Review of a New Data Management System for the Social Security Administration (1978) / Chapter Skim
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2. The Integrated System
2. The Integrated System
Pages 13-26
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From page 13... ...
The SSA's data management function is fundamentally one of collecting, retrieving, selectively changing or modifying, and re-storing a large amount of information and retaining it over a long period, while providing timely and accurate access to the information by widely dispersed district offices. Information about current wage earners and potential beneficiaries is needed to determine claims entitlement and payment procedures.
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From page 14... ...
Currently, the SSA process is operated at a single center in Baltimore, thus easing the transition to the proposed system. Moreover, a major construction program is underway in Baltimore to house additional data processing equipment and provide greater security.
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From page 16... ...
Such structuring is considered vital to the flexibility of the future process in order to be adaptable and responsive to new and as yet unidentified requirements, as well as to achieve the desired service levels. Efficient structuring of the SSA data base is a key design decision.
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From page 17... ...
First, the updated record can be inserted on-line in real time-that is, as soon as the information is received at the central site, the update can be made on the master file. Second, the record modifications can be stored in a transaction file for insertion into the master file on a regularly scheduled batch cycle, typically overnight.
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From page 18... ...
Storage Devices The future SSA process is to be mainly on-line. While the current process is heavily dependent upon master files that are on magnetic tape, the future one will have information stored on direct-access storage devices such as disks -- or possibly mass storage for data that is accessed less frequently.
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From page 19... ...
Questions about how much district office processing can be performed by distributed processors, how much may require on-line interaction with a remote site, and how much can be handled by scheduled batch transmission, say, nightly, may not be answered until a working prototype of the new system is available. The amount of remote interactive processing could have significant repercussions on requirements for communications.
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From page 20... ...
A fifth communication path would be required among the regional centers if a regional system configuration is chosen. This regional communications link would be equivalent to the data base communications that would be required within a single central complex if intra-complex partitioning of the data base were implemented.
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From page 21... ...
21 In / \-/ N~ Al ~ FIGURE 4 Communications Network S 0, z c ~ -a cat ~ cat ~ _ O ~ ~ _ .o ~ ~ -, E O O O D
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From page 22... ...
Examples include client copies of status, performance records and documents requiring signatures by the claims representative or the client to acknowledge the execution of transactions. SYSTEM DESIGN METHODOLOGY In the SSA's design of its future process and the system that implements it, the panel makes the following recommendations: o Develop an integrated process with a largely on-line or realtime capability.
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From page 23... ...
The major computer and communications subsystems that are readily identifiable within the system are: Central Storage Central Processing Data Communications Local Storage Local Processing Terminal Devices In addition, the future process has identifiable application subsystems that can be utilized to segment the future process, such as: Enumeration Earnings Claims Post-Entitlement Management Information This list is representative of the types of subsystems for which well-developed interfaces should be maintained. Segmentation provides the option for concurrent design and development, as well as for the involvement of individual vendors for different segments of the system.
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From page 24... ...
With such tools as standard processing languages, the SSA would have the option of introducing advanced central processing units into the system without major perturbations. Another favorable aspect of off the shelf components is that technical expertise would be readily available to maintain and support the equipment e It would be more difficult to sustain a highly skilled technical staff to maintain such a system consisting of specially designed components.
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From page 25... ...
In summary, the panel recommends that SSA: Make a strong effort to standardize throughout the system, utilizing operationally tested products as they become available in order to ensure that the total system will have a long life. O Segment the subsystems -- such as terminal devices, distributed intelligence, telecommunications, network protocol, central site processing hardware, and central site storage media -- so that their design, development, maintenance, and evolution can be facilitated by having them as independent subsystems within the total design.
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From page 26... ...
26 is recognized that the transition process will not accommodate this conveniently as the first step in the conversion. Align the conversion of applications with the basic chronology of the typical SSA client -- enumeration, earnings, claims, and finally post-entitlement.
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