Digital Data Transmission Systems of the Future

General predictions are made about the development of the state of the art by shortly reviewing the latest findings of theoretical investigations as well as hardware developments. A few examples are given to illustrate recent attempts to reorganize, standardize and integrate present day digital data processing and transmission systems for future use. Concepts of "data moving" and "dynamic matching" within a transmission network are introduced. It is believed that tele-data processing (TDP) systems, i.e., electronic data processing (EDP) systems with input/output devices at remote locations, will experience a growth that will warrant the specialization of a number of manufacturers and organizations on data moving only. Dynamic matching may be considered as the basic principle of a new organization of digital data-transmission networks. It will ultimately load every available communication channel to its practical peak capacity and will therefore optimize the efficiency of systems. This principle is discussed in detail at four different levels of a network. Demand matching of input devices, branch matching, link matching, and finally network matching will be a common feature of many systems in the 1970's. For the user of TDP facilities, data movers will incorporate these principles in "general services" networks, which will operate on a message switched basis and in completely digital form. "Private facilities" will also be provided on a circuit switched basis for special purposes.