Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

To:       Distribution

From:     Barry Margolin

Date:     05/23/85

Subject:  Local Echo Negotiation

1 ABSTRACT

This document describes the design and implementation plans for a
local  echo negotiation  protocol  on  a personal  computer.  The
initial  goal is  to modify  PC7800, a  VIP7801 emulator  for the
IBM-PC and some  PC-clones, and the Multics Video  System to make
use of this protocol.

Discussion should take place in the System-M Forum meeting:

   >udd>Multics>meetings>Multics_Workstations

or comments should be sent to the author:

via Multics Mail:
   Margolin on MIT, CISL, System-M or Billerica

via US Mail:
   Barry Margolin
   Honeywell Information Systems, inc.
   4 Cambridge Center
   Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

via telephone:
   (HVN) 492-9340, or
   (617) 492-9340

_________________________________________________________________

Multics  project  internal  working  documentation.   Not  to  be
reproduced or distributed outside the Multics project without the
consent of the author or the author's management.

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

2 INTRODUCTION

Echo  negotiation is  a process  whereby some  process or  device
closer to the terminal than the user-level software is instructed
to  echo input  until the  user types  one of  a specified set of
characters or the user types a specified number of characters, at
which time  all the input  is sent to  the host.  The  purpose of
this is to allow programs like  Emacs and the Video System to run
in  breakall  mode  without  requiring  the  user  process  to be
scheduled  in order  to do  simple input  processing.  The  major
difference  between  this  and   the  simple  forms-mode  editing
provided  in many  terminals is  that the  characters that  cause
transmission  are specified  dynamically by  the computer, rather
than being pre-specified by  the terminal manufacturer.  In addi-
tion, the  addition of the ability  of the software to  specify a
limit on the  number of characters allows the  software to handle
limiting  cases such  as end-of-line  processing in  its own  way
(some terminals  automatically wrap, while others  discard output
past the end of the line).

Currently,  echo negotiation  is  implemented  on Multics  in the
ring-0  terminal software  (the TTY   DIM) and  in the  front-end
processor  (the   FNP),  the  latter  only   for  non-multiplexed
channels.  In the past, the  ring-0 echo negotiation was not used
much,  once the  FNP echo  negotiation was  implemented, as  most
terminals   were  connected   to  the   FNP  via   simple  RS-232
connections.  Nowadays,  however, an increasing number  of people
are  connecting to  Multics via  X.25 networks,  and ring-0  echo
negotiation must  be employed for these users.   This has several
problems:
  1) Many small (often one-character) packets must be transmitted
     over the networks, which creates a large overhead.
  2) The X.29 terminal-management protocol, which is used by X.25
     PADs,  does not  provide a  way to  specify that  characters
     should  be  transmitted  as  soon  as  they  are  typed.  It
     provides  a settable  timeout,  which  is what  is currently
     used; this has the effect that the user's typein is not sent
     to Multics, where it is  echoed, until the user stops typing
     quickly.
  3) Multics must process and echo many users' input at interrupt
     time, since the FNP does not implement echo negotiation over
     X.25  subchannels.    This  can  significantly   affect  the
     response of the system.

One solution  to these problems is to  implement echo negotiation
at the other  end of the network.  This is  already being done in
the Multics-DSA project; the DSA Terminal Management protocol has
been enhanced to support echo negotiation, and the local DNS will
implement  this  protocol.   However,  we  do  not  have the same
freedom to enhance  the X.29 protocol, and even if  we did, there
are already many existing X.29 PADs which would not implement it.

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

My  solution  is  to  implement  echo  negotiation  in a terminal
emulator  running in a  personal computer, using  in-band control
sequences to control the behavior.

In the  rest of this paper,  a personal computer running  such an
enhanced   terminal   emulator   will   be   referred   to  as  a
"workstation,"  and  the  remote  mainframe  will  be  termed the
"host".

3 THE PROTOCOL

This  is primarily a  synchronous protocol, with  the workstation
responding to explicit requests for input from the host; however,
it allows for asynchronous transmissions.  It is based in part on
the echo negotiation protocol between  the ring-0 TTY DIM and the
FNP and  the echo negotiation extensions to  DSA Terminal Manage-
ment,  but is  designed to  work well  over asynchronous terminal
lines  (even  if  the  connection  to  the  host  is a high-speed
network, the  terminal is likely  to be connected  to the network
via a 1200-baud dialup modem).  Some of the details of the actual
control sequences  are designed to squeeze bandwidth  out of this
connection.  Other  details of the protocol are  intended to make
the protocol compatible with ANSI and ISO control code standards.
However, the  first prototype may not use  these exact sequences,
in order to simplify its incorporation into the terminal emulator
that is being modified (the  VIP7801 does not use ANSI-compatible
control sequences, and the organization  of the emulator does not
make it easy to extend it in this manner).

