Two System Forms to Handle Protocol Statements

Assume that we have a Protocol Manager that manages protocol sequences between consoles and the Network. The consoles generate and accept EBCDIC character strings and the Network transmits binary digits. The console user has a language similar to system calls in which he can create and store protocol sequences via Protocol Manager, and at the same time he can indicate which commands are expected to be sent and which are to be received. Upon command the Protocol Manager can execute this sequence with the Network, generating commands and validating those received. Assume also that the Protocol Manager displays the dialog for the console user as it progresses.

In order to translate between console and Network for generating, comparing, and displaying commands, the Protocol Manager can use the Form Machine. Two system forms are needed, see Fig. 1. One is a console-to-Network set of rules containing EBCDIC to binary for all legal commands; the other is a mirror image for Network-to-console.