Standaras ,-1 n.mu of 19 NBS MONOGRAPH 113, VOLUME 2 Research and Development in the Computer and Information Sciences Volume 2. Processing, Storage, and Output Requirements in Information-Processing Systems— A Selective Literature Review NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS The National Bureau of Standards ' was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. Today, in addition to serving as the Nation's central measurement laboratory, the Bureau is a principal focal point in the Federal Government for assuring maximum application of the physical and engineering sciences to the advancement of technology in industry and commerce. To this end the Bureau conducts research and provides central national services in four broad program areas. These are: (1) basic measurements and standards, (2) materials measurements and standards, (3) technological measurements and standards, and (4) transfer of technology. The Bureau comprises the Institute for Basic Standards, the Institute for Materials Research, the Institute for Applied Technology, the Center for Radiation Research, the Center for Computer Sciences and Technology, and the Office for Information Programs. THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS provides the central basis within the United States of a complete and consistent system of physical measurement; coordinates that system with measurement systems of other nations; and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical measurements throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and com- merce. The Institute consists of an Office of Measurement Services and the following technical divisions: Applied Mathematics—Electricity—Metrology—Mechanics—Heat—Atomic and Molec- ular Physics—Radio Physics -—Radio Engineering - —Time and Frequency -—Astro- physics -—Cryogenics.- THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH conducts materials research leading to im- proved methods of measurement standards, and data on the properties of well-characterized materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions, and Government; develops, produces, and distributes standard reference materials; relates the physical and chemical prop- erties of materials to their behavior and their interaction with their environments; and provides advisory and research services to other Government agencies. The Institute consists of an Office of Standard Reference Materials and the following divisions: Analytical Chemistry—Polymers—Metallurgy—Inorganic Materials—Physical Chemistry. THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY provides technical services to promote the use of available technology and to facilitate technological innovation in industry and Gov- ernment; cooperates with public and private organizations in the development of technological standards, and test methodologies; and provides advisory and research services for Federal, state, and local government agencies. The Institute consists of the following technical divisions and offices: Engineering Standards—Weights and Measures — Invention and Innovation — Vehicle Systems Research—Product Evaluation —Building Research—Instrument Shops—Meas- urement Engineering—Electronic Technology—Technical Analysis. THE CENTER FOR RADIATION RESEARCH engages in research, measurement, and ap- plication of radiation to the solution of Bureau mission problems and the problems of other agen- cies and institutions. The Center consists of the following divisions: Reactor Radiation—Linac Radiation—Nuclear Radiation—Applied Radiation. THE CENTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY conducts research and provides technical services designed to aid Government agencies in the selection, acquisition, and effective use of automatic data processing equipment; and serves as the principal focus for the development of Federal standards for automatic data processing equipment, techniques, and computer languages. The Center consists of the following offices and divisions: Information Processing Standards—Computer Information — Computer Services — Sys- tems Development—Information Processing Technology. THE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION PROGRAMS promotes optimum dissemination and accessibility of scientific information generated within NBS and other agencies of the Federal Government; promotes the development of the National Standard Reference Data System artd a system of information analysis centers dealing with the broader aspects of the National Measure- ment System, and provides appropriate services to ensure that the NBS staff has optimum ac- cessibility to the scientific information of the world. The Office consists of the following organizational units: Office of Standard Reference Data—Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information ' —Office of Technical Information and Publications—Library—Office of Public Information—Office of International Relations. ' Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, D.C. 20234. - Located at Boulder, Colorado 80302. •' Located at 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22151. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Maurice H. Stans, Secretary NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS • Lewis M. Branscomb, Director Research and Development in the Computer and Information Sciences 2. Processing, Storage, and Output Requirements in Information Processing Systems: A Selective Literature Review Mary Elizabeth Stevens Center for Computer Sciences and Technology- National Bureau of Standards Washington, D.C. 20234 \J, ' National Bureau of Standards, Monograph 113, Vol. 2 4 • * Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Monogr. 113 Vol. 2, 125 pages (May 1970) CODEN: NBSMA Issued May 1970 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 (Order by SD Catalog No. C13.44:113/Vol. 2), Price gl.2S. MAY 2 2 1970 Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 70-603263 Foreword The Center for Computer Sciences and Technology of the National Bureau of Standards has responsibility under the authority of Public Law 89-306 (the Brooks Bill) for automatic data processing standards development, for consultation and technical assistance to Federal agencies, and for supporting research in matters relating to the use of computers in the Federal Government. This selective literature review is the second in a series intended to improve interchange of information among those engaged in research and development in the fields of the computer and information sciences. Considered in this volume are the specific areas of information processing, storage, and output. Names and descriptions of specific proprietary devices and equipment have been included for the convenience of the reader, but completeness in this respect is recognized to be impossible. Certain important developments have remained proprietary or have not been reported in the open Uterature; thus major contributors to key developments in the field may have been omitted. The omission of any methodor device does not necessarily imply that it is considered unsuitable or unsatisfactory, nor does inclusion of descriptive material on commercially available instruments, products, programs, or processes constitute endorsement. Lewis M. Branscomb, Director III Contents Page Foreword Ill 1. Introduction 1 2. Processor system considerations 3 2.1. General considerations 3 2.2. Management of multiple-access systems 4 2.2.1. General considerations and examples 4 2.2.2. Scheduling, queuing, and priorities in multiple-access systems 5 2.2.3. "Swapping," dynamic memory allocation, and pagination 7 2.2.4. Client and system protection 8 2.3. System control and performance evaluation 9 3. Storage, file organization, and associative memory requirements 10 3.1. Hierarchies of storage, data compression, and data consolidation 11 3.1.1. Hierarchical memory structure 11 3.1.2. Data compression and consolidation 11 3.2. Problems of file organization and structure 12 3.3. Associative memory considerations 14 4. Mass Storage Considerations... , 16 4.1. Digital vs. facsimile storage 16 4.1.1. Facsimile storage 16 4.1.2. Document store compacting by digital storage techniques 18 4.1.3. Combined facsimile-digital storage 19 4.2. Examples of relatively direct access file storage and retrieval systems 19 4.2.1. Retrieval and reproduction of microforms 19 4.2.2. Digital data storage techniques 20 5. Output and post-processing requirements 20 5.1. Direct output and display applications 21 5.1.1. Graphic outputs and displays 22 5.1.2. Machine-aided design 23 5.1.3. Computer-assisted instruction and problem-solving 26 5.2. Multiple output modes 26 5.2.1. Audio outputs, speech synthesis and speech compression 27 5.2.2. Three-dimensional, color, and motion picture outputs 28 5.2.3. Multi-media and special purpose outputs 29 6. System output to microform and hard copy 30 6.1. Microform recording and direct output transmission 30 6.2. Printing, photocomposition and computer-controlled character and symbol generation. 31 6.2.1. Line printers 33 6.2.2. Photocomposition and electronic character generation techniques 33 6.2.3. Computer-controlled typographic composition 34 6.3. Hard copy reproduction 35 6.4. Post-processing operations and special forms of output 35 7. System use and evaluation 36 8. Conclusion 37 Appendix A. Background notes on research and development requirements in information processing, storage, and output 39 Appendix B. Bibliography 114 Additional references 114 V Figures Page Figure 1. Functional diagram of a generalized information processing system 2 Figure 2. Information processing