The host  makes use of the  protocol as follows:  first,  it uses
the Set Synchronized  Mode command to begin use  of the protocol;
when it wishes the workstation to begin echoing input it uses the
Set Break  Table command to specify the  echoable characters, and
then  the  Read  Chars  (ECHO,  n)  to  read  up  to  n  echoable
characters; when  the host wishes to read  unechoed characters it
should use Read Chars (NO_ECHO, n, BLOCK).  If the host wishes to
send  output to the  terminal after it  has performed one  of the
above Read  Chars commands it  should precede it  with Read Chars
(NO_ECHO,  n,  NO_BLOCK),  in  order  to  clear the workstation's
buffer   and  resynchronize.    Finally,  to   return  to  normal
asynchronous terminal  operation, the host should  send the Reset
Synchronized Mode command.

The next  section will describe the protocol  commands in detail,
but abstractly.  The following sections will describe the control
sequences   that  are   proposed  for   both  standard-conforming
workstations and the initial prototype.

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

3.1 Protocol Commands:  Abstract

There are two  sets of commands defined by  this protocol:  those
sent  by the  host to  the  workstation,  and those  sent by  the
workstation to the host (the latter are actually responses to the
commands from the host).

The relationships between commands  defined for this protocol and
other  terminal  operations  is  not  defined  here.  In general,
commands to the workstation should not be affected by whether the
workstation  is implementing  this protocol.   However, there are
cases  where this  is not  possible;  for  it may  be invalid  to
combine Synchronized Mode with other terminal modes.  The results
of such attempts will be  specified in the section describing the
implementation of the prototype.

3.1.1 COMMANDS TO THE WORKSTATION

3.1.1.1 Set Synchronized Mode

Specifies that the workstation should  begin using the Local Echo
Negotiation  protocol   as  described  below.    The  workstation
responds  to this  command  with  the Entering  Synchronized Mode
command (see below).  The break table is set to the defaults (see
the  Set Break Table  command below for  the default value).   In
Synchronized  Mode the  workstation buffers  characters and sends
them to  the host in  response to a  Read Chars command  (see the
description of Read Chars for exceptions).

3.1.1.2 Reset Synchronized Mode

Specifies   that  the   workstation  should   return  to   normal
asynchronous operation.  If the workstation has multiple modes of
communication (e.g.  block mode  versus character mode) then this
should  restore the  modes that  were in  effect at  the time Set
Synchronized Mode was received.  After  this command is sent, the
only command described  in this protocol that may be  sent to the
workstation  is Set  Synchronized  Mode.   After this  command is
received by the  workstation it may not send any  of the commands
described below.  The host should  not send this command while it
is  waiting for  the response  to a  blocking Read  Chars.  If it
wishes to exit  Synchronized Mode at such a time  it should first
send a non-blocking Read Chars command, and wait for the response
to both  the original Read  Chars and the  non-blocking one; this
will insure  that the workstation will not  send echo negotiation
commands  to the host  when the host  is not prepared  to process
them.

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

3.1.1.3 Set Break Table

This command  is used to  specify the characters  which should be
echoed locally by the workstation  in response to an echoing Read
Chars command.  There is one parameter, the Break_Table.  Charac-
ters which are not echoed  are referred to as "break characters",
as  they cause the  workstation to stop  echoing and forward  the
echoed characters to the host.   By default, only the ASCII 7-bit
graphic characters  (decimal 32 through  95) are echoed,  and all
other  characters  are  break  characters.   The  format  of  the
Break_Table parameter is dependent on  the encoding of the proto-
col  (see below).   Since the  potential number  of characters is
large, it should be carefully  designed to minimize the number of
characters in  the encodings; for  instance, it should  allow the
specification  of  ranges  and  the  use  of  defaults  (see  the
ANSI-compatible encoding for a good example).

3.1.1.4 Read Chars

This command is used by the host in order to read characters from
the workstation.  There are  three parameters:  Echo_Mode, Limit,
and Block_Mode.   The Echo_Mode parameter  may be either  ECHO or
NO_ECHO;  the default is  ECHO.  Limit is  the maximum number  of
input  characters  that  should  be  forwarded  to  the host (not
including any  additional characters specified by  the protocol),
or 0 to use the default; the default is
     (Screen_Width - Cursor_Column)
if  Echo_Mode is  ECHO, and   unlimited if  Echo_Mode is  NO_ECHO
(there is no  way to specify unlimited if Echo_Mode  is ECHO, but
that probably  wouldn't be useful anyway).   Block_Mode is either
BLOCK  or NO_BLOCK, and  it is only  significant if Echo_Mode  is
NO_ECHO; the default is BLOCK.

