" and distributes by accessing the mail network system WORD PROCESSING
Definition— Generation and filing of correspondence
Stanford Users Potentially "everybody" — all faculty, administrators, students researchers
Scope — Letters, memos, reports, theses, documentation-- virtually all written material located on campus WORD PROCESSING
HOW IT WORKS
Creating the text
Users dictate, copy, or type in words to the word processing system
Boilerplate is scanned, included
Powerful edit capabilities aid creation of final copy
Distributing the text
Output can be directed to typesetting services, terminals, facsimile machines or other word processors BIBLIOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
Definition ~ Identification and location of reference material Stanford Users — Students, researchers Scope — On campus and off campus libraries
HOW IT WORKS
Accessing the library database
Users sign onto the bibliographic system database and enter search requests , authors, titles or topics
The system displays where to find material meeting the requests
Obtaining the reference material
Once a candidate reference has been selected the system retrieves the pages from the electronic library »
ELECTRONIC LIBRARY
Definition Electronic storage of written resources— potentially all written material, books, publications, newspapers
Stanford Users ; - Potentially "everybody" - faculty, administrators, students, researchers
Scope On campus and off campus libraries (Stanford libraries, Library of Congress) ELECTRONIC LIBRARY
HOW IT WORKS -
Storing Volumes
i Books and other written material are "copied" into the system including pictures, up to three colors and half tones
A combination of image and coded characters reduces storage needs
Remote libraries allow access and transmission of their electronic books under new copyright laws
Accessing books
Students sign onto the library system and obtain requested books on their displays Books can be paged; "yellow lined", selected material can be copied and all material to be saved can be placed in personal files
Or students can request original "hard copies" to be reserved for later use
t 4 COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING
Definition Faculty and students using computers/data bases to create, review and use information Stanford Users — Students and faculty Scope — Offices, teaching labs, dormitories/homes, corporate subscribers
HOW IT WORKS -
Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI)
Faculty structures drill and remedial instruction seminars
Classroom presentations can be video- recorded for subsequent replay
Some exams can be given and scored automatically
Computer Assisted Learning
Problem solving feasibilities can be created for student use
Students would be taught to use computers/databases to solve unstructured problems ELECTRONIC LABORATORY
Definition - Laboratory tests simulated electronically
Stanford Users - Students, faculty, researchers
Scope - On campus chemistry, physics, kinematics- all laboratory sciences
HOW IT WORKS
Creating a simulation database
Properties of chemicals and materials and mathematical formulas are defined
Projections, simulations, and emulations of chemical reactions, physical properties and mathematical series are performed using probability and experience models
Executing tests and experiments
Students perform previously "proven" experiments or researchers and others devise new experiments and tests Predictive models for probable reactions and results are executed and immediate feedback is provided. Results can be summarized and recorded NON-TRIVIAL DATA PROCESSING
Definition — Processing beyond micro and minicomputer capabilities. Stanford Users — Students, researchers Scope — On campus large scale processors
HOW IT WORKS
Input
Students and researchers create problem-solving algorithms and data
Jobs (programs and data) are transmitted to a large scale computer
Process
Large scale computer(s) supplement student data with proprietary data
The problem is "crunched"
Output
Results may be transmitted back to the originator
Or, high volume output can be printed locally
Or, output can be stored in user files for subsequent access/ processing by personal computers EXTERNAL INFORMATION SERVICES
Definition - Off-campus proprietary data bases, computers, data networks
Stanford Users - Potentially "everybody" - all faculty, administrators, students and researchers
Scope — On campus users of off campus services
HOW IT WORKS
Students direct requests for money to family or personal bank accounts and memo post transers through electronic checkbooks
Physicians requiring specialized medical data or case histories access remote hospitals or data banks -e.g., University of Washington communicable disease research, U.S.F.D.A. rare poisons and remedies
Researchers locate relevant papers on other universities' library computers
Anybody subscribes to electronic versions of periodicals PATIENT MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS
Definition — Analysis of patients' vital signs/symptoms by computer Stanford Users — Selected physicians and medical researchers Scope — Stanford patients on campus and off campus
HOW IT WORKS -
Patients' heartbeats, breath rates, blood pressure and other signs can be mechanically monitored and transmitted to receiving stations.
