The Addition of Local Intelligence to the ISR Control System

The control system of the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings (ISR) has been gradually modified over the last few years to become almost entirely based on CAMAC, giving the computer independence and flexibility which that system provides. It has recently become desirable to add local intelligence to various parts of the system, i.e. a processing capability closely associated with the equipment being controlled or monitored. This local intelligence has been provided by processors which are able to run autonomously and are transparent: they simply give the main control center the illusion that the equipment is more elaborate than it really is. It has proved possible to incorporate two types of such processor quite elegantly into the CAMAC system even though CAMAC was not designed with these applications in mind. This paper describes the design philosophy of these two types of processor, and the areas of application in which they have so far been used. The development aids at all levels which are available are also described. Finally, extensions to the CAMAC specifications are suggested which would allow it to be used more easily for such projects.