If  Echo_Mode is  ECHO then  the workstation  should echo  to the
screen  up  to  Limit  input  characters.   These  characters may
already have been buffered, or the  terminal may have to wait for
the  user to type  more characters.  Echoing  must stop when  the
first  break character  is detected,  when Limit  characters have
been echoed, or when output is  received from the host (see below
for a discussion of the last  case); it may also stop earlier for
any reason  (e.g., the workstation's buffer  of echoed characters
is full,  the workstation has  been idle for  several seconds (so
that input is  not lost if the communications line  dies), as the
Limit is only  a maximum (the most benefit  to the communications
line will be  achieved when the maximum number  of characters are
buffered).   When echoing stops  for any reason,  the workstation
sends  the echoed  characters followed   by an  End Echoed  Chars
command; if echoing stopped due to a break characters being typed
then this character  is left in the input buffer  to be processed
by a future Read Chars command.

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

If Echo_Mode is NO_ECHO, then up to Limit buffered characters are
sent to  the host, followed  by an End  Non-Echoed Chars command.
If there  are no buffered characters  at the time the  Read Chars
command is  processed then the  action depends on  the Block_Mode
parameter.   If Block_Mode  is BLOCK  then the  workstation waits
until a character  is typed and then sends it  (and up to Limit-1
other characters  that may have been  typed at the same  time) to
the host followed by the End Non-Echoed Chars; this is the normal
use (hence  the default), as  it does not  use the communications
line when no characters are available.  If Block_Mode is NO_BLOCK
then the  workstation should immediately send  the End Non-Echoed
Chars command  to the host;  this is used  by the host  either to
test whether the user has  typed anything without waiting for him
to do so, and is also  used to terminate echoing or blocking Read
Chars early  (see below).  Note  that if the  workstation's input
buffer is  not empty when  the non-echoing Read  Chars command is
processed it  MUST NOT block; it  must send up to  Limit buffered
characters immediately.

If  the workstation  receives output  from the  host while  it is
blocked, either because it is processing an echoing Read Chars or
because it is processing a blocking, non-echoing Read Chars, then
it should immediately unblock,  forward any echoed characters and
either End  Echoed Chars or End Non-Echoed  Chars as appropriate,
and then process the new output normally.  Often this output will
be a non-echoing, non-blocking Read Chars,  as this is a safe way
to resynchronize:  the host merely  waits for the appropriate End
Echoed Chars or  End Non-Echoed Chars and then  an End Non-Echoed
Chars,  and there is  no problem if  the workstation had  already
unblocked  while  the  asynchronous  Read  Chars  command  was in
transit.

One  other special  case must  be handled.   If the  user signals
BREAK (as in hitting the BREAK  key on most ASCII terminals) then
the workstation must forward any  buffered characters to the host
before  signalling BREAK  on the   line.  If  the workstation  is
blocked processing a Read Chars  command then the appropriate End
Echoed Chars or End Non-Echoed Chars should follow the characters
but  precede the  BREAK signal.    If not,  then the  workstation
should  send any buffered  characters followed by  End Non-Echoed
Chars, then signal the BREAK.   If there were no buffered charac-
ters then the workstation may merely signal BREAK, although it is
acceptable to  precede this with  End Non-Echoed Chars  (since no
characters were actually sent, the host will ignore this).

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

3.1.2 COMMANDS FROM THE WORKSTATION

3.1.2.1 Entering Synchronized Mode

This is sent to the host in response to the Set Synchronized Mode
command, to  allow the host  application to determine  the end of
any input that was sent  before the workstation processed the Set
Synchronized Mode command.  The host can expect that any input it
receives after this conforms to this protocol.

3.1.2.2 End Echoed Chars

This  is sent  after sending   characters that  have been  echoed
locally by the  workstation in response to an  echoing Read Chars
command.

3.1.2.3 End Non-Echoed Chars

This is sent  after sending characters that have  not been echoed
locally by  the workstation, either in response  to a non-echoing
Read Chars command or due to the user signalling BREAK.

3.1.2.4 Literal Character

Because this protocol is intended to be used in an environment in
which control  characters are used  as data (Emacs  and the Video
System),  some means  must be  provided to  allow all  characters
through  the protocol   transparently, including  any introducers
used in  these commands.  The  exact mechanism is  defined in the
specific protocol control sequences  sections (a common mechanism
is to repeat the introducer, although this is not conformant with
standards).

3.2 Standard-conforming Control Sequences

This  section defines  the bindings   of the  above functions  to
control sequences  which are in  conformance with ANSI  X3.64 and
ISO  6429  [I  hope  I  got  the  numbers  right].  Currently the
commands from the  host to the workstation are  all defined using
sequences that are reserved for private use in the standards, but
this could change  some day if this protocol is  ever proposed as
an industry  standard (I tend to  doubt that the protocol  in its
current form would  be, but instead something like  this might be
incorporated  into some  future virtual  terminal protocol).  The
commands from the  workstation to the host are  all defined using
the DLE (Data Link Escape) code extension character.

