timw@osiris.osiris.oz.au (Tim Wooller) (03/03/90)
Osiris Technology releases GraphicServers: ========================================== The range of GraphicServers from Osiris Technology are PostScript based, multi-tasking network graphics terminals. They are compatible at the operator level with Sun Microsystem's NeWS servers and Adobe's PostScript page description language. The multi-tasking PostScript/NeWS compatible interpreter used to implement the Osiris Graphics Servers is called OpenScript. The complete range of GraphicServers are designed to connect directly to a TCP/IP based network and immediately operate with all the facilities described below. The terminals provide a window manager (based on AT&T's OpenLook), Internet networking, ANSI VDU emulation, PostScript driving of raster printers. For further details contact: Carolyne Cole Osiris Technology PO Box 353 Lane Cove NSW 2066 AUSTRALIA Phone: Intl-61-2-4066299 FAX: Intl-61-2-4177334 TECHNICAL OVERVIEW ================== PostScript compatibility. ========================= The OpenScript interpreter is designed to be highly compatible with Adobe PostScript. The language is compatible with the description given in chapter 3 of the PostScript Language Reference Manual (PLRM), with an exception in the semantics of virtual memory. The graphics mechanisms operate as described in chapter 4 of the PLRM. Low level device setup operators are implemented. In particular: framedevice, setmatrix, setscreen and settransfer are fully implemented. This allows standard PostScript raster devices to be made. The resultant raster image is exported to an attached printer or remote host in a format compatible with the target device. The font mechanisms are fully compatible with the descriptions given in chapter 5 of the PLRM. All fonts are full spline bounded outline fonts (center-line in the case of Courier), and have metrics compatible with the Adobe versions. The operators described in chapter 6 of the PLRM are provided, with the exception of banddevice and renderbands. OpenScript extensions to PostScript =================================== OpenScript implements the operator and type extensions to PostScript described in SUN Microsystem's NeWS 1.1 Reference Manual. These include processes, canvases and events and associated operators. In OpenScript: - a canvas acts as a PostScript physical device. A process which is drawing on a canvas will not detect any change in its graphics state as the canvas is moved, rescaled or resized; - process context switching is fully pre-emptive and real-time based; - a set of primitives are provide to implement efficient ANSI emulation; - a system of pushable protocol modules are provide for flexible network access; - memory management uses spare memory for font cacheing and off-screen bitmap retaining, without jeopardising the real memory needs of applications; - Memory occupied by composite objects is automatically reclaimed when they are no longer referenced. This includes objects tied up in circular reference loops. TCP/IP Internet networking. =========================== The terminals support the major Internet protocols on both ethernet and serial lines. In particular: SLIP, ARP, IP, UDP, TCP, TELNET, and FTP. All modules are designed to meet the specifications of the original RFCs plus the additional requirements specified in RFC-1122 and RFC-1123. The terminals may be configured to transparently access files on a remote system through FTP. Window manager. =============== The built in window manager is based on AT&T's OpenLook specification release 1.0.1. The three dimensional appearance is used. The window manager manages both the sharing of screen and input device resources, and provides a simple (PostScript) programmatic interface for applications. Built in applications. ====================== A number of applications are provided within the terminal, in particular: - A setup utility to adjust key configuration values. - A TELNET based terminal emulator providing ANSI emulation (VT200/VT100/VT52). - A serial ANSI terminal emulator for use with one or both of the RS232 ports provided on the terminal. - Interactive PostScript sessions, again using the ANSI terminal emulator. - A terminal CPU usage graph (needle gauge when iconised). - A terminal memory usage graph (needle gauge when iconised). - A colour palette viewable in RGB or HSB models. - A remote host up-time display. - A desktop calculator. - A set of demonstrations including: a bouncing ball, business graphs and a cursor-following pair of eyes. Hardware. ========= The first available model is the GS32. This is a flexible high performance model with 8 bit colour providing 256 colours out of a palette of 16 million. Other models will be announced soon. The GS32 is supplied as a base unit to which the user's choice of colour or monochrome monitor may be added. The base unit includes: - a thin ethernet interface; - two async RS232 ports (one port capable of synchronous operation); - a parallel printer port; - a keyboard (choice of PC, VT220, or Wyse style); - a three button mouse (pc-mouse interface); - 4Mb of RAM (expandable to 8Mb); - 1Mb of video memory (expandable to 2Mb); - an NS32GX32 CPU and FPU (32 bits, 8 MIPs); - all software and fonts as described above in 512Kb of ROM. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPENLOOK is a trademark of AT&T, NeWS is a trademark of Sun Microsystems Inc, PostScript is a trademark of Adobe Systems Inc, GraphicServer & OpenScript are pending trademarks of Osiris Technology.