International Business Machines Corporation

Alan M Bentley

Randall Scott Nelson

Mark Edward Fisher

Timothy W Gee

James W Sylivant

Brian E Jongekryg

Thanh T Nguyen

Edward W Fitch

Gary P Goulet

John W Freeburger

Larry S Shannon, Jr

Ray A Luechtefeld

The invention relates to a wide area network implemented on a circuit-switched public data network. Terminals have access to a plurality of data channels and a control channel into the network using a balanced protocol. The invention provides a method for reducing connect time between the terminals over the data channels. To do this a conversation is established between a transaction program on the local terminal and a transaction program on the remote terminal. Responsive to generation of a frame for transmission by the transaction program on the local terminal to the transaction program on the remote terminal, a channel connection between the local terminal and a remote terminal including a data channel connecting each terminal into the wide area network is established if no channel connection already exists. Responsive to expiration of a predetermined period after last transmission or receipt of a frame and existence of the channel connection for a minimum connect period, the channel connection is disestablished without interrupting the conversation between the transaction programs. The predetermined period and the minimum connect period are optimized to minimize costs under a tariff structure for the circuit-switched public data network.

Switched circuit connection management over public data networks for

ISDN power source detection circuit

A data-processing subsystem diagnoses problems in one of its own subsystems, by sensing the configuration of the subsystem, displaying both text and graphic information concerning control settings and indicators on components of the subsystem, displaying information directing an operator to perform certain actions, receiving his inputs, then selecting and performing tests upon the subsystem components based upon the configuration, previous test results, and operator inputs.

On-line problem-determination procedure for diagnosis of faults in a

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Rochester, MN, United States of America

Alan M Bentley