Digital Commons Network^™

A Practical, Distributed Environment For Macintosh Software Development, Mark Sherman, Ann Marks, Rob Collins, Heather Anderson, Jerry Godes, Denis Devlin, Leonid Spector, Vivian Sewelson

Computer Science Technical Reports

We describe a development environment we created for prototyping software for the Macintosh. The programs are developed and executed on a large time-shared computer but can use the full facilities of the Macintosh. By using this system, we combine the advantages of the large system, such as large amounts of disk storage and automatic file backups, with the advantages of the Macintosh, such as advanced graphics, mouse control and sound synthesis. We also describe several projects that used the distributed development system. We conclude with a description of our future plans for this environment.

Havoc V.85 Software, David Cohn, Stephen Madancy

Computer Science Technical Reports

This disk contains alpha release 85 of the HAVOC system, with examples. It is written in C and 68000 assembler.

A Network Package For The Macintosh Using The Dod Internet Protocols, Mark Sherman

Computer Science Technical Reports

This memo describes the design, implementation and use of the MacIP libraries and programs for running DoD Internet Protocols on the Macintosh over Apple Talk. It is preliminary documentation and out of date, but it is all that exists.

Binary Trees (V. 2.1 -- September 25, 1985), John Glenn

Computer Science Technical Reports

Binary Tree is a program that uses animation to illustrate insertion, deletion and searching of nodes in a binary search tree. Pre-order, in-order, and post-order tree walks are supported. Binary Tree can also perform a recursive descent parse of arithmetic expressions and show the resulting abstract syntax tree. Lisa Pascal source and application available on a single-sided, MFS format microdisk.

The Pairwise Intersection Problem For Monotone Polygons, David B. Levine

Computer Science Technical Reports

Geometric intersection problems arise in a number of areas of computer science including graphics and VLSI design rule checking. Previous work has concentrated on solving the pairwise intersection problem for line segments and iso-oriented rectangles. This thesis extends that work by presenting efficient algorithms to solve the pairwise intersection problem for monotone polygons. For general segments, the problem has been solved in O(N+I)*logN) time using a sweeping line technique, where N is the number of segments and I is the number of intersections reported. We combine this technique with approaches taken to solve the iso-oriented rectangle problem to yield an …

Finding Largest Empty Circles With Location Constraints, L Paul Chew, Robert L. Scot Drysdale

Computer Science Technical Reports

Let S be a set of n points in the plane and let CH(S) represent the convex hull of S. The Largest Empty Circle (LEC) problem is the problem of finding the largest circle centered with CH(S) such that no point of S lies within the circle. Shamos and Hoey (SH75) outlined an algorithm for solving this problem in time O(n log n) by first computing the Voronoi diagram, V(S), in time O(n log n), then using V(S) and CH(S) to compute the largest empty circle in time O(n). In a recent paper [Tou83], Toussaint pointed out some problems with …

Producing Software Using Tools In A Workstation Environment, Mark Sherman, Robert L. Scot Drysdale

Computer Science Technical Reports

We discuss how we taught students to build and use translation, interpretive, editing and monitoring tools in an undergraduate software engineering course. Students used the tools on low-cost workstations (Macintoshes) to build large, group projects. The students' projects used all available features of workstation environments, including graphics, windows, fonts, mice, networks, and sound generators. We found that 1) the use of tools increased student productivity, 2) a shift in a data structure and algorithm topics is needed to cover material relevant for workstation environments, 3) new topics in system design are required for a workstation environment, 4) traditional material can …

A Semantic Basis For Parallel Algorithm Design, Roger E. Eggen

Doctoral Dissertations

"As computing demands increase, emphasis is being placed on parallel architectures- To efficiently use parallel machines, software must be designed to take advantage of these machines. This research concentrates on an abstraction of algorithm design to permit the expression of parallel programs. The abstraction emphasizes thought about algorithms at a high level as opposed to algorithm implementation at a statement level. A model based on data flow allows algorithm expression using flow diagrams. The model specifies operating system requirements that support parallel programming at a module level. Paths are used to carry data between modules. Data enter modules through ports. …

Genesis Of An Expert System For Umr Degree Auditing, Ruth Sue Dare

Masters Theses

"This paper describes the features, design, and development of an expert system for degree auditing at the University of Missouri--Rolla. It summarizes artificial intelligence as it is known today while specifically addressing expert systems. It describes selected expert systems currently in existence.

The present audit procedure utilized at the University of Missouri--Rolla is discussed. A description is given of the design and development of an expert system, written in LISP, to conduct a degree audit. Finally there are concluding remarks which include an analysis of the system and a discussion of possible system enhancement"--Abstract, page ii.

