ASSOCIATIVE DATA ACCESS METHOD (ADAM) AND ITS MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION

An input/output driver program residing in digital computer apparatus responsive to Pascal type of software and which operates to emulate an asychronous terminal, as opposed to bisynchronous devices having defined protocols, in a distributed processing environment. The computer thus programmed is adapted to communicate with any data processor supporting external communications with other apparatus and operates as an intelligent interface between one or more user terminals and one or more data processors, of different vendor types. A user at a user terminal communicates a specific request to the interface of the subject invention which in turn automatically executes a series of Pascal computer programs, called modules, in response to a plurality of data files, called an Information Directory. These files contain all the information required to seek out, couple to and query certain predetermined data bases for specific information in their own respective logons, protocols, etc., retrieve the required information, operate on and reformat the information received in diverse forms into a consolidated file, and report the information thus integrated to the user in a user friendly form.