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

3.2.1 SET/RESET SYNCHRONIZED MODE

These sequences are implemented as  an option to the standard Set
Mode (SM)  and Reset Mode (RM) control  sequences.  The parameter
string will be  the private-use string "<1" (chosen so  as not to
conflict with DEC VT100 private modes, which all begin with "?").

3.2.2 SET BREAK TABLE

The format of this control sequence is
     CSI "<" <range1> ";" ... ";" <rangeN> "s"
where <rangeI> is  either a sequence of decimal digits  or a pair
of  such sequences  separated by   ":".  In  the first  case, the
character  whose code  is the  sequence interpreted  as a decimal
number is set as a break  character.  In the second case, the two
sequences are interpreted as decimal numbers, and all the charac-
ters whose  codes are in the  range between the first  and second
number (inclusive) are break characters.   It is an error for the
first  number of  a pair  to be  greater than  the second (N:N is
valid and is  equivalent to N).  Either sequence of  the pair may
also be empty;  if the first sequence is empty  it is interpreted
as "0",  and if the second  is empty it is  interpreted as "255".
Thus, the default break table may be specified with
     CSI <:31;127:s
and a  break table with  no echoable characters  may be specified
with
     CSI <:s
(therefore,  both sequences of  a pair may  be empty); these  are
probably the  two most common  break tables.  If  no <rangeI> are
specified then the  default break table is set.   [Note:  this is
completely  different   from  my  original  proposed   syntax  in
local_echnego.text.]

3.2.3 READ CHARS

This command takes three  parameters, in standard format (decimal
digits  separated  by  semicolons).   The  first  parameter  is a
selective  parameter, specifying  the Echo_Mode;  ECHO is  0 (the
default), and  NO_ECHO is 1.   The second parameter  is a numeric
parameter, specifying Limit.  The  third parameter is a selective
parameter,  specifying Block_Mode; BLOCK  is 0 (the  default) and
NO_BLOCK is  1.  The final  character of the  control sequence is
"r".  Thus, the full syntax for Read Chars is
     CSI Echo_Mode ";" Limit ";" Block_Mode "r"

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

3.2.4 ENTERING SYNCHRONIZED MODE

This command is coded as
     DLE ACK.

3.2.5 END ECHOED CHARS

This command is coded as
     DLE E.

3.2.6 END NON-ECHOED CHARS

This command is coded as
     DLE N.

3.2.7 LITERAL DLE

If a DLE is included in the characters that are being sent to the
host in  Synchronized Mode it  must be replaced  with the Literal
DLE command.  This command is coded as
     DLE DLE.

3.3 PC7800 Control Sequences

This  section describes  the bindings   of the  commands in  this
protocol  to control  sequences for  use in  the PC7800 prototype
implementation.   They are  designed  to  be consistent  with the
control  sequences already in  use by the  VIP7801, which is  the
terminal  that PC7800  emulates.   While  this terminal  has some
escape  sequences which  appear to  be lexically  similar to  the
standardized escape sequences, they are in fact quite restricted,
and PC7800 is not organized in  a way that would make it feasible
to  add the  above control  sequences.  For  example, the VIP7801
currently implements one command of the form
     ESC "[" parameters char
This is the Cursor Position  Decimal (CPD) command.  However, the
format  of the  parameter is   quite rigid  (exactly six  decimal
digits, the  first three representing  the row, the  second three
representing  the column,  the first  and fourth  digits MUST  be
"0"), which  allows the escape sequence parser  to recognize this
sequence on  the third character  (the required leading  "0"), at
which point it reads exactly  six following characters and trans-
fers  to  the  CPD  routine.   Changing  the  parser  to  support
arbitrary-length parameters is probably not worthwhile; since the
emulator  is  already  not   standard-conforming,  adding  a  few
standard-conforming commands  does not help  in any way.   If and
when this protocol is implemented  in the standard Multics system

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

the control sequences will be defined  in the TTF, so there is no
benefit to be gained by forcing  the VIP to use control sequences
that are not VIP-like.

Although  PC7800 only  emulates the  VIP7801, I  have chosen  the
escape  sequences  so  that  they  do  not  conflict  with escape
sequences used  by later VIP7800-series terminals.   My reference
for this  process was CH52-03, the VIP7800  Family Display Termi-
nals User's Reference Manual.

This section will also describe any interaction this protocol has
with existing VIP functionality.

