LETTER TO THE HONORABLE PHILIP J. FARLEY FROM RICHARD HELMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000100020009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 11, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: August 3, 1970
• Content Type: LETTER

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SEC RE T
e Dept. review comple
13 February 1969
FROM CIA COINS Subsystem Manager
SUBJECT: Objectives of the COINS Experiment
1. Objective
The primary objective of the COINS Experiment is
to design, develop and implement a system which will
produce the necessary data to test the feasibility
and utility of an interagency computer based informa-
tion system with on-line remote access capability to
support the intelligence analyst.
2. Measurement of Objective Achievement
A data collection plan has been formulated to
gather statistics on network activity and user opinions
and attitudes toward COINS. Through the use of the
switch log, user log forms, interviewing COINS users,
and exogenic queries reports, data will be collected on:
a. System utilization,
b. System performance, and
c. User reaction to the system.
3. Determination of Success or Failure
The experiment will prove successful if it evokes
a favo ble user reaction. This favorable reaction
fee not necessarily be in terms that COINS provided
ful information in support of analysts' work, but
could include judgments that an effi i nt COINS-like
ligence analytica function. ?
The experiment Will prove a failure if the majority
of users do not react fa_v_opaab_ly to their exposure to
COINS. Failure could res`-ult from a varietyc uses,
system containing data bases more to to analysts'
needs would have high utilityn support of the intel-
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either singly or in combination. For example:
a. Inefficient operation of the network or
exorbitant down time could discourage
users.
b. Poor user orientation and training.
c. Incompatibility among terminology used
in various agency files and query
languages.
d. Lack of user interest in COINS data bases.
e. Excessive query turn-around time.
f. Etc.
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 OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10 '~'`
ASAP /"i.i+H~ For Rel s 11 A E~J1 100020009-3
UNITED STATES GONMENT
Memorandum
TO : COINS SUB-SYS'T'EM MANAGERS
FROM : COINS. Project Manager
Ser: COINS/o17
DATE: 13 Feb 69
SUBJECT: Recommendation for the Adoption of Common Users Language for COINS
References: (a) COINS Semi-Annual Report, dated 31 March 1968
(IHC-D-113.4/13) pages 41 thru 43
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1. The multiplicity of users languages or interrogations
procedures is one of major problems in the COINS Experiment which
will deter some users from participating0 In addition, participating
organizations do not all have the capability of permitting file sponsors
to update their files on-line from their remote terminals as soon as
new information becomes available. Out-of-date files will also serve
as a further deterrent to some users (See reference a). Therefore, it
is urgent that we :
Resolve the problem of multiple user languages; and
b. Provide for a remote onl-line filing system with a file
maintenance capability in all computer systems participating in COINS.
2. Currently there are three efforts underway within the
COINS program intended to achieve both an interim solution as well
as to select a mutual acceptable solution for the next phase of'COINS0
as First, the COINS Computer and Communications Interface
Panel is circulating a draft paper on a Common Communications Language
(COCOLA) to serve as a bridge between the several different retrieval
languages available in the sub-systems of the COINS Experiment, If
accepted this could become an interim solution.
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Inclosed are reports describing two separate user languages
both of. which permits (a) users operating from remote terminals to
retrieve information from one or more files and (b) file sponsors
operating from remote terminals to update their files.. In addition,
both of these languages are owned by the government. As.indicated
below each of these languages has its own set of advantages and
disadvantages.
4. It is recognized that it will not be possible to have such a
language incorporated in all systems in the COWS Ekperiment. 'However,
the long lead time required to'develoo a common computer independent
users language which will operate on all computer systems in the COINS
network necessitates.immediate action if we plan to have.an operationally
useful, common users language in a reasonable time frame.
One of these two user oriented languages could be
implemented for the present or planned computer systems in C03NS either
in..addition.to, or in lieu of the user languages presently available
on these systems? The common network users language adopted should be
common to same a4eed upon level in all systems in COQ. However, this
language should be open-ended to permit each organizations to add. in
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its own unique or special features to satisfy their users. I would
appreciate your views on this subject by 15 March 1969, with specific
attention being given to the following questions:
a. What are the implications involved in implementing
one of these languages on your system in the near time frame (i.e.,
next 12-18 months)?
b. If one of these languages will not satisfy your requirements,
why not?
c. What additional features need to be incorporated in one of
these the languages to satisfy your requirements?
do When would you be prepared to implement one-of these
languages?
e. If we don't develop and implement one of these languages
what do you propose we do about the problems outlined in paragraph 1
above?
6. The next step would be to obtain some cost and time estimates
from the contractors providing we can agree that this is the correct
approach and that one of these languages should be the common network
users language. I have some very rough cost and time estimates but for
firm meaningful figures the contractors need some information about the
environment in which these languages are expected to operate.
Incl: s
ec
COINS Project Manager
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C9
C95
30 January 1969
COI Analysis
1. The intent of this merw is to present., in a very general manner, the
status of our current' efforts in analyzing the present CGfl system and associated
. envircent. Thus. far we a ravi the various literature
logical structure of COfS 25X1
2. We have delineated the following collection of what we believe are the
critical factors related to any solution for GC3IPZ - ash that all major aspects
of the current logical structure of this network together with its surrounding
en iroaa ut remain the same.
A. The participants of COI1,S, although generally concerned with the same
class of problems, have specifically different requirements for their work. And
because of several factors, these requirements are-expressed in totally diverse and
disjoint way.
b: The files in COINS will be both remote and local to the individual user.
c. The primary users of this network will not be programs and instead
v be either thoroughly problem oriented or clerical types.
d. The hardware components of COM can be expected to be diverse in their
characteristics.
e. The COI network will remain a cooperative venture and hence the degree
of success for the network is rather explicitly related to the degree of cooperation
among the participants,.
3? Considering the foregoing we find it not unreasonable to conclude that a
user should not be required to learn more than one query' language for referencing
all CODS files available to bin as well, as those nor-C( files available locally.
However the participating agencies ca= not be expected to submits, over a long period
of time., to a co .n qty language because of their specialized needs. Moreover we
suspect that the design of such a language is either far beyond the state-of-the-art
or would .result in far too complex a facility for the typical user to master and
effactively we.
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h. This iutplies that ideally there should be a co. neon network language not
available to the individual users and into which the individual query lane! uages
are translatable. This language would be designed around the filing system and
retrieval mechanism and not any external query language. Of course, initially a
co on user language of basic capability could be provided. This could then be
unilaterally extended by any participant -without affecting the remaining participants
in the network?.
5. Since the success of this network is strongly dependent upon cooperation
smong. participants as wall as a definite degree of initial technical excellence, and
since the comments in the above paragraph indicate that the amount of sustained co-
operation would be minimized, cooperation would not be as large a determining factor
in the success of the network as it is at present. Secondly the existence of a
common network language would tend to standardize the various retrieval mechanisms
since it would probably require a common file description scheme. This would cer-
tainly lessen greatly the technical burden of each participant.
6. These proposals are extremely tentative, and presently they only point in
the direction of our ci;wrent efforts. We cannot at this time guarantee their feasibility
or practicality. Our continuing effort however is aimed at a thorough investigation
of each facet of this solution together with its implications.
.7..To this end we are currently preparing a report on what-we believe are the
desirable outward characteristics of this type of network. In addition we are working
on the specifications for a generalized file descriptor as well as a determination of
the desirable capabilities of a query language for this a ruironment. In conjunction
c. impressions and analysis of
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