A Discussion of Tools and Techniques for Distributed Processor Based Control Systems Using CAMAC

This paper describes and analyzes various distributed processor architectures using commercially available CAMAC components. The general orientation is toward distributed control systems using Digital Equipment Corporation LSI-11 processors in a CAMAC environment. The paper describes in detail software tools available to simplify the development of applications software and to provide a high-level runtime environment both at the host and the remote processors. Discussion focuses on techniques for downloading of operating systems from a large host and applications tasks written in high-level languages. It also discusses software tools which enable tasks in the remote processors to exchange messages and data with tasks in the host in a simple and elegant way.