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␈↓ ↓N␈↓α␈↓ ε⊃␈↓εDIALNET
␈↓ ↓N␈↓ε␈↓ ¬	␈↓John McCarthy and Les Earnest␈↓ n
␈↓ ↓N␈↓α␈↓ α↑1.  The Dialnet Concept                     ␈↓ π∞␈↓aiding␈αcollaboration␈αamong␈αcomputer␈α
scientists
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓at␈αdi≥erent␈αsites␈αand␈αin␈αpermitting␈αnationwide
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈αwill␈αbe␈αa␈αset␈αof␈αprotocols␈α(like␈αthose␈αof    ␈↓ π∞␈↓access␈α to␈α unique␈α∨facilities␈α such␈α as␈α∨the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓the␈α
ARPAnet)␈α
enabling␈α∞a␈α
computer␈α
user␈α∞at␈α
a         ␈↓ π∞␈↓MACSYMA␈α system␈α for␈α!computing␈α with
␈↓ ↓N␈↓terminal␈αattached␈αto␈αhis␈αown␈αcomputer␈αto␈αsend      ␈↓ π∞␈↓algebraic␈α∪and␈α∩analytic␈α∪expressions␈α∪at␈α∩M.I.T.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓messages␈α~to␈α~users␈α→of␈α~other␈α~computers,␈α→to          ␈↓ π∞␈↓They␈α∪permit␈α∪a␈α∩new␈α∪form␈α∪of␈α∪publication␈α∩in
␈↓ ↓N␈↓transmit␈α_≡les␈α_between␈α_his␈α_own␈α→and␈α_other           ␈↓ π∞␈↓which␈α∩documents␈α∩are␈α∩kept␈α∩in␈α∪the␈α∩computer,
␈↓ ↓N␈↓computers,␈α≤and␈α≤to␈α≤use␈α≥other␈α≤time-shared          ␈↓ π∞␈↓are␈α∀continuously␈α∪updatable,␈α∀are␈α∪immediately
␈↓ ↓N␈↓computers␈α∂directly␈α∂-␈α∞all␈α∂using␈α∂the␈α∂facilities␈α∞of   ␈↓ π∞␈↓accessible␈α→throughout␈α→the␈α→country,␈α→and␈α→in
␈↓ ↓N␈↓the␈α⊂ordinary␈α∂dial-up␈α⊂telephone␈α⊂network.␈α∂ His     ␈↓ π∞␈↓which␈αcomments␈αfrom␈αreaders␈αare␈αaccessible␈α
to
␈↓ ↓N␈↓computer␈α∂will␈α∂need␈α⊂a␈α∂telephone␈α∂dialer␈α⊂and␈α∂a        ␈↓ π∞␈↓other readers.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓suitable␈α~modem␈α≠and␈α~must␈α≠implement␈α~the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓ protocols in its operating system.  ␈↓ π∞␈↓The␈α
usefulness␈αof␈α
the␈α
ARPAnet␈αhas␈α
prompted
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓many␈α≡non-defense␈α≡installations␈α≡to␈α≡try␈α≥to
␈↓ ↓N␈↓The␈αStanford␈αUniversity␈αArti≡cial␈αIntelligence  ␈↓ π∞␈↓connect␈α
to␈α
it,␈αand␈α
in␈α
some␈αcases␈α
this␈α
has␈αbeen
␈↓ ↓N␈↓Laboratory,␈α∩with␈α∩support␈α∩from␈α∩the␈α⊃National       ␈↓ π∞␈↓possible,␈α→but␈α→usually␈α→the␈α→institutional␈α→and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓Science␈α∂Foundation␈α∂starting␈α∂1␈α∂July␈α∂1977,␈α∂has      ␈↓ π∞␈↓≡nancial␈α≤obstacles␈α≤have␈α≤been␈α≠insuperable.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓begun␈α∪an␈α∪eighteen␈α∪month␈α∪study␈α∀which␈α∪will          ␈↓ π∞␈↓The␈α
main␈α
≡nancial␈α
obstacles␈α
are␈α
the␈α∞need␈α
for
␈↓ ↓N␈↓design␈α∞and␈α∞experimentally␈α∞implement␈α
suitable    ␈↓ π∞␈↓a␈α⊃dedicated␈α⊂computer␈α⊃called␈α⊂an␈α⊃IMP␈α⊂costing
␈↓ ↓N␈↓protocols.                                  ␈↓ π∞␈↓about␈α⊂$80,000␈α⊂at␈α⊂each␈α⊂site␈α⊂and␈α⊂the␈α⊃need␈α⊂for
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓dedicated␈α⊂communication␈α⊂lines␈α⊂rented␈α⊃by␈α⊂the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓While␈α
we␈αexpect␈α
the␈αmain␈α
users␈αof␈α
␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈αto        ␈↓ π∞␈↓Department␈α
of␈α
Defense␈α
at␈α
great␈α
expense␈α
from
␈↓ ↓N␈↓be␈αtime-sharing␈αsystems,␈αwe␈αhope␈αthe␈αprotocols    ␈↓ π∞␈↓the␈α~telephone␈α~companies.␈α~ Other␈α~networks
␈↓ ↓N␈↓will␈αbe␈αimplementable␈αby␈αsingle␈αuser␈αcomputer     ␈↓ π∞␈↓have␈α∪been␈α∪started,␈α∪some␈α∪for␈α∪particular␈α∩user
␈↓ ↓N␈↓systems,perhaps␈α∃even␈α∃down␈α∃to␈α∃the␈α⊗level␈α∃of         ␈↓ π∞␈↓populations␈αand␈αothers␈α
on␈αas␈αcommon␈α
carriers.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓hobbyist␈α≥computers.␈α≤ We␈α≥call␈α≥the␈α≤system          ␈↓ π∞␈↓However,␈α$they␈α$have␈α$higher␈α$base␈α#and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈αby␈αanalogy␈αwith␈αARPAnet,␈αbut␈αunlike       ␈↓ π∞␈↓overhead␈α∃costs␈α∃than␈α∃can␈α∃be␈α∃achieved␈α∃with
␈↓ ↓N␈↓the␈α∞ARPAnet,␈α
it␈α∞requires␈α
no␈α∞administrator␈α
to      ␈↓ π∞␈↓direct␈α⊂use␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊂telephone␈α⊂system␈α⊂and␈α∂don't
␈↓ ↓N␈↓"admit"␈α#new␈α"members;␈α#they␈α#need␈α"only              ␈↓ π∞␈↓presently␈α
o≥er␈α
message,␈α
≡le␈α
transfer␈α∞and␈α
login
␈↓ ↓N␈↓implement␈α
the␈α
protocols␈α
and␈α
know␈α
each␈α
other's     ␈↓ π∞␈↓services.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓telephone numbers.
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓We␈α⊃propose␈α⊃to␈α⊃design␈α⊃protocols␈α⊃that␈α⊃can␈α⊃be
␈↓ ↓N␈↓We␈α~need␈α≠and␈α~solicit␈α~the␈α≠co-operation␈α~of           ␈↓ π∞␈↓implemented␈α~at␈α~any␈α≠time-shared␈α~computer
␈↓ ↓N␈↓computer␈α)users␈α)and␈α*manufacturers␈α)in             ␈↓ π∞␈↓installation␈α⊗or␈α↔single␈α⊗user␈α↔computer␈α⊗system
␈↓ ↓N␈↓developing␈α∂protocols␈α∂that␈α∂will␈α∂be␈α∂suitable␈α∞for    ␈↓ π∞␈↓without␈α↔joining␈α⊗any␈α↔formal␈α↔network.␈α⊗ The
␈↓ ↓N␈↓standardization.␈α~ Mistakes␈α~made␈α~now␈α~may         ␈↓ π∞␈↓hardware␈α∀cost␈α∃will␈α∀be␈α∃from␈α∀$500␈α∃to␈α∀$5000
␈↓ ↓N␈↓have a long life.                           ␈↓ π∞␈↓depending␈α∀on␈α∪the␈α∀type␈α∪of␈α∀system␈α∀and␈α∪how
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓di≠cult␈α≤it␈α≤is␈α≥to␈α≤connect␈α≤devices␈α≥to␈α≤the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓The␈α_ARPAnet␈α_connects␈α_about␈α_a␈α_hundred             ␈↓ π∞␈↓computer.␈α) For␈α(timesharing␈α)systems,␈α(a
␈↓ ↓N␈↓computer␈α$facilities␈α$involved␈α$in␈α#Defense         ␈↓ π∞␈↓telephone␈α→dialer␈α~will␈α→be␈α→rented␈α~from␈α→the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓Department␈α_supported␈α_research␈α_and␈α↔allows        ␈↓ π∞␈↓telephone␈α∃company␈α⊗so␈α∃that␈α∃the␈α⊗system␈α∃can
␈↓ ↓N␈↓users␈αof␈αone␈αsystem␈αto␈αlog␈αin␈αon␈α
others,␈αallows      ␈↓ π∞␈↓initiate␈α⊗calls.␈α⊗ For␈α⊗small␈α⊗single-user␈α∃systems
␈↓ ↓N␈↓transmission␈α↔of␈α↔messages␈α↔between␈α_users␈α↔of        ␈↓ π∞␈↓where␈αeconomy␈αis␈αparamount,␈αthe␈αuser␈α
can␈αdo
␈↓ ↓N␈↓di≥erent␈αcomputers,␈αand␈αallows␈αthe␈αtransfer␈αof    ␈↓ π∞␈↓his␈α∞own␈α∞dialing␈α∂to␈α∞initiate␈α∞a␈α∞call.␈α∂ There␈α∞will
␈↓ ↓N␈↓≡les␈α∃between␈α∃computers.␈α∃ More␈α∃generally,␈α∀it      ␈↓ π∞␈↓be␈α&programs␈α'to␈α&transmit␈α'signals␈α&and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓allows␈α
interaction␈αamong␈α
programs␈αin␈α
di≥erent    ␈↓ π∞␈↓information␈α⊂according␈α⊃to␈α⊂the␈α⊃protocols.␈α⊂ Any
␈↓ ↓N␈↓computers.                                  ␈↓ π∞␈↓installation␈αimplementing␈αthe␈αprotocols␈α
will␈αbe
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓able␈α
to␈α
communicate␈α
with␈α
any␈α
other.␈α
 The␈α
only
␈↓ ↓N␈↓These␈α≠facilities␈α≠have␈α≠proven␈α≠valuable␈α~in         ␈↓ π∞␈↓disadvantage␈α⊗compared␈α⊗with␈α⊗the␈α∃ARPAnet
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓will be lower speed.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓αDialnet␈↓ `2


␈↓ ↓N␈↓Like␈αARPAnet,␈α␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈αwill␈αbe␈αmost␈αuseful␈αto       ␈↓ π∞␈↓matching␈α≤modem,␈α≤dials␈α≤the␈α≥number␈α≤and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓↓full␈αtime-sharing␈αsystems␈↓␈α
or␈αsingle␈αuser␈α
systems  ␈↓ π∞␈↓attempts␈α→to␈α→transmit␈α→the␈α→message.␈α~ If␈α→the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓that␈α⊂operate␈α⊂24␈α⊂hours␈α⊂and␈α⊂have␈α⊃≡le␈α⊂systems.        ␈↓ π∞␈↓transmitting␈α
computer␈α
cannot␈α
elicit␈α
a␈αresponse
␈↓ ↓N␈↓In␈α
such␈α
systems,␈αeach␈α
user␈α
has␈α
named␈αdisk␈α
≡les      ␈↓ π∞␈↓from␈αthe␈α
desired␈αrecipient,␈α
it␈αinforms␈α
the␈αuser
␈↓ ↓N␈↓that␈α∂are␈α∂kept␈α∂in␈α∂the␈α∂system␈α∂even␈α∂when␈α∂he␈α∞is          ␈↓ π∞␈↓that␈α⊃it␈α∩will␈α⊃try␈α∩again␈α⊃later␈α∩and␈α⊃send␈α∩him␈α⊃a
␈↓ ↓N␈↓absent␈α(and␈αtherefore␈αremotely␈αaccessible),␈αand  ␈↓ π∞␈↓message␈αwhen␈α
the␈αtransmission␈α
has␈αsucceeded.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓new␈α∂≡les␈α∞can␈α∂be␈α∞created␈α∂by␈α∞≡le␈α∂transfer␈α∞from        ␈↓ π∞␈↓If␈αthe␈αuser's␈αcorrespondent␈α≡le␈αdid␈αnot␈αcontain
␈↓ ↓N␈↓other␈α∪machines␈α∩and␈α∪on␈α∩receipt␈α∪of␈α∩messages.        ␈↓ π∞␈↓the␈α7telepone␈α7number␈α8and␈α7modem
␈↓ ↓N␈↓The␈α≡usefulness␈α≡of␈α≡the␈α∨message␈α≡facilities         ␈↓ π∞␈↓characteristics,␈α∞the␈α
user␈α∞would␈α
have␈α∞to␈α
supply
␈↓ ↓N␈↓normally␈α∞requires␈α∞that␈α
users␈α∞habitually␈α∞log␈α
in    ␈↓ π∞␈↓them.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓each␈α⊗working␈α⊗day␈α⊗and␈α⊗are␈α⊗most␈α⊗bene≡cial
␈↓ ↓N␈↓when␈α∞users␈α
have␈α∞individual␈α∞display␈α
terminals     ␈↓ π∞␈↓The␈α⊂identity␈α⊂and␈α∂location␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊂sender␈α∂and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓in␈α∞their␈α∞o≠ces.␈α∞ Further␈α∞bene≡ts␈α∂accrue␈α∞when      ␈↓ π∞␈↓date␈α
and␈α
time␈αof␈α
the␈α
message␈αare␈α
automatically
␈↓ ↓N␈↓reports␈α⊗are␈α∃normally␈α⊗prepared␈α⊗at␈α∃terminals       ␈↓ π∞␈↓placed␈α∩at␈α⊃the␈α∩front␈α∩of␈α⊃the␈α∩message.␈α∩ At␈α⊃the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓and␈α∂when␈α∂secretaries␈α∞use␈α∂terminals␈α∂for␈α∞letters    ␈↓ π∞␈↓receiving␈αend,␈αif␈αthe␈αaddressee␈αis␈αlogged␈αin␈αon
␈↓ ↓N␈↓and␈α∞messages.␈α∂ However,␈α∞many␈α∂less␈α∞advanced       ␈↓ π∞␈↓the␈αcomputer,␈αhe␈αis␈αimmediately␈αinformed␈αthat