3.3.1 SET SYNCHRONIZED MODE

This command will be coded as
     ESC [ s
This  command  is  only  valid  if  the  terminal  is  already in
Character mode  and Echoplex mode, otherwise it  will generate an
INVALID  COMMAND error.   If Text  or Non-echoplex  modes are set
while  in Synchronized  mode,  Synchronized  mode will  be reset.
These restrictions  are consistent with the  behavior of Echoplex
mode with respect to Character  mode.  When in Synchronized mode,
the "CHAR" indicator on the status line is replaced with "SYNC".

3.3.2 RESET SYNCHRONIZED MODE

The control sequence for this command is
     ESC [ n
This  command  will  return  the  workstation  to  Character  and
Echoplex modes.

3.3.3 SET BREAK TABLE

The syntax for this command is
     ESC "(" <range1> ";" ... ";" <rangeN> ")"
The syntax and  interpretation of the <rangeI> is the  same as in
section 3.2.2.

3.3.4 READ CHARS

The syntax for this command is
     ESC "[" "r" {"E" | "N"} <Limit> {"B" | "N"}
The first parameter is the Echo_Mode,  either "E" or "N" for ECHO
or NO_ECHO, respectively.  The  second parameter is Limit encoded
as  a  single  character  whose  code  is  Limit+32(decimal); the
maximum Limit that may be specified  is 95 (127-32), and if Limit

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

is 0 the default (which depends on Echo_Mode) is used.  The third
parameter  is the  Block_Mode, either   "B" or  "N" for  BLOCK or
NO_BLOCK,  respectively.  In  response to  an echoing  Read Chars
command, the string  "ECHO" will appear in the  status line (note
that its interpretation is the  reverse of the normal meaning, as
it normally indicates  that the terminal is in  Echoplex mode and
that  the  host  is  echoing);   it  will  be  removed  when  the
workstation stops  echoing and forwards the  echoed characters to
the host (for whatever reason).

3.3.5 COMMANDS FROM THE WORKSTATION

These  are the same  as in the  corresponding standard-conformant
commands, sections 3.2.4 thru 3.2.7.

4 MULTICS IMPLEMENTATION

Currently there are two programs on Multics that make use of echo
negotiation directly by  calling hcs_$tty_read_echoed.  These are
Emacs (specifically, the internal routine e_pl1_$echo_negotiate_-
get_chars)  and the  tc_io_ I/O  module (in  the internal routine
tc_input)  used, by the  Video System.  For  this project I  will
only be  concerning myself with  modifying tc_io_ to  make use of
local echo negotiation.  Emacs can be run using the Video System,
in  which case  it will   make use  of tc_io_'s  echo negotiation
implementation, and, therefore, local echo negotiation; the Emacs
echo negotiation  code is quite convoluted,  and adding something
as complex as this would be more work than it is worth.

The module  tc_input.pl1 does all the  low-level input processing
for the Video System.   This module calls hcs_$tty_read_echoed to
perform    echo-negotiated   input,    and   hcs_$tty_read    and
hcs_$tty_read_with_mark for unechoed input.  It also performs the
set_break_table  control order.   This is  quite convenient  (but
hardly  coincidental) for  this project,  as these  are the  same
operations that are performed in this protocol.

In the initial prototype implementation  I expect to hardcode the
control sequences into tc_input.  This way, the implementation of
the changes to the TTF can be delayed until the protocol has been
demonstrated  and determined  effective.  In  addition, this will
give us time to figure out  how to describe the control sequences
in TTF language.   The terminal will be recognized  at this stage
by using a  special terminal type name, "PC7800LE";  in the final
product this would  be done by checking for the  existence of one
of  the  control  sequences  needed  by  the  protocol  (just  as
delete-characters  capability is  determined by  checking for the
delete_characters operation).

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

The entrypoints  tc_$init and tc_$shut,  which are called  when a
tc_io_ I/O switch is attached and detached, respectively, will be
changed to send the  Set/Reset Synchronized Mode commands.  Even-
tually  we  should  probably  implement  video_initial_string and
video_exit_string sequences  in the TTF, which would  be used for
setting and  resetting any terminal options that  are needed only
by the  Video System.  The  Reset Synchronized Mode  command also
could  be  placed  in  the  regular  initial  string,  as long as
tc_$init  sends the Set  Synchronized Mode command  AFTER sending
the initial string.

