International Computing Symposium 1973

Proceedings of the International Computing Symposium 1973, Davos, Switzerland, 4-7 September 1973 held by The European Chapters of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) under the patronage of the Swiss Federal Councillor H.P.Tschudi edited hy A.Gunther,CERN, Geneva B.Levrat, C.I.C.E, Univasity of Geneva H.Lipps, CERN, Geneva PREFACE The International Computing Symposium 1973 was the third in a series organized by the European Chapters of ACM. Arranged by Europeans primarily for Europeans, the Symposium - despite its title - was intended to present a realistic picture of the current state of computing in this continent. At the same time, an effort was made to bring together people representing a broad spectrum of interests in computing, so as to encourage a large exchange of ideas. There was thus every reason for the Programme Committee to accept interesting contributions from any field and from no matter which country. These proceedings contain nearly all the papers, contributed or invited, presented at the Symposium, with the exception only of a few for which no text was provided. To allow fast publication, the papers have been reproduced by photo-offset from the typescripts submitted by the authors. When the Swiss Chapter of ACM asked the Federal Councillor H.P. Tschudi to patronize the International Computing Symposium 1973, he at once responded most positively. The Chapter and its two committees wish to take this opportunity to record their sincere thanks for the support given by Councillor Tschudi and by the Swiss Confederation. Many people worked in the preparation and running of the symposium; it is a pleasure to acknowledge their efforts, as well as the support of their institutions. Local arrangements were greatly helped by the Davos Congress Centre, where all went out of their way to meet our requirements. Acknowledgement is also due to the firms that provided financial support. Particular thanks go the publisher for the speedy publication of these Proceedings. The decision to hold the Symposium in a mountain resort at such a time of the year involved a calculated risk. In the event, it proved well worth taking and all the participants will long remember the beautiful surroundings, seen at their very best in the wonderful September weather. The Editors OPENING SESSION Chairman: H. Lipps A. Ralston: The future of higher level languages (in teaching), (invited paper) THEORY OF COMPUTATION Chairmen: H. Stetter (Plenary Session). E. Engeler (Parallel Session) P. Deussen: Description of processes, (invited paper) M. Snelling: General context-free parsing in time n^2 G. de Michelis: Recursive functions not dependent on the computational rules C. Bohm, M. Dezani-Ciancaglini: Listing the functional digraph structures I. Kupka, N. Wilsing: Functions describing interactive programming PROGRAMMING METHODS Chairmen: S. Crespi-Reghizzi (Plenary Session), N. Wirth (Parallel Session) N. Wirth: From programming techniques to programming methods, (invited paper) R.S. Scowen, A.R. Lawrence: Some experiments in improving program documentation H.-J. Hoffmann: Programming by selection P.A. de Marneffe, D. Ribbens: Holon programming COMPILERS Chairman: H.J. Hoffmann (Parallel Session) U. Ammann: The methog of structured programming applied to the development of a compiler P. Branquart, J.P. Cardinael, J. Lewi: Optimized translation process, application to ALGOL 68 J.L. Schonfelder: The NAG library and its special function chapter P. Chatelin, B. Willis: A method for defining and implementing PL/1 OPERATING SYSTEMS Chairmen: G.R. Macleod (Plenary Session), R.M. Needham (Parallel Session) R.M. Needham: Protection - A current research area in operating systems, (invited paper) E.J. Neuhold: The formal semantics of operating systems A. van Lamsweerde: Deadlock prevention in real time systems R.D. Russell, P. Sparrman, M. Krieger: ORION - The OMEGA remote interactive on-line system CONCURRENT PROCESSES AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION Chairman: J.D. Haupt (Parallel Session) F. Grandoni, P. Zerbetto: Description and asynchronous implementation of control structures for concurrent systems G. Belpaire, J.P. Wilmotte: A semantic approach to the theory of parallel processes H.A. Schmid: An approach to the communication and synchronization of processes P.A. Johnson: Approximate "open" priority queue model for determining total delay including overhead in a real-time virtual memory system SIMULATION AND SYSTEM MEASUREMENTS Chairman: E. Gelenbe (Parallel Session) K.G. Muller: An interactive facility for process-oriented simulations S.E. Sutcliffe: Selecting the components of multi-purpose computer systems L. Boi, J.P. Drucbert: OSSYOSCOPE: System on auxiliary processors for measuring operating systems COMPUTER DESIGN Chairman: F.H. Sumner (Plenary and Parallel Sessions) D.B.G. Edwards: Hardware innovation and computer design (invited paper) B.D. Shriver: System design for scientific computation J.C. Huang: Multiunit register-transfer networks and pipeline concurrency F. Barsi, P. Maestrini: Fault-tolerant computing by using residue number systems H. Spreen: High performance input/output channels MICROPROGRAMMING Chairman: D.G.B. Edwards (Parallel Session) R.F. Rosin: The significance of microprogramming P.