Distribution of mainframe data in the PC environment

Abstract

A method of distributing mainframe software and data using PC-based data media is disclosed, comprising a mainframe program for converting a mainframe sequential dataset or all or part of a mainframe library of texts or load modules to a sequential dataset of fixed length records and for reverting these converted records to its original form in the same or another mainframe data center, and procedures for downloading the converted mainframe data to a PC and uploading the PC file to a mainframe. The converted mainframe data downloaded to a PC can be delivered to another mainframe data center using floppy diskketes, recordable CD-ROM, Internet Website, TCP/IP FTP, or email attachment, as an alternative to magnetic tapes. The PC hard disk is used as a backup storage of the mainframe libraries, and a mainframe text library downloaded to a PC can be edited on a local or remote stand-alone PC.

1 . A device for distributing a sequential dataset or a library of texts or load modules comprising: 
 a sender programmer at the sender's site with a file transfer-enabled mainframe terminal for creating required JCL streams, for creating required datasets, for submitting required JCL streams, for creating the download sequential dataset records, for downloading the download sequential dataset to the PC and for creating PC-based data media to send to the receiver's site;    a sequential dataset or a library at the sender's site to be delivered to the receiver's site;    a download sequential dataset at the sender's site, which is of fixed length record format and its logical record length is 80 bytes or greater, for storing the output of the program PCFORM;    a program PCFORM at the sender's site for converting the sequential dataset or\library to the download sequential dataset of fixed length records;    a downloaded PC hard disk file at the sender's site for storing the downloaded content of the mainframe download sequential dataset;    a receiver programmer at the receiver's site with a mainframe PC terminal for receiving the data from the sender, for creating required JCL streams, for creating required datasets, for uploading the received data from the PC to the mainframe, and for submitting required JCL streams;    an upload sequential dataset at the receiver's site, which is of fixed length record format and its logical record length is equal to the logical record length of the download sequential dataset at the sender's site, for storing the data uploaded from a PC at receiver's site;    a destination sequential dataset or library, with the same record format as the record format of the respective dataset at the sender's site, for storing the data from the upload sequential dataset; and    a program PCFORM at the receiver's site for converting the upload sequential dataset records to the destination sequential dataset or library.    
   
   
       2 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein said the program PCFORM logic can be expanded in various ways to convert any kind of dataset into said the download sequential dataset.  
   
   
       3 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein said the download sequential dataset at the sender's site can be reverted back to its original form at the sender's mainframe site.  
   
   
       4 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein, if a copy of said the download sequential dataset from the sender's site is delivered to the receiver's site, it can be reverted to its original form at the receiver's site.  
   
   
       5 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein said the ownloaded PC hard disk file at the sender's site can be reverted to its original form if it is uploaded back to the sender's mainframe terminal.  
   
   
       6 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein, if a copy of said the downloaded PC hard disk file at the sender's site is delivered to the receiver's site, it can be reverted to its original form at the receiver's site, if it is uploaded to the receiver's site mainframe.  
   
   
       7 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein said the downloaded PC hard disk file at sender's site can be delivered to other mainframe data centers using PC-based data media, such as floppy diskettes, recordable CDs, various USB-port disks, ZIP disks, Internet world wide web download, Internet-based email attachment, TCP/IP FTP GET/PUT, and other PC data media available now and in the future, without the use of conventional magnetic tapes or tape cartridges, and can be reverted to its original form at other mainframe data centers.  
   
   
       8 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein said the downloaded PC hard disk files of any datasets at the sender's site can be used as backups at the sender's site.  
   
   
       9 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 1 , wherein the logic of said the program PCFORM can be included into other programs and get the same results.  
   
   
       10 . A device for distributing a dataset comprising: 
 a sender programmer at the sender's site with a file transfer-enabled mainframe terminal for creating required JCL streams, for creating required datasets, for submitting required JCL streams, for creating the download sequential dataset records, for downloading the download sequential dataset to the PC and for creating PC-based data media to send to the receiver's site;    a mainframe dataset at the sender's site to be delivered to the receiver's site;    a download sequential dataset at the sender's site, which is of fixed length record format, for storing the output of the program PCFORM;    a program PCFORM at the sender's site for converting the dataset to the download sequential dataset of fixed length records;    a downloaded PC hard disk file at the sender's site for storing the downloaded content of the mainframe download sequential dataset;    a receiver programmer at the receiver's site with a mainframe PC terminal for receiving the data from the sender, for creating required JCL streams, for creating required datasets, for uploading the received data from the PC to the mainframe, and for submitting required JCL streams;    an upload sequential dataset at the receiver's site, which is of fixed length record format and its logical record length is equal to the logical record length of the download sequential dataset at the sender's site, for storing the data uploaded from a PC at receiver's site;    a destination dataset, with the same record format as the dataset at the sender's site, for storing the data from the upload sequential dataset; and    a program PCFORM at the receiver's site for converting the upload sequential dataset records to the destination dataset.    
   
   
       11 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein said the program PCFORM logic can be expanded in various ways to convert any kind of dataset into said the download sequential dataset.  
   
   
       12 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein said the download sequential dataset at the sender's site can be reverted back to its original form at the sender's mainframe site.  
   
   
       13 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein, if a copy of said the download sequential dataset from the sender's site is delivered to the receiver's site, it can be reverted to its original form at the receiver's site.  
   
   
       14 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein said the downloaded PC hard disk file at the sender's site can be reverted to its original form if it is uploaded back to the sender's mainframe terminal.  
   
   
       15 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein, if a copy of said the downloaded PC hard disk file at the sender's site is delivered to the receiver's site, it can be reverted to its original form at the receiver's site, if it is uploaded to the receiver's site mainframe.  
   
   
       16 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein said the downloaded PC hard disk file at sender's site can be delivered to other mainframe data centers using PC-based data media, such as floppy diskettes, recordable CDs, various USB-port disks, ZIP disks, Internet world wide web download, Internet-based email attachment, TCP/IP FTP GET/PUT, and other PC data media available now and in the future, without the use of conventional magnetic tapes or tape cartridges, and can be reverted to its original form at other mainframe data centers.  
   
   
       17 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein said the downloaded PC hard disk files of any datasets at the sender's site can be used as backups at the sender's site.  
   
   
       18 . The PC data media distributing device of  claim 10 , wherein the logic of said the program PCFORM can be included into other programs and get the same results.