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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

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS STUDY

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS (T-C) STUDY

Five Phases:

Phase I — Improvements in tne current telephonesystem and feasibility of a change

Preliminary analysis of communications requirements

Recommendation of near-term cost-reduction steps

Objective assessment of the feasibility of analternative system

>I

Phase 1 1 — Functional design of a new systemt

Comprehensive determination of Stanford'scommunications needs

Realistic assessment of "wired/campus"feasibility andtiming

Detailed specifications for what the system should do

Identification and evaluation of risks under alternativeapproaches

Evaluation of on -premises cabling (bus) requirements

Refined assessment of alternative system feasibility

Phase 111 — Technical Specifications for a new systemt

Detailed specifications of how the new system shouldperform its function

Recommended telecommunications management structure

Formal request for proposal for new system

»

0 Phase IV- Invitation to Bid, System Evaluation, Selection AndImplementation

Comprehensive analysis of life-cycle costs for eachalternative

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 modeTimely 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The 701 Centrex is obsolete and should be replaced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 riseadding $7 mm over next 10 years

potentially

Whereas an interconnect system might achieve major cost savingsand a 14% - 15% ROI

CentrexESSX

$19.3 mm- $22.1 mm23.0 mm- 26.1mm16.6 mm- 19.2mmInterconnect

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T-C STUDY PHASE I RESULTS

Non-voice communications need to be studied:

Stanford spends an estimated $30mm+ per year on information resources

$13. Omm3.7mm

Formal EDPTelecommunicationsSecretarial 3.6mm

2.lmmo.9mmo.6mm6.lmm

W-P/Reprographics/D-EU.S. Postagel-D MailOther

$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

CENTER

1. A. I. LAB.

2. GSB

3. IMSSS

4. LOTS

5. SCIP (Campus)

6. SCIP (SLAC)

7. STUDENT SERVICES

8. SUMEX-AIM

SYSTEM(S)

DEC-KI-10

DEC-20, HP2OOO

DECK 1-10

DEC-20

370/168

2x370/168, 360/91

370/135

DECK 1-10-2X

11 SYSTEMS

BUDGET(MILLIONS)

$1.5 -$2.0

0.1

2.1

0.3

5.0

3.1

0.3

0.5

$12.9 - $13.4

FULL-TIMESTAFF

12

3

55

3

96

63

5

7

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'swhat 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

year

per year

TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS

Off Campus:

USPS— poorer service, higher costs

Soaring telephone, energy rates

Electronic logic and storage costs declining 20% - 25% per

Communications transmission costs declining 10% - 15%

"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

CheapPowerfulFriendlyÜbiquitous

Will significantly influence how Stanford people deal withtheir information

Ten examples illustrate how we think these technologies willbe applied on the Stanford campus

ELECTRONIC MAIL

Definition End to end transmission of correspondence

Potentially "everybody" -- all faculty, administratorsstudents, researchers

Stanford Users

l-D and off campus mailScope

ELECTRONIC MAIL

HOW IT WORKS

Getting your mail

User signs onto mail system and requests list of itemsin "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 themail network system

WORD PROCESSING

Definition— Generation and filing of correspondence

Potentially "everybody" — all faculty, administrators, studentsresearchers

Stanford Users

Scope — Letters, memos, reports, theses, documentation-- virtually all writtenmaterial located on campus

system

WORD PROCESSING

HOW IT WORKS

Creating the text

Users dictate, copy, or type in words to the word processing

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, researchersStudents, researchers

Scope — On campus and off campus libraries

HOW IT WORKS

Accessing the library database

Users sign onto the bibliographic system database and enter searchrequests , 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 retrievesthe pages from the electronic library

»

ELECTRONIC LIBRARY

Definition Electronic storage of written resources— potentially all writtenmaterial, books, publications, newspapers

Stanford Users; - Potentially "everybody" - faculty, administrators, students,researchers

Scope On campus and off campus libraries (Stanford libraries, Library ofCongress)

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ELECTRONIC LIBRARY

HOW IT WORKS -Storing Volumes

Books and other written material are "copied" into the systemincluding 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 electronicbooks under new copyright laws

Accessing books

Students sign onto the library system and obtain requested bookson their displays

Books can be paged; "yellow lined", selected material can becopied and all material to be saved can be placed in personal files

Or students can request original "hard copies" to be reservedfor later use

4

review

replay

COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING

Definition Faculty and students using computers/data bases to create,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

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 solveunstructured problems

ELECTRONIC LABORATORY

Definition - Laboratory tests simulated electronically

Stanford Users - Students, faculty, researchersStudents, 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 formulasare defined

Projections, simulations, and emulations of chemical reactions,physical properties and mathematical series are performed usingprobability and experience models

