Abstract: A method and means are provided to facilitate the exchange of data between a direct access storage device (DASD) and a central processing unit (CPU). The data is stored in fixed length records on the DASD.A pair of sequential commands are issued by the CPU to control access to the DASD data. The first command contains information which defines the boundaries of the DASD storage space which the CPU can access. The second command identifies the operation to be carried out within the permitted space defined in the first command and establishes where within the permitted space the activity is to take place.The use of these two commands reduces the amount of CPU software involvement which is required for data accessing, particularly where the accessing involves the crossing of geometrical boundaries on the DASD.

Abstract: An Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system for printed characters uses information about baseline location to assist in registration, segmentation, recognition and the separation of underscoring. Selected ones of the sensor elements in the OCR scanning array are identified as defining a baseline searching window and the outputs of these selected elements are utilized to detect baseline information for each character or group of characters in a printed line.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording medium for deposition on a record carrier includes a ferromagnetic alloy containing iron, cobalt and chromium. The ferromagnetic alloy consists of from 0-55% cobalt, from 8-22% of chromium with the remainder iron. The preferred range of chromium is from 10-18%. The magnetic recording layer is vacuum deposited over an extended portion of a record carrier for storing information which is represented by the spatial distribution of magnetic transitions in the magnetic layer. The iron-cobalt-chromium or iron-chromium composition according to this invention, gives the best magnetic properties consistent with excellent corrosion resistance.

Abstract: Means are provided to prevent the failure of an Initial Program Load (IPL) command in a data processing system because of a "busy" indication from a Direct Access Storage Device (DASD) control device which is executing the command. An IPL operation from a Central Processing Unit (CPU) involves the issuance of a System Reset signal to all channels and control units connected to the CPU, followed a short time later by a READ IPL command to the DASD control device controlling the DAS device which contains the program to be loaded. The present invention enables the system to distinguish between when a control device is busy with a System Reset procedure and when it is busy on other matters, and to permit the queueing of the READ IPL command when the control unit is busy and there is a System Reset operation pending so that the READ IPL command will not be rejected.