Monitors risk patients' symptoms and alerts medical personnel during early stages of emergencies
Cooperative agreements with other medical facilities or remote patient monitoring capability
Automated diagnoses can confirm physicians' assessments COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST
Definition Special interest groups keeping in contact
Stanford Users - Potentially "everybody" - all faculty, administrators, students, researchers
Scope All campus occupants who have answered questionnaires
HOW IT WORKS -
Special interest groups can identify potential members or participants from common data, eg:
Fiber optic terminal interface researchers Students from Los Angeles wanting rides home for Christmas Ski clubs Porsche owners Children of lawyers
Critical skills or needs can be identified rapidly
Students with special language skills or mechanical skills Rare blood types and body parts donors
» . User Application Support Requirements
Between Class- Data Off- Application room Labs Bases Campus
Electronic Mail X
Word Processing X
Bibliographic Research X X
Electronic Library X X
Computer Assisted Instruction/ X X X X X X Learning
Electronic Laboratory
Non-Trivial Data Processing
External Information Services
Patient Diagnostic Systems
Community of Interest X X X FUTURE NETWORK CONCEPTS
Changing information resource management practices imply:
Individual users on campus will alternately use many of the emerging IRM capabilities
Multi-purpose terminals or workstations will provide economical user interfaces
But, unless a multi-purpose transmission network is provided, parallel communications networks/ lines will multiply
And that "solution" will be costly and will retard progress
Parallel lines will be laid in re-dug trenches
Thousands of multi-purpose workstations will need multiple communications interfaces to "talk" to computers and other workstations on different networks
Diverse protocols will complicate software and impede interconnection between users of different networks
Thus, some sort of common network capability appears mandatory 1 STANFORD UNIVERSITY ALTERNATIVE TELEPHONE SYSTEM CONCEPTS
Note: Shading dapicti partitioned sections of the switch which are dedicatedto serving j> group of user telephones. Stanford University POTENTIAL ELEMENTS OF CAMPUS" FACULTY HOUSING A "WIRED STUDENTDORMITORIES CLASSROOMS/LECTURE HALLS ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES PATIENT STUDENT/RESEARCH
LIBRARY INDICES OFF. -CAMPUS BIBLIOGRAPHIC ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPUTERS ABSTRACTS AND COMPUTER ASSISTED TELEPHONES FULL DATABANKS _■ COMPUTER ASSISTED CONTENT MATERIAL/ MAIL SERVICES EFT
HOSPITAL ROOMS WORK AREAS RESEARCH LABORATORIES
RESEARCH SUPPORT FACULTY STAFF CROSSREFERENCES APPLICATIONS STUDENTS
TEXTS INSTRUCTION TERMINALS
LESSON PLANS ELECTRONIC LEARNING POINTERS SERVICES * <
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SHARED VOICE/DATA NETWORK
Probably a self-contained transmission utility
Network node controllers located at key points on campus
Node controllers multiplex users onto backbone, carving out "lines" and establishing session links
Nodes also perform A/D conversion
Computers, terminals, workstations, PBXs would be "customers" buying tie lines on the network to get between on-campus buildings and off-campus networks
Probably digital transmission between network node controllers; possibly digital to on-campus terminals/instruments/computers _fe
»
Initial implementation likely to resemble "long lines" service
Eliminates duplicate physical networks
But does nothing to reduce multiple protocol problems
Thus, the network should evolve data/information networking services such as:
Virtual call service (interactive, non-interactive)
Network message switching (on-demand/automatic delivery, storage, "broadcast", W-P, security)
Host/network interfacing (terminal emulation, packetizing)
Terminal/network interfacing (buffered and unbuffered contention, polled) » . »
CURRENT SHARED VOICE/DATA NETWORK SITUATION
Telephone companies currently use digital shared voice/data links between some cities
Only a few "user" organizations have begun to implement their own shared networks
Typically a tandem/Telpak network with certain lines dedicated to specific applications during scheduled times of the day
Digital networks multiplexing voice and data over a shared, broadband facility are still a rarity
Equitable Life Assurance
4 Danray CTX 2000 PBXs On-site backbone is coax Switches use FDM to permit shared voice/data
Fort Monmouth
Northern SL-1 PBXs Digital end-to-end (including phones) .
Triad) MERIT (Michigan Educational Research Instructional
Packet switched data network Special front end network switches No shared voice/ data
ARPANET Premier packet switching network Experimental voice packetizing marginally successful ■» "IP 4 . >
7 SUMMARY
Campus non-voice communications are likely to evolve into a complex set of interconnected terminals, computers and databases
A shared on-campus network could expedite this evolution economically
A better view of the future computing environment (in the broadest sense) is necessary to define the functional specifications for trie network