Mica: Prototyping An Expert System Consultant, Joseph Howard Marchal

Masters Theses

"The United States, as the world's largest producer and consumer of scrap and flake mica, has an obvious economic interest in applications of artificial intelligence technology that would expedite beneficiation of mica. In the fall of 1985, personnel of the Tuscaloosa and Rolla research centers of the Bureau of Mines and of the University of Missouri--Rolla, Institute for Artificial Intelligence started the following long term research project: Develop an Expert System Consultant for the three basic stages of mica beneficiation: Stage 1: characterization of the material; Stage 2: treatment to obtain a concentrate; and Stage 3: evaluation of the resulting …

Uses Of Generics In Ada, Mark Sherman

Computer Science Technical Reports

This paper discusses how Ada generic procedures and packages can be used in novel ways to provide general initialization of records, expressions using discriminants, record field hiding and explicit control of parameter binding.

Algorithms For Iterative Array Multiplication, Shinji Nakamura

Computer Science Technical Reports

Algorithms for the parallel multiplication of two n bit binary numbers by an iterative array of logic cells are discussed. The regular interconnection structures of the multiplier array cell elements, which are ideal for VLSI implementation, are described. The speed and hardware complexity of two new iterative array algorithms, both of which require n cell delays for one n by n bit multiplication, are compared with a straight-forward iterative array algorithm having a 2n cell delay and its higher radix version having an n cell delay.

A Data Structure For The Use Of Patterns In The Perceptual Ordering Of The Game Of Chess, Russ L. Hanna

Masters Theses

"It is well known that the way one perceives a problem can influence the difficulty of solving the problem in a profound way. In the case of computer chess playing programs, one finds that most programs perceive the game in much the same way. They are all based on Shannon's original proposal for chess playing programs. His approach was to generate all of the possible combinations of moves up to a certain number of plays and then a subset of all combinations to a deeper level thereafter. Each of these moves would then be evaluated as to its relative worth. …

Multiprocessor Scheduling With Practical Constraints, Kenneth Burton Donovan

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The problem of scheduling tasks onto multiprocessor systems has increasing practical importance as more applications are being addressed with multiprocessor systems. Actual applications and multiprocessor systems have many characteristics which become constraints to the general scheduling problem of minimizing the schedule length. These practical constraints include precedence relations and communication delays between tasks, yet few researchers have considered both these constraints when developing schedulers.

This work examines a more general multiprocessor scheduling problem, which includes these practical scheduling constraints, and develops a new scheduling heuristic using a list scheduler with dynamically computed priorities. The dynamic priority heuristic is compared against …

Epsilon Precedence Grammars And Languages, Masoud T. Milani

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The classes of simple and weak precedence grammars are generalized to include ε-rules (productions with the empty right parts). The descriptive power of epsilon simple precedence (ESP) grammars increases directly with the number of ε-rules permitted; the class of ESP grammars with no ε-rules, ESP₀, is identical to the class of simple precedence grammars; ESP grammars with at most one ε-rule, ESP₁, define a class of languages which properly includes the class of ESP₀ languages, but is itself properly included in the class of deterministic, context-free languages. In general, ESP grammars having at most i …

The Assessment Of Software Usability [Abstract], David W. Biers, Samuel M. Bower, Frank J. Dapolito, Donald J. Polzella

Psychology Faculty Publications

The University of Dayton has been exploring the feasibility of establishing a software usability testing laboratory. Usability refers to the ease-of-use of a system, and usability testing is performed to ensure that systems meet the criteria established to determine ease of use. Usability assessment involves both the measurement of user performance and user satisfaction.

Intra Region Routing, Robert Alan Eustace

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The custom integrated circuit routing problem normally requires partitioning into rectangular routing regions. Natural partitions usually result in regions that form both "channels" and "areas". This dissertation introduces several new channel and area routing algorithms and measures their performance.

A formal description of the channel routing problem is presented and a relationship is established between the selection of intervals for each track and the number of tracks in the completed channel. This relationship is used as an analysis tool that leads to the development of two new and highly effective channel routing algorithms: the Revised and LCP algorithms. The performance …

Senior Honors Project, Kelly Dyksterhouse

Honors Theses

The Statistical Analysis Project is a computer program that interacts with a person to discover the type of statistical test that person should use. Essentially, this program is intended to assist students, faculty and researchers in choosing the correct statistical procedure to use in a particular situation. For example, there are many different types of tests a person can use to test the mean of data but each test is used in a different situation. This program will tell you which test to use based on the situation you give it. This project was started by Anika Forsblad in 1985.