␈↓ ↓N␈↓installations␈α∞have␈α∞found␈α∞the␈α∞ARPAnet␈α
useful      ␈↓ π∞␈↓mail␈α∃has␈α∃arrived␈α∀and␈α∃from␈α∃whom.␈α∃ If␈α∀not
␈↓ ↓N␈↓and␈α∃more␈α∃and␈α∃more␈α∃systems␈α∃are␈α∃acquiring           ␈↓ π∞␈↓logged␈αin,␈αhe␈αwill␈αreceive␈αthe␈αmessage␈αthe␈αnext
␈↓ ↓N␈↓economical full time-sharing capability.    ␈↓ π∞␈↓time␈αhe␈αlogs␈αin.␈α In␈αeither␈αcase,␈αhe␈αcan␈αuse␈αthe
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓same facility to respond:
␈↓ ↓N␈↓While␈α∂we␈α∂expect␈α∂the␈α∞≡rst␈α∂users␈α∂of␈α∂␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈α∞to        ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.mail Smith
␈↓ ↓N␈↓be␈α∂regular␈α∂computer␈α∂users,␈α∂the␈α∂corresponding     ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.David Piranha (DAVE@UTEX-CHEM3) has
␈↓ ↓N␈↓ARPAnet␈α∂facilities␈α∂have␈α∂been␈α∂much␈α∂used␈α∂by         ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.a student working on inhibition by
␈↓ ↓N␈↓non-programmers.␈α∞ Users␈α∞of␈α∞␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈α∂need␈α∞not      ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.anions of anhydrase B.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓know␈α≡how␈α≡to␈α≡program,␈α≡and␈α∨we␈α≡expect
␈↓ ↓N␈↓increasing␈α&use␈α&by␈α&non-programmers␈α&as            ␈↓ π∞␈↓Following up on this lead, the user types
␈↓ ↓N␈↓terminals become more widespread.           ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.link dave@utex-chem3

␈↓ ↓N␈↓In␈α⊃order␈α⊃to␈α⊂make␈α⊃the␈α⊃picture␈α⊃more␈α⊂concrete,        ␈↓ π∞␈↓A␈α∨connection␈α is␈α∨made␈α∨to␈α the␈α∨speci≡ed
␈↓ ↓N␈↓here␈α∩is␈α⊃a␈α∩scenario␈α⊃of␈α∩the␈α⊃use␈α∩of␈α∩the␈α⊃system          ␈↓ π∞␈↓computer␈α⊗and,␈α⊗if␈α↔DAVE␈α⊗is␈α⊗logged␈α↔in,␈α⊗he
␈↓ ↓N␈↓suitable␈α∩for␈α∩scientists.␈α∩ Other␈α∩potential␈α∩users  ␈↓ π∞␈↓immediately receives a message saying
␈↓ ↓N␈↓may␈αimagine␈αtheir␈αown␈αscenarios.␈α The␈αsyntax      ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.** Link request from Smith @SU-CHEM7
␈↓ ↓N␈↓contained␈αin␈αthe␈αscenario␈αis␈αnot␈αa␈αproposal;␈αwe     ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.**
␈↓ ↓N␈↓will␈αhave␈αto␈αthink␈αmuch␈αmore␈αbefore␈αwe␈αhave         ␈↓ π∞␈↓He␈α⊗could␈α⊗then␈α⊗type␈α⊗"␈↓βlink␈↓"␈α⊗and␈α↔have␈α⊗his
␈↓ ↓N␈↓such a proposal.                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓keyboard␈α_and␈α_display␈α_e≥ectively␈α_linked␈α↔to
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓those of the caller, permitting a conversation.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓α␈↓ β02.  Scenario
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓Let␈α⊂us␈α⊂suppose,␈α⊂however,␈α⊂that␈α⊂DAVE␈α⊂is␈α⊂not
␈↓ ↓N␈↓A user named Smith types on his terminal    ␈↓ π∞␈↓logged␈α⊂in␈α∂and␈α⊂the␈α∂caller␈α⊂is␈α∂so␈α⊂informed.␈α∂ He
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓nmail Organik                                ␈↓ π∞␈↓then types
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓nDo you have any active work there on        ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.locate dave@utex-chem3