Executing tests and experiments

Students perform previously "proven" experiments or researchersand others devise new experiments and tests

Predictive models for probable reactions and results are executedand immediate feedback is provided. Results can be summarizedand 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, studentsand researchers

Scope — On campus users of off campus services

HOW IT WORKS

Students direct requests for money to family or personal bank accountsand memo post transers through electronic checkbooks

Physicians requiring specialized medical data or case histories accessremote hospitals or data banks -e.g., University of Washingtoncommunicable 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

be

PATIENT MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS

Definition — Analysis of patients' vital signs/symptoms by computer

Stanford Users — Selected physicians and medical researchersSelected physicians and medical researchers

Scope — Stanford patients on campus and off campus

HOW IT WORKS -Patients' heartbeats, breath rates, blood pressure and other signs canmechanically monitored and transmitted to receiving stations.

Monitors risk patients' symptoms and alerts medical personnelduring early stages of emergencies

Cooperative agreements with other medical facilities or remotepatient monitoring capability

Automated diagnoses can confirm physicians' assessments

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COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST

Special interest groups keeping in contactDefinition

- Potentially "everybody" - all faculty, administrators,students, researchers

Stanford Users

All campus occupants who have answered questionnairesScope

HOW IT WORKS -Special interest groups can identify potential members orparticipants from common data, eg:

Fiber optic terminal interface researchersStudents from Los Angeles wanting rides home for ChristmasSki clubsPorsche ownersChildren of lawyers

Critical skills or needs can be identified rapidly

Students with special language skills or mechanical skillsRare blood types and body parts donors

.

Non-Trivial Data Processing

External Information Services

Patient Diagnostic Systems

Community of Interest X X X

User Application Support Requirements

BetweenClass-room

DataBases

Off-Application Labs Campus

Electronic Mail

Word Processing

X

X

Bibliographic Research

Electronic Library

X X

X X

Computer Assisted Instruction/ XLearning

X X X XX

Electronic Laboratory

FUTURE NETWORK CONCEPTS

Changing information resource management practices imply:

Individual users on campus will alternately use many of the emergingIRM capabilities

Multi-purpose terminals or workstations will provide economical userinterfaces

But, unless a multi-purpose transmission network is provided, parallelcommunications 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 multiplecommunications interfaces to "talk" to computers and otherworkstations on different networks

Diverse protocols will complicate software and impedeinterconnection between users of different networks

Thus, some sort of common network capability appears mandatory

STANFORD UNIVERSITY1

ALTERNATIVE TELEPHONE SYSTEM CONCEPTS

Note: Shading dapicti partitioned sections of the switch which are dedicatedto serving j> group of user telephones.

Stanford UniversityPOTENTIAL ELEMENTSOF A "WIRED CAMPUS"FACULTY HOUSING

STUDENTDORMITORIES

HOSPITAL

PATIENT

ROOMS

CLASSROOMS/LECTURE HALLSSTUDENT/RESEARCH

WORK AREAS

ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

RESEARCH LABORATORIES

LIBRARY INDICES

BIBLIOGRAPHIC

CROSSREFERENCES

ABSTRACTS ANDFULL

TEXTSLESSON PLANS

_■

CONTENT MATERIAL/

POINTERS

RESEARCH SUPPORT

ADMINISTRATIVE

APPLICATIONS

COMPUTER ASSISTED

INSTRUCTION

COMPUTER ASSISTED

LEARNING

OFF -CAMPUS.

FACULTY

STAFFSTUDENTS

COMPUTERSTELEPHONES

TERMINALS

DATABANKS

ELECTRONIC

MAIL SERVICESEFT

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, carvingout "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 buildingsand off-campus networks

Probably digital transmission between network node controllers;possibly digital to on-campus terminals/instruments/computers

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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 networkingservices 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 unbufferedcontention, polled)

» . »

CURRENT SHARED VOICE/DATA NETWORK SITUATION

Telephone companies currently use digital shared voice/datalinks between some cities

Only a few "user" organizations have begun to implement theirown shared networks

Typically a tandem/Telpak network with certain linesdedicated to specific applications during scheduled timesof the day

Digital networks multiplexing voice and data over ashared, broadband facility are still a rarity

Equitable Life Assurance

4 Danray CTX 2000 PBXsOn-site backbone is coaxSwitches use FDM to permit shared voice/data

Fort Monmouth

Northern SL-1 PBXsDigital end-to-end (including phones)

.

MERIT (Michigan Educational Research Instructional Triad)

Packet switched data networkSpecial front end network switchesNo shared voice/ data

ARPANET

Premier packet switching networkExperimental voice packetizing marginally successful

" ■»IP

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7 SUMMARY

Campus non-voice communications are likely to evolve into acomplex 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 broadestsense) is necessary to define the functional specifications for trienetwork