The Application Of A Sequence Notation To The Design Of Systolic Computations, Rami Melhem, Conceltina Guerra

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Parallel Accessible Memory, Shinji Nakamura

Computer Science Technical Reports

A new design of a memory device which allows simultaneous access to more than one location is proposed. The unique feature of this multiple accessibility of the memory is realized by applying a binomial concentrator, a type of sparse crossbar interconnection network, to content-addressable memory. The organization of the memory system and the concentration network structure as well as the network characteristics are described along with a distributive control algorithm. Applications of the memory system to parallel processing environments are also included.

Music Editor, Ed Grosz

Computer Science Technical Reports

This disk contains a simple music editor that creates resources that can be used directly by the Macintosh Sound Driver. The MFS formatted disk contains both the runnable program and the Lisa Object Pascal/MacApp Sources.

Task Queues: A General Model For The Implementation Of Communications Protocols, Ann Kratzer

Computer Science Technical Reports

When any computer communications network is built, its communications protocol must always be implemented. The protocol is implementetd on the switching nodes of the network. The node software must respond in real time to events generated external to the switching node. Thus, the software running on a switching node constitutes a concurrent program; this complicates the design, implementation and testing of the switching node software. The task queue model presented in this paper defines a structure for this software that facilitates the design, implementation and testing of communications protocols.

View 3: A Programming Environment For Distributed Programming, Ann Kratzer

Computer Science Technical Reports

View 3 is an experimental programming environment to support the development and use of distributed programs. It builds upon three major concepts. First, distributed programs and distributed processes are basic objects. Second, the port mechanism allows a process to exchange information with another process, a file or an I/O device without concern for the type of the object on the other end of the port. Third, test and use of distributed programs are facilitated by the user interface program screen format that allows the user to control both the format and contents of the physical terminal.

An Algorithm For Resource Allocation Requiring Low Overhead Communication, Ann Marks

Computer Science Technical Reports

A heuristic algorithm for allocating resource units to sites in a distributed system is presented. Starting with a given allocation of sites, the algorithm performs a series of optimizations involving pairs of sites in an attempt to improve the worst pair-wise imbalance present in the system; termination occurs when no further improvement is possible. After outlining the general form of the algorithm, which effectively defines an entire family of algorithms, we present theoretical results that speak to the performance of the algorithm as measured in the number of optimizations that can be done, the amount of control communication required and …

Tutorials For Software : A Comparison Of The Appleworks Software Tutorial With Pre-Entered Data And An Experimental Tutorial With User Entered Data, Toni L. Steil

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The attention directed toward computer software research has been sparse which is quite evident in particular facets such as learning methods, specifically towards tutorials. Some authors have identified various important issues which include cognitive factors, reduction of presentation of superfluous information, and the importance of interaction with software and hardware. The present . study examined two tutorials which were similar except in their level of required user behaviors. Tutorial A required only user manipulation of disk stored data. Tutorial B required the user to enter the data into the computer, design the screen format, and then to manipulate it. It …

Prolog., Ralph W. Wilkerson

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

A Description is Given of Prolog, a Contraction of Programming in Logic, Which Uses the Formalism of Mathematical Logic as its Primary Design Principle. the Structure of Prolog is Examined, and a Database Program is Described to Illustrate its application. an Application to an Artificial Intelligence Problem, the Towers of Hanoi, is Also Given.

Maze Game For The Macintosh, Mark Sherman

Computer Science Technical Reports

Maze is a multiperson game using a broadcast protocol on the Macintosh. This disk contains the sources (in TML Pascal) for a Maze game.

Instructions For Using Logic, John W. Scott

Computer Science Technical Reports

This document provides instructions on the use of "Logic", a digital logic simulator for the Macintosh written for Dartmouth students in the Machine Architecture and Digital Electronics courses.

Macip Sources And Applications, Mark Sherman, Tim Maroney

Computer Science Technical Reports

The MacIP set consists of three disks, all single-sided, MFS formatted. Two disks contain the Lisa Pascal/Lisa Assembler sources for the network libraries and application programs; the third disk contains the runnable applications along with an AppleTalk configured system. The current version by Tim Maroney fixes all reported bugs mentioned in the MacIP Technical Report and includes the TCP library and Telnet program.

Stack Package Implementing Tasks And Coroutines For Tml Pascal On The Macintosh, Mark Sherman

Computer Science Technical Reports

This disk contains the necessary TML Pascal and MDS Assembler files for implementing tasking and coroutines in TML Pascal Programs. Two example programs and brief documentation are provided. MDS format disk.