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓nhuman red cell carbonic anhydrase B?        ␈↓ π∞␈↓which␈α
obtains␈αthe␈α
following␈α
information␈αfrom
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓the speci≡ed computer:
␈↓ ↓N␈↓The␈α_system␈α_looks␈α_up␈α_Organik␈α_in␈α↔Smith's            ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.David Piranha last logged out at
␈↓ ↓N␈↓correspondent␈α≠≡le␈α≤and␈α≠discovers␈α≤that␈α≠his         ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.23:47 on 9 May 1976.  Plan: I will
␈↓ ↓N␈↓computer␈αpseudonym␈αis␈α"NAT"␈αat␈α
a␈αcomputer         ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.be out of touch May 10 through 16.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓called␈α∞UTEX-CHEM1␈α∞that␈α∞is␈α∞reached␈α∞at␈α
512          ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.I plan to visit Martin Shumway at
␈↓ ↓N␈↓471-3221␈α∀via␈α∀a␈α∀1200/150␈α∀baud␈α∀asychronous         ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.the University of Utah on May 17 and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓modem.␈α∀ It␈α∀selects␈α∀an␈α∀outgoing␈α∀line␈α∀with␈α∪a         ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.should return by May 18.  Will check
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓β␈↓ π.mail from Utah.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓αDialnet␈↓ `3


␈↓ ↓N␈↓Noting␈α
that␈α
the␈α
current␈α
date␈α
is␈α
May␈α
14,␈αso␈α
that      ␈↓ π∞␈↓recommended␈α⊂set␈α∂of␈α⊂terminal-level␈α∂commands
␈↓ ↓N␈↓there␈α
is␈α
no␈α
point␈α
in␈α
getting␈α
the␈α
message␈α
there      ␈↓ π∞␈↓with␈α∃syntax␈α⊗prompting␈α∃and␈α⊗standard␈α∃error
␈↓ ↓N␈↓quickly, Smith types                        ␈↓ π∞␈↓messages.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓nnight mail dave@utex-chem3
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓nI am interested in your work on             ␈↓ π∞␈↓We␈α∩believe␈α∩that␈α∩we␈α∩have␈α∩the␈α∩experience␈α∩to
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓nanhydrase B.  If possible, give             ␈↓ π∞␈↓produce␈α
a␈α∞set␈α
of␈α∞workable␈α
protocols,␈α∞and␈α
that
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓npointers to online documentation,           ␈↓ π∞␈↓it␈α∩is␈α∪better␈α∩to␈α∪start␈α∩with␈α∪an␈α∩implementation
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓nelse give me a call at 415 497-4430         ␈↓ π∞␈↓than␈α∃to␈α⊗standardize␈α∃something␈α⊗that␈α∃doesn't
␈↓ ↓N␈↓β␈↓ ↓n(Stanford) or 415 321-7580 (home).          ␈↓ π∞␈↓exist.␈α The␈α
latter␈αprocedure␈α
in␈αrecent␈αyears␈α
has
␈↓ ↓N␈↓The␈α"night␈α
mail"␈αcommand␈α
causes␈αthe␈α
message       ␈↓ π∞␈↓led␈α∀to␈α∀gold-plating␈α∀the␈α∀requirements␈α∃to␈α∀the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓transmission␈α∂to␈α∞be␈α∂deferred␈α∂until␈α∞inexpensive    ␈↓ π∞␈↓extent that the standard is not implementable.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓nighttime telephone rates are in force.
