A model for the local area of a data communication network objectives and hardware organization

This paper, together with its companions(1)(2) describes the experimental data communication network being implemented at the National Physical Laboratory. The purpose of the work is two-fold. Firstly, it will act as a model of the 'local area' network assumed, but never analysed in detail, in the NPL proposal for a possible National Data Communication System(3)(4)(5). Secondly, it will provide data communications between a wide variety of devices. These range from computers to teletypes and are spread over the 78 acres of the Laboratory site.