The major  changes, however, will be in  tc_input.  These changes
will  be made after  the Multics DSA  group modifies tc_input  to
support DSA Terminal Management.  They  plan on replacing all the
calls to hcs_$tty_* with calls to equivalent internal procedures.
These internal procedures will  implement the operation by either
calling  the hcs_  routine or  calling the  corresponding DSA  TM
routine.   I will  add code  to simulate  the operation  by using
local  echo negotiation (calling  hcs_$tty_* to do  the low-level
communication).  The major complexity of this change will be that
my substitute code  will have to simulate the  sending of wakeups
to  tc_input,  so  it  will  need  to  use  an event-call channel
internally in  order to service input  interrupts.  For instance,
the  replacement  for  hcs_$tty_read_echoed  would  send the Read
Chars  command  to  the  workstation  with hcs_$tty_write_whole_-
string,  call hcs_$tty_read  to post  a wakeup  on the  tty event
channel (there  shouldn't be anything  buffered in ring-0  if the
protocol is  operating properly), and return to  the caller; when
the event-call  handler is invoked it  will send a wakeup  on the
caller's event channel, and when the caller calls back in it will
call hcs_$tty_read  until the End Echoed Chars  sequence is read.
These  routines  may  also  go  blocked  internally  in  order to
maintain synchronization  with the workstation or  to read entire
"packets"  (everything  up  to   the  End  Echoed/Unechoed  Chars
sequence) from the workstation.

5 WORKSTATION IMPLEMENTATION

The  workstation side  of this  software will  be implemented  as
enhancements to  the PC7800 VIP7801 emulator.  I  will be working
from a version  of this software delivered to me  in April, 1984.
I have been informed that  no significant changes to the terminal
emulation  code have  been made  since then  (significant changes
have been made to the file transfer portion of the program, which
does not concern me).

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

5.1 PC7800 Organization

PC7800  is implemented as  a collection of  C programs and  a few
8086 assembler  programs.  Most of  the program resides  in the C
programs; the assembler routines exist to interface directly with
the  hardware  devices  (the  comm  port,  keyboard,  and screen)
efficiently.   The following  subsections describe  in detail the
various modules in PC7800 (all the module names are "et*.*", with
"et" probably  standing for "Emulate Terminal").   I am including
this  excruciating  detail  here,  rather  than  putting  it in a
private  file,  because  it  forces  me  to  explain this program
coherently  (I hope!),  which helps  me to  understand it  myself
(since I  didn't write it, nor  do I have the  developers in easy
reach).

5.1.1 ET.H

This is  a C #include file  (aka "header file", hence  the ".h"),
which  defines  a  number  of  symbolic  constants  (using  the C
preprocessor "#define" construct) and some structure types (using
"typedef").

5.1.2 ET.C

This  module is not  really a C  program, it is  more like a  CDS
module.   It  defines  and  initializes  number  of global static
variables and tables.  These include  the jump tables used by the
control code dispatching routines, and some global variables used
for  referring to  the row#/column#  display on  the status line.
These globals are not declared in  any header files, so any other
modules that want to reference them must declare them explicitly.
It also #includes  et1.c with the macro "EXTERN"  set to nothing;
see below for an explanation of this.

5.1.3 ET1.C

This module  is really a header  file, as it is  #included by all
the other C modules; I don't  know why it is named "et1.c".  This
module defines  a number of global variables  and data structures
that are used by all the other modules.  All the declarations are
prefixed  with "EXTERN",  which the  #includer should  #define to
either nothing or "extern".  This is because C requires that only
one  object file  in a  collection of  object files  being linked
together actually  define a global variable, while  the rest must
just reference it as an external.   In this case, the symbols are
defined  in et.o  (the object  file created  by compiling  et.c),
since  it #includes et1.c  with EXTERN set  to nothing.  All  the
other modules #include et1.c with EXTERN set to "extern", so that

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

only  external references are  generated in these  modules.  This
EXTERN hack is  used to guarantee that both the  definer and user
of a  global variable declare it  as the same type  (note that we
have  the same  problem on  Multics, and  don't solve  it at all:
there  is  nothing  guaranteeing  that  a  program  referencing a
variable in  a CDS segment will  use the same declaration  as the
CDS program).

The  variables and  data structures  in this  module include  the
state of the  emulator, the storage for the internal  copy of the
screen, the  virtual "rear panel" switches,  and some translation
tables.

5.1.4 ET2.C

This module  contains the function "main", which  is the function
that  is  invoked  when  a  C  program  starts  up.  This routine
initializes  some  variables  and  processor  state, displays the
initial herald of  the program, and invokes the  main loop, which
is  the function "parse".   The "parse" subroutine  loops reading
characters from the keyboard and  serial port (using the function
"get_one"),  parses escape  sequences, and  dispatches on control
codes and escape sequences.  This  is where the special casing of
the Cursor  Position Decimal escape sequence  is implemented (see
section  3.3).  Another  significant function  in this  module is
"get_one", which  gets the first character  available from either
the  serial port  or the   keyboard.  Depending  on the  terminal
modes,  this routine  may  transmit  keyboard characters  out the
serial port (in Character mode) and/or return keyboard characters
to its caller (in non-Echo mode).   It also processes some of the
"Alt"  keys that can  be typed, specifically  the ones that  send
BREAK and  toggle "display-all" mode.   It loops until  it gets a
character that  it can return  to its caller  (either a character
from  the serial  port or   a keyboard  character that  should be
processed locally).  The rest of this module is mostly made up of
utility  routines used by  the rest of  the program to  do common
operations.

