Abstract: We introduce a yellow-pages service that maps service names into server addresses. The service is novel in that it associates a set of attributes with each server. Clients specify the attributes the server should possess when requesting a service and the yellow-pages service determines what servers satisfy the request. In addition to describing the implementation of the yellow-pages service within a local-area network, we show how the service can be integrated with the available internet communication protocols to enable clients from throughout the internet to access local servers.

Abstract: A procedure which allows users of a computer system comprising a plurality of computers connected in a local area network to share both file resources and application programs on the local area network without modification to existing programs which were designed to run in a non-network environment is disclosed. The local area network comprises a server computer and at least one remote computer. Starting the network comprises an initial program load of the operating system for each of the computers, loading the local area network control program, and then loading a hypervisor or "node enabler" program. At each of the remote computers, a request to load a program or access a data file is converted by the "node enabler" to a file sharing and record locking protocol message with is transmitted to the server computer. The server computer stores a program matrix with entries indicating which programs can be run on the network without conflicts with other systems including the server computer. The server computer also maintains a list of currently running programs and accessed data files. By comparing the remote computer request with the program matrix and the list of currently running programs and accessed data files, a decision to grant a remote computer's request is made. In addition, by recording a unique identification number for each remote computer signed on to the network at the server computer, control of access to licensed programs is maintained.

Abstract: :Multimedia INfOrmation Systems (minos) manage largely unformatted data such as text, image, voice, attributes, and programs. This paper presents the motivation, the hardware tools, the important issues, and the problems involved in the design and implementation of a multimedia object server testbed. The testbed will allow us to study the impact of various design decisions and algorithms on system performance, the most successful of which will be integrated in the final implementation of distributed minos. The distributed architecture proposed is based on the client server model, where an optical disk-based subsystem serves as the archival component and where the presentation manager of the client subsystem includes handling of the internal structure, external logical organization, and browsing through multimedia objects.

Abstract: This paper describes a central clinical result database that is being developed to support the laboratory, radiology, and surgical pathology services of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. This database will contain all the impatient and outpatient tests, and will be networked to permit viewing of patient results from any terminal, PC, or workstation. The design of the database, how it is networked, and how the system addresses the health care provider-to-computer interface are discussed in detail.