problem state

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

problem state

   {IBM} jargon for {user mode}, the opposite of "supervisor
   state".

   On IBM {System 360}, 370 and 390 {mainframes} {privileged
   instructions} may only be executed in "supervisor state".
   {Application programs} request the {operating system} to
   perform these operations by using the Supervisor Call (SVC)
   instruction.

   (1995-02-15)