-E. Danielsson: Microprogramming. A hardware point of view N. Haff: Logical organization of a problem-oriented microprogram-controlled processor R. Thurner, K. Bauknecht: Procedural decision tables and their implementation NETWORKS Chairman: M. Engeli (Parallel Session) M. Somia: Synchronization problems in a computer network C. Ghezzi, G. Le Moli, L. Mezzalira: Introduction to POLI network design, M. Molloy: "DATAPORT" - A control system for computer networks designed by the Inland Revenue (Finanzverwaltung) in Nordrhein-Westfalen, ON-LINE APPLICATIONS Chairman: F.L. Nicolet (Parallel Session) B. Krieg, R. Gnatz, R. Hoellerer: S_O, A low level systems implementation language A. Barthélemy, W. Kaiser, M. Le Sourne, M. Taeschner, P. Darier, A. Vinit, J.J. Girod: CARINE - A multi-user real-time system for control and data acquisition of neutron beam experiments R. Bender. H. Reiter: Process control system for test stand data acquisition and control in an automotive company NUMERICAL MATHEMATICS Chairman: H.J. Stetter (Plenary and Parallel Sessions) G. Dahlquist: Problems related to the numerical treatment of stiff differential equitions (invited paper) M. Tienari: On the control of floating-point mantissa length in iterative computations J. Patry, S. Gupta: Computing analytical functions by means of power series or continued fractions D. Trigiante, S. Ciucani: The method of moments. A class of methods for the solution of nonlinear equations and systems of equations APPLIED MATHEMATICS Chairman: G. Dahlquist (Parallel Session) M. Fremond: La méthode frontale pour la résolution des systèms linéaires R. Wait: Finite-element-type solution of integral equations J. Henry: An application of optimal control theory to a problem of hydrodynamics PATTERN RECOGNITION METHODS Chairman: P. Zanella (Plenary and Parallel Sessions) H. Kazmierczak: Problems in automatic pattern recognition (invited paper) G.T. Herman: Reconstruction of binary pattern from a few projections C.T. Zahn: Using the minimum spanning tree to recognize dotted and dashed curves G. Sandor, E. Diday, Y. Lechevallier: Résultats récents concernant la méthode des nuées dynamiques et application à la recherche de profils biologiques PATTERN RECOGNITION APPLICATIONS Chairman: H. Kazmierczak (Parallel Session) P.W. Neurath, J.F. Brenner, W.D. Selles, E.S. Gelsema, B.W. Poweil, G. Gallus, E. Vastola: Computer identification of white blood cells H.M. Aus, K. Kaschel, V. ter Meulen, P.H. Bartels: Approaches to computer analysis of polio infection in HeLa cells H. Grote, M. Hansroul, J.C. Lassalle, P. Zanella: Identification of digitized particle trajectories COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN Chairmen: F.H. Sumner (Plenary Session) I. de Lotto (Parallel Session) I. de Lotto, G. Pierini, P. Tiberio: Sparse matrix techniques in computer-aided design (invited paper) J.W. Demic: Perspecitve geometry and computer graphics: Techniques and applications in computer-aided design K.C. Daly, G.C. Goodwin: Interactive computer aided design of control systems H. Klamet: Computer-aided design of the layout of integrated circuits (CADLIC) COMPUTER GRAPHICS Chairman: J. Nievergelt (Parallel Session) M.E. Engeli: A. language for 3D graphics applications K. Reumann, A.P.M. Witkam: Optimizing curve segmentation in computer graphics G. Vuilleumier, M. Sarret: Finger input to a small graphic system COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION, COMPUTER EDUCATION Chairman: H.P. Frei (Parallel Session) J.H. Laubsch, A. Chiang: Application of mathematical models of learning in the decision structure of adaptive computer-aided instructional systems T.J. Gilkey, E.B. Koffman: Generative CAI in high school algebra J. Nievergelt, E.M. Reingold, T.R. Wilcox: The automation of introductory computer science courses INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS Chairmen: B. Levrat (Plenary Session) E.J. Neuhold (Parallel Session) C. Toulet: Real time systems in administrative data processing (invited paper) J.P. McCarthy: Automatic file compression G.L. Wolfendale: A system for the definition of the syntax and semantics of data description languages T.W. Olle: Self-contained facilities to process sub-structures of more complex network structures DATA BASES Chairman: J.J. Duby (Parallel Session) K.-D. Krägeloh, P.C. Lockemann: Retrieval in a set-theoretically structured data base: Concepts and practical considerations J.J. Florentin: Specifying data base systems W.T. Hardgrave: The prospects for large capacity set support systems imbedded within generalized data management systems A. Artaud, J.M. Nicolas: An experimental query system: SYNTEX MEDICAL APPLICATIONS Chairman: L. Dadda (Parallel Session) J. Meyer, K.-W. Heinrich, W. Merx, S. Effert: Reliability of the ECG-interpretation by seven different computer-programs compared to that of three cardiologists K.F. Bowden, G.I.L. Grafton, I.R. MacCallum: A method of sequential selection for information capture in a real-time information system K. Sauter: Structure and functions of the patient data bank in the medical system Hannover NON-NUMERICAL APPLICATIONS Chairman: S. Crespi-Reghizzi (Parallel Session) A. Delfino, B. Levrat: Heuristic programming techniques applied to chemical mass spectrometry P.A. Fortier, J.C. McConnelli: Theme searches in French texts J.A. Richter: Synthesis in dynamic models CLOSING SESSION Chairman: B. Levrat M.V. Wilkes: Past, present, and future in the computer world (invited paper) LIST OF PARTICIPANTS