5.1.5 ET3.C THRU ET5.C

These modules primarily contain  the functions that implement the
normal terminal operations that are invoked by control sequences,
escape  sequences, and  local alt-sequences.   They appear  to be
divided  into the  three modules  alphabetically.  et3.c contains
the  routines  for  ALF  (Auto  Line  Feed)  through  DAT (Delete
ATtribute),  and   some  internal  functions  used   by  the  ATR
(ATtRibute)  operation;  et4.c  contains  DCH  (Delete CHaracter)
through RIS (Reset Initial State);  and et5.c contains RJF (Right
Justify Fill) through VBP (Verify Before Process), as well as the

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

local Set Configuration command and  all its routines to interact
with the user with simple menus.

5.1.6 ETX.C

This  module   contains  all  the  routines   for  uploading  and
downloading files,  and the routine  which dumps the  screen to a
file on  the PC.  This is  probably the only module  that has had
significant changes  since I received  my copy, as  it now imple-
ments Kermit file transfer.

5.1.7 SWTCH.ASM

This assembler module is a  transfer vector.  It contains generic
entrypoints for  all the system-specific subroutines,  and trans-
fers  to the  appropriate  system-dependent  routine by  using an
external variable  "machndx" (machine index) as the  index into a
jump array.  The machndx variable  is defined in etmsdos.c.  This
allows the same object code to  be used on either the Level 6/10,
the NEC APC, or an IBM-PC.   Personally, I think this was a silly
way  to  implement  this;  it  could  have  been  done by linking
different  sets of  system-dependent modules,  and requiring pur-
chasers to  buy the version  appropriate for their  systems.  The
NEC APC code does not seem to  be complete in my version; some of
the  entrypoints do  not have  table entries  for it,  there is a
reference to a function that does  not exist in any of my sources
("keybap", which  reads a character  from the APC  keyboard), and
nothing ever sets machndx to the NECAPC value.

5.1.8 ETMSDOS.C

This  module  contains  functions  that  are  specific to generic
MS-DOS  (which all the  supported machines run).   This currently
consists of  "chkdat", which checks the current  date against the
expiration date  of the program  (presumably this only  exists in
pre-release versions, and it's a  pretty futile effort, since the
user can  always reset the machine's clock),  "ctlbrk", a handler
for  the Control-Break  interrupt which  does nothing, "tglprnt",
which toggles the  printer echo mode flag "precho"  (which is not
referenced  anywhere  else!),  and  "save_os",  which  saves  and
restores  the  operating  system  state,  determines  whether the
machine is a Level 6/10 or an IBM-PC, and sets machndx according-
ly.  If  PC7800 were ever  ported to an  8086 system that  is not
MS-DOS (e.g.  CP/M-86),  this is the only module  that would have
to  be replaced; swtch.asm  would merely have  to be extended  to
support another class of machines.

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

5.1.9 ETPCC.C AND ETPCA.ASM

These modules  contain routines that  are specific to  the IBM-PC
and look-alikes.  These routines are invoked through swtch.asm.

5.1.10 ET6C.C AND ET6A.ASM

These modules contain routines that are specific to the Honeywell
Level 6/10 PC.  They are invoked through swtch.asm.

5.1.11 ETAPA.ASM

This module contains  routines that are specific to  the NEC APC.
They are invoked through swtch.asm.

5.1.12 ETPCKEYB.C

This module contains keyboard functions that are specific to both
the  Level 6/10  and IBM-PC.   Specifically, these  are "keybpc",
which is  called via the  swtch.asm entrypoint "keyb",  and which
reads a character from the keyboard, and "help", which displays a
help screen  (it is called  directly from "keybpc"  when the user
types  Alt-H).  The  "keybpc" routine  also invokes  most of  the
local Alt functions that are implemented in et3.c thru et5.c.

5.2 PC7800 Changes

The following sections describe the  changes that will be made to
individual modules.

5.2.1 ET.H

A constant  "SYNC" will be  defined for the  state.modecode value
that indicates that the program is in Synchronized mode.

5.2.2 ET.C

The dispatch tables  will be modified to contain  entries for the
new escape sequences defined for this protocol.

5.2.3 ET2.C

I believe that the only routine  that needs to be changed in this
module  is "get_one", since  it is the  only routine in  the main

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

loop that differentiates between  keyboard and serial port input.
When  the  terminal  is  in  Synchronized  mode  it will call the
"lekeyb"  function  in  etlecho.c  whenever  it receives keyboard
input.

