My Life as an Inventor

I always carry a notebook and have filled up more than I recollect... Ideas and invention has always been a fascination for me.

My work in I.T./Communications - Systems and programming - have always been an outlet for my creativity.

1972-1979

Study at Uni of NSW (Computing Science and some Chemical Engineering), 2 years as Analytical Chemist plus 2 years in mainframe Operations at CSR, 2 years full-time study plus clerical and Computing work.

One of the defining events for me at Uni was being taught "Operating Systems" by John Lions. I was on the second ever Unix kernel course, the first with The Book: the Lions Commentary.  As a matter of passing usefulness, we had to learn 'C' in ~4 weeks.

1979-1984

Worked in I.T./Computer in Communications and National Security.
Demonstrated good design and troubleshooting skills.
Worked on projects, real-time systems maintenance, database development and high-performance/high-availability systems.
Ran the International  email service for O.T.C.

1986
At Softway, with Greg Rose, one of the principals, I put the following 4 ideas to the board:

• RAID - we were a Unix systems and kernel house and could write drivers.
  
• Multi-protocol Routers as an extension to the CSIRO micro-node we were programming
• Multi-function printer/fax/copier
• Digital photocopier/printer

The ideas were turned down without comment. 3 out of 4 went on to become major products.
A good hit-rate.

I'd taken it on myself to go off and find contracts to keep the company afloat - around $100k/yr. Enough to pay $30k salary and at least one of the directors. This initiative didn't help my stock there.

In 1988, I got to know Ken Thompson reasonably well when he visited Sydney University and taught for a year.

1989
I'd worked too hard, become 'burnt out' left Softway and moved 'to the country', the South Coast of NSW.

I approached the Telecom Product Development Fund with a proposal to build a single TCP/IP based network, using commodity Intel hardware running Unix, to switch all their 'Text Services" [Telex, Teletex, Fax, email, file transfer].

I'd worked for 7 years on exchanges at O.T.C. and knew a bunch about Telco services and digital networking and messaging. This was before Telecom/Telstra had an email service.

I'd run the O.T.C. commercial  e-mail offering, "Minerva", as well as multiple in-house Unix systems using Sendmail, ACSnet/MHSnet and even some uucp.

My proposal included a store-and-forward network and 3 possible variants of fax machines - that would use DNS-style human readable addresses, not just phone numbers.

For ordinary fax machines, this meant having a human-readable cover-sheet - eliminating wrong numbers.

Telstra's comments were:

• We don't know what you're proposing. It's not one thing.
  
• We don't have any one person who can evaluate this.
• Nobody else in the world is doing this.
• Your cost estimates are too low. [commodity hardware vs. 'telco' pricing]
• Your cost/benefit estimates are wrong. [no help on what would be right]
• From the chief of Text Services in Melbourne on consolidating all text switching:
  "Why would we want to do that?"

That was the year that AARNET brought the Internet to Australia.

1992
While at CSIRO, built the first widely available complete Australian daily weather database (software).
Created a browsable index, redefined the file structure, performed full-coverage testing on the dodgy code I'd inherited - and got the product released at the annual ABARE 'Outlook' conference admist much fanfare.

1994
Designed a VPN for linux. Implemented by David B Deaves.
Worked between Canberra and Perth offices over public Internet.

1995/6
Filed, had examined and granted my 'netserver' petty patent.
A domestic router, firewall and internet connection. Also allowed USB devices to be connected.
The petty patent lasted 5 years and was only for Australia.
Unable to find a VC interested in pursuing this.

1999
For Federal Govt. "Business Entry Point" administered the initial ABN registrations.
Forecast peak demand to within 5% and designed the first web 'busy tone' to handle (massively) excessive loads. Designed and specified "Busy Tone" load control/ shedding system. CMGA paper with Performance Dynamics, Dr Gunther.
Final peak load was 25-times the design load, with consistent 5 second response times.
Only part of ATO process to avoid negative press: 600,000 applications processed of 3.3M.
Expected range was 5%-10% of ~1M applications.

2001
Filed an international PCT application for a Power Change-over device [allows servers or a rack of equipment to be switched to another power outlet without disruption.]
Examined and granted in Australia. Others now sell commercial versions.

2005/6
A new take on Internet Security - probably provable secure.
Introduces a replacement for VPN's:  Virtual Air Gapped Networks and Controlled Secure Links.
By adding other elements it is suitable for Military/Government grade security as well as normal commercial operations and domestic/e-commerce use.
Global market for VPN and related devices is currently estimated around US$25Bn.
Replacing and upgrading VPN technology would probably create a market 10-20 times larger.

Patent application filed in Australia on 27-September-2006.
Refiled in 2007, now lapsed.