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓We␈αplan␈αto␈αdevise␈αsuitable␈αprotocols,␈αtest␈αthem
␈↓ ↓N␈↓Additional␈α⊂capabilities␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊃␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈α⊂system    ␈↓ π∞␈↓at␈α⊂a␈α⊂few␈α⊂sites,␈α⊂publish␈α⊂them,␈α⊂and␈α⊃attempt␈α⊂to
␈↓ ↓N␈↓can␈α
be␈α
used␈α
to␈α
follow␈α
up␈α
on␈α
the␈α
above␈α
inquiry,       ␈↓ π∞␈↓convince␈α≡other␈α≥installations␈α≡to␈α≥implement
␈↓ ↓N␈↓as follows.                                 ␈↓ π∞␈↓them.␈α
 Almost␈α
certainly,␈α
initial␈α
experience␈αwill
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓produce␈α≤a␈α≤requirement␈α≤for␈α≤changes,␈α≤and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓π⊗␈↓ The ability to access remote text ≡les will be␈↓ π∞␈↓standardization␈α
committees␈αwill␈α
be␈αformed␈α
and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nprovided (with permission of the owners     ␈↓ π∞␈↓set␈α#to␈α#work.␈α$ A␈α#likely␈α#forum␈α$for␈α#a
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nrequired, of course).  This interactive     ␈↓ π∞␈↓standardization␈α∩e≥ort␈α∩would␈α∩be␈α∩through␈α⊃the
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nreading facility will include the addition of␈↓ π∞␈↓ACM␈α∀to␈α∀the␈α∀American␈α∃National␈α∀Standards
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓n"footnotes" to various parts of the text.   ␈↓ π∞␈↓Committee.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nThese footnotes may be declared private
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓n(i.e. belonging to the reader) or public    ␈↓ π∞␈↓We␈α$propose␈α$to␈α$allow␈α$interaction␈α#with
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓n(available to the author and possibly       ␈↓ π∞␈↓ARPAnet␈α→sites␈α_via␈α→TIPs␈α_and␈α→propose␈α_to
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nothers).                                    ␈↓ π∞␈↓discuss␈α⊃with␈α∩ARPA␈α⊃and␈α⊃DCA␈α∩whether␈α⊃this
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓will be allowed.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓π⊗␈↓ It will be possible to run programs on a
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nremote computer, permitting experiments     ␈↓ π∞␈↓The␈α⊃most␈α⊃general␈α⊃use␈α⊃of␈α⊃␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈α⊃involves␈α⊂a
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nwith programs developed in other places.    ␈↓ π∞␈↓program␈α∩in␈α∪one␈α∩computer␈α∩"waking␈α∪up"␈α∩and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nThis facility will permit the sharing of    ␈↓ π∞␈↓interacting␈α!with␈α!a␈α!program␈α!in␈α another
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nunique specialized capabilities over a      ␈↓ π∞␈↓machine.␈α
 ␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓␈α
protocols␈α
will␈α
handle␈α
human
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓ngeographically distributed population.      ␈↓ π∞␈↓messages␈α∃as␈α∃a␈α∃subcase␈α∃of␈α∃this,␈α⊗taking␈α∃into
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓account␈αthe␈αfact␈αthat␈αthe␈αsubcase␈αwill␈αhave␈αthe