5.2.4 ETLECHO.C

This is  a new module  that will contain  all the added  code for
echo negotiation.  There will be  a function "lekeyb", which will
be called by "get_one" in et2.c,  and will take care of buffering
input,   echoing  input  during   an  echoing  Read   Chars,  and
recognizing break  characters.  Also in  this module will  be the
functions implementing the new  escape sequences.  The buffer for
unechoed input  will be a  local static variable;  the buffer for
echoed characters will  be the screen array itself,  along with a
local static  pointer to the  beginning of the  echoed characters
and  its length.   Also in   local static  variables will  be the
current echoing state, the number  of characters to echo, and the
break table.

6 OTHER ISSUES

6.1 When to Transmit

There  is one  issue in  the specification  of the  blocking Read
Chars  operations which is  not currently decided.   The protocol
does  not currently  specify that  the workstation  may not begin
transmitting characters before the  user has typed the characters
that  end the  operation.  For  instance, it  is not  against the
protocol for the workstation to transmit echoed characters as the
user is typing them (like a VIP terminal in text and non-echoplex
modes) after  receiving the echoing Read Chars  command.  This is
because the host treats all the characters between successive End
Echoed/Non-echoed Chars commands as a unit.

Whether  or  not  this  behavior  is  desired  depends on several
factors:
  1) If the  connection between the  workstation and the  host is
     low-speed then response time  may be improved by overlapping
     echoing and transmitting; otherwise,  when the user types an
     unechoable character he will have to wait for all the echoed
     characters to  be transmitted before the host  will read the
     unechoed character and process it.
  2) In  a packet-switched  network environment  it is  better to
     transmit in  bursts, in order  to minimize the  packet over-
     head.
  3) Transmitting in  bursts also minimizes the  overhead of con-
     text switching on  the host, as there is less  chance of the

Multics Technical Bulletin                                MTB-708
Local Echo Negotiation

     user's  process  being  paged  out  when  characters must be
     processed.
Factors 1  and 2 are in  direct conflict when the  workstation is
connected to  a packet-switched network by a  low-speed line (for
instance, when using a dialup X.25 PAD).

This issue  will be left unspecified  initially.  Experimentation
with  the  prototype  may  determine  the  optimal  behavior.  As
mentioned  above, the transmission  behavior does not  affect the
dialogue,  it  merely  has  an  impact  on  the efficiency of the
protocol.  Because  no one choice  may be correct  for all situa-
tions, it  may be necessary  to implement a  command which allows
the host to provide advice to the workstation.  There may also be
other choices besides immediate transmission and holding all data
until the blocking condition is  met; for instance, a timer might
be used to transmit  buffered characters periodically, or perhaps
the  workstation could transmit  after every N  typed characters,
for some suitable N.

6.2 Noisy Lines

As  currently  specified,  this  protocol  does  not  contain any
checksums or error correction  capabilities, and I currently have
no plans to  complicate it with such features.   The protocol was
designed to minimize  the impact of line noise  on the operation.
For instance,  the "packets" transmitted from  the workstation to
the host are defined merely by  the appearance of a short control
sequence, rather  than being specified by a  header that contains
the length of  the packet; therefore, line noise  within a packet
will  not cause  the workstation  and the  host to  become out of
sync.  However,  if line noise were  to hit the End  Echoed Chars
sequence,  for  instance  between   the  two  characters  of  the
sequence,  the host  would still  be waiting  for the  end of the
packet  while  the  workstation  would  be  waiting  for the next
command.   The control sequences  are deliberately very  short in
order to  minimize the likelihood  of such hits.   A BREAK signal
should succeed in resynchronizing the connection, though.

The appropriate way to solve this  problem completely is to use a
more  reliable medium  than raw  phone lines.   This protocol  is
intended   for   use   on   programmable   computers   acting  as
workstations, and  these systems can be enhanced  to use reliable
protocols, (X.25,  for example) to communicate with  the host.  I
feel no need to duplicate the work  that has gone on for years by
defining yet  another reliability mechanism just  for this proto-
col.  This  protocol will suffer  no less than  similar protocols
already  in  widespread  use,  such  as  those  for forms-filling
terminals  (a deadlock  similar to  the one  described above  can
develop if the sequence used to indicate the end of a transmitted
screen is garbled).

MTB-708                                Multics Technical Bulletin
                                           Local Echo Negotiation

There  are  some  simple  provisions  that  can  be  provided  in
implementations in  order to deal with some  errors, though.  For
instance, another  troublesome error hit would be  in the parame-
ters to the Set Break Table  command.  If the workstation is able
to recognize the command but not  able to parse the parameters it
can  set  a  useful  default  which  defines  all  characters  as
unechoable,  because  the  protocol  permits  the  workstation to
choose to stop echoing at any  time.  Thus, the efficiency of the
protocol  would  be  degraded  by  a  line  hit,  but the overall
behavior would not.