Terminal Access System (TAS) System Design Specification.

The Terminal Access System TAS provides a uniform environment for computer naive intelligence analysts as they query data bases distributed on an ARPA-like network. TAS resides on a PDP-1170 processor and operates under the UNIX Operating System. TAS performs as a user host on the network. TAS is composed of a large set of application processes which directly satisfy user entered commands involving text file editing, system status reports, and display of query responses. In addition to the TAS application processes, there is a set of system processes which provide fundamental interfaces for networking, access authorization, and network logging. These processes are designed such that other subsystems destined for TAS occupancy can utilize their facilities. The ARPA Data Access and Presentation Terminal ADAPT system is one such system. Key TAS system processes are the Batch Query and Response Dispatcher BQRD which provides internal management for all batch queries, the Intelligence Network Interface INI process, which emulates the COINS I protocol for TAS, the Interactive Query Interface IQI process, which provides system interfaces for interactive network transactions, the Access Authorization Process AAP which provides complete control of userterminal access to the hosts and files residing on the COINS II network, and the TAS Logging Process TLP conglomerate which provides interfaces for network logging, both batch and interactive, and access authorization violations.