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓π⊗␈↓ File transfers will be permitted, with    ␈↓ π∞␈↓most␈α∃application␈α∃for␈α⊗a␈α∃long␈α∃time␈α⊗to␈α∃come.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nsuitable error detection and correction     ␈↓ π∞␈↓Messages␈α∩about␈α∪where␈α∩to␈α∩deliver␈α∪a␈α∩message
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nfeatures, to permit sharing of data.  The   ␈↓ π∞␈↓sent␈α
by␈α
one␈α
time-sharing␈α
system␈α
to␈α
another␈α
will
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓ncommunication protocol should be able to    ␈↓ π∞␈↓be␈α∂handled␈α∂as␈α∂a␈α∂special␈α∂sort␈α∂of␈α⊂message␈α∂that
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓nadapt to a wide range of noise conditions   ␈↓ π∞␈↓one␈αprogram␈αmay␈αsend␈αanother␈αin␈αcases␈αwhere
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓non phone lines.                             ␈↓ π∞␈↓the␈αtwo␈αprograms␈αare␈αnot␈αwritten␈αtogether,␈αbut
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓each␈α⊂must␈α⊂know␈α⊂a␈α⊂certain␈α⊂"public"␈α∂language.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓α␈↓ β,3.  Protocols                               ␈↓ π∞␈↓Thus␈α↔we␈α↔will␈α_attempt␈α↔to␈α↔make␈α_a␈α↔general
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓format␈α⊂for␈α∂requests,␈α⊂questions,␈α⊂and␈α∂assertions
␈↓ ↓N␈↓In␈α∃order␈α∃to␈α∃make␈α∃these␈α∃facilities␈α∃available,      ␈↓ π∞␈↓suitable␈α∞for␈α
communication␈α∞between␈α
computer
␈↓ ↓N␈↓suitable␈α
protocols␈α
must␈α
be␈α
designed,␈α
and␈αin␈α
the    ␈↓ π∞␈↓programs.␈α⊃ We␈α⊃will␈α⊃study␈α⊃how␈α⊃to␈α∩make␈α⊃this
␈↓ ↓N␈↓course␈αof␈αthis,␈αa␈αnumber␈αof␈αtechnical␈αproblems     ␈↓ π∞␈↓mesh␈α⊃with␈α⊃communication␈α⊃between␈α⊃computer
␈↓ ↓N␈↓must␈α"be␈α"solved.␈α" Besides␈α"the␈α"protocols           ␈↓ π∞␈↓programs and people.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓themselves,␈α3which␈α3are␈α2communication
␈↓ ↓N␈↓procedures␈αand␈αdata␈αstructures,␈αthere␈αwill␈αbe␈αa
␈↓ ↓N␈↓αDialnet␈↓ ]4


␈↓ ↓N␈↓α␈↓ β4.  Research Issues                         ␈↓ π∞␈↓α␈↓ λI5.  Research Plan

␈↓ ↓N␈↓There␈α
are␈αmany␈α
research␈αissues,␈α
and␈α
we␈αdon't       ␈↓ π∞␈↓We␈αplan␈αto␈αundertake␈αthis␈αproject␈αwith␈αrather
␈↓ ↓N␈↓expect␈α⊃to␈α⊂settle␈α⊃all␈α⊂of␈α⊃them␈α⊂in␈α⊃the␈α⊃time␈α⊂and         ␈↓ π∞␈↓modest␈α∩sta≠ng.␈α∩ Initial␈α∩emphasis␈α∩will␈α∩be␈α⊃on
␈↓ ↓N␈↓with␈α∞the␈α∞resources␈α∞requested␈α∞in␈α∞this␈α∞proposal.    ␈↓ π∞␈↓designing␈α∨and␈α implementing␈α∨experimental
␈↓ ↓N␈↓Since␈α∩we␈α⊃expect␈α∩many␈α∩of␈α⊃the␈α∩issues␈α∩will␈α⊃be          ␈↓ π∞␈↓protocols␈α∂using␈α∂existing␈α∂computer␈α⊂facilities␈α∂at
␈↓ ↓N␈↓clari≡ed␈α
by␈αthe␈α
initial␈αimplementation,␈α
we␈αwill   ␈↓ π∞␈↓Stanford.␈α We␈αwill␈αalso␈αrely␈αheavily␈αon␈αthe␈αco-
␈↓ ↓N␈↓concentrate␈α≥on␈α≡getting␈α≥a␈α≡reasonable␈α≥≡rst         ␈↓ π∞␈↓operation␈α∃of␈α⊗other␈α∃organizations␈α⊗that␈α∃have
␈↓ ↓N␈↓implementation into experimental use.       ␈↓ π∞␈↓expressed␈α→interest␈α→in␈α→the␈α→project␈α~both␈α→in
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓determining␈α8the␈α8protocols␈α8and␈α8in
␈↓ ↓N␈↓Here are some of the issues we will study:  ␈↓ π∞␈↓implementing␈α≥them␈α≥for␈α≡speci≡c␈α≥machines.
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓Two␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞initial␈α∞implementations␈α∞will␈α∞be␈α
at
␈↓ ↓N␈↓1.  What error correction facilities are    ␈↓ π∞␈↓the␈α!computer␈α!facilities␈α!of␈α!the␈α Stanford
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}required to make up for the de≡ciencies of  ␈↓ π∞␈↓Arti≡cial␈α⊃Intelligence␈α⊃Laboratory␈α⊃(SAIL)␈α⊂and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}telephone lines?                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓the␈α Low␈α Overhead␈α Timesharing␈α∨System
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓(LOTS),␈α∀also␈α∀at␈α∀Stanford.␈α∀ The␈α∀latter␈α∃is␈α∀a
␈↓ ↓N␈↓2.  What is the minimal necessary burden on ␈↓ π∞␈↓Decsystem␈α∩20␈α∪using␈α∩the␈α∪TOPS-20␈α∩operating
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}the time-sharing computers carrying out     ␈↓ π∞␈↓system,␈α∀so␈α∀the␈α∪protocols␈α∀might␈α∀be␈α∪available
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}the communication?  What is the trade-o≥    ␈↓ π∞␈↓early␈αto␈αusers␈αof␈αsuch␈αsystems.␈α We␈αhope␈αthere
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}between bu≥er size and compute time?        ␈↓ π∞␈↓will␈α%be␈α%interest␈α%in␈α%early␈α$experimental
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓implementation on other computers.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓3.  Can dial-up telephone communication rates
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}meet most of the needs for communication    ␈↓ π∞␈↓In␈α∂the␈α∂following␈α∂six␈α∂months,␈α∂we␈α∂plan␈α⊂to␈α∂test,
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}between computers belonging to di≥erent     ␈↓ π∞␈↓evaluate,␈α∪and␈α∩modify␈α∪the␈α∪protocols.␈α∩ During
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}research organizations?                     ␈↓ π∞␈↓the␈α⊗latter␈α∃part␈α⊗of␈α∃this␈α⊗period,␈α∃we␈α⊗plan␈α∃to
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓publish␈α-the␈α-protocols␈α-and␈α,encourage
␈↓ ↓N␈↓4.  What is the best way to handle the fact ␈↓ π∞␈↓additional␈α$groups␈α$to␈α$join␈α$the␈α#␈↓↓Dialnet␈↓
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}that di≥erent modem speeds have di≥erent    ␈↓ π∞␈↓community.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}prices?  Should one strive for a standard
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}speed or can a wide variety be easily       ␈↓ π∞␈↓␈↓↓Note:␈αThis␈αdocument␈αis␈αadapted␈αfrom␈αour␈αNSF
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}accomodated?  Is the time ripe for a micro- ␈↓ π∞␈↓↓proposal␈αand␈αretains␈αsome␈αof␈αthat␈αeleemosynary
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}processor based modem that can              ␈↓ π∞␈↓↓∨avor.␈↓
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}communicate at any speed up to a
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}maximum and adjust its speed to the         ␈↓ π∞␈↓For␈αfurther␈αinformation␈αcontact␈αLester␈α
Earnest
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}requirements of the line or the possibly    ␈↓ π∞␈↓or␈α≠John␈α≠McCarthy␈α≠at␈α≠Stanford␈α≠Arti≡cial
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}less advanced modem with which it           ␈↓ π∞␈↓Intelligence␈α∀Laboratory,␈α∀Stanford␈α∪University,
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}communicates?                               ␈↓ π∞␈↓Stanford,␈α-Califoria␈α-94305;␈α-ARPANET
                                            ␈↓ π∞␈↓addresses:␈α=EARNEST␈α=@SU-AI␈α<and
␈↓ ↓N␈↓5.  How will the improved communication     ␈↓ π∞␈↓MCCARTHY @SU-AI.
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}a≥ect research?  Since changes will be slow,
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}how can we tell as early as possible what   ␈↓ π∞␈↓This␈α⊂document␈α∂is␈α⊂DIALNE[W77,JMC]␈α∂@SU-
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}the e≥ects will be?                         ␈↓ π∞␈↓AI.

␈↓ ↓N␈↓6.  What style of interaction is convenient for
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}both experienced and inexperienced users?
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}How can communication programs be
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}made self-teaching without being
␈↓ ↓N␈↓␈↓ ↓}cumbersome?