American History 1988
Chapter 104 - 98 The Untrodden Path

Chapter 104: Chapter 98 The Untrodden Path

Dean had been at Stanford for less than a month, and he wasn’t very familiar with the two professors in front of him.

But when they wanted to talk about software development, Dean didn’t hesitate to agree.

"As you gentlemen can see, I am trying to combine instant messaging, file transfer, and voice communication into one software. This work might be complex, but I am confident I can complete it," he said.

"What about its design principle?" Winton began asking specialized questions as he stroked his chin.

"The end-to-end principle, based on the application layer design. Any terminal, meaning a computer, can install it. In this way, during the data exchange process, the network only plays the role of transmission, without altering its content."

"A wise choice," Winton said, a glint of appreciation in his eyes.

The end-to-end principle of computers is the opposite of the traditional telephone network, where landline phones only receive signals without processing data, while the telephone company’s switches perform this task.

But the Internet needs to be the opposite, with computers handling data processing and the network being responsible only for transmission.

This means that even if there are problems, designers don’t need to consider the middle transmission process but can instead focus on investigating whether there are errors in the application program or the installation process.

The end-to-end principle, a common development principle in later times, wasn’t fully popularized in the current era. The tech experts were accustomed to complex system operations.

They are smart and develop various software that even delves deep into the system’s lowest level, which is no problem for the tech elite.

But this approach brings another problem: the software based on the system’s lowest level often requires a certain level of operational threshold.

Ordinary people without professional computer knowledge would probably be baffled by it.

Dean, however, did the opposite; he simplified the software operations as much as possible. This approach was completely contrary to what the current tech elite were doing.

Winton and Donald Knuth, as renowned experts in the computer field, understood the reason behind Dean’s approach. Simplified software with a lower operation threshold would be more beneficial for widespread use.

"In this programming design phase, I also noticed several protocol compatibility designs; what is the purpose of doing this?" Winton discovered another interesting aspect.

Dean shrugged at the question, "It’s in preparation for the future interconnection of networks; I believe that soon, everyone will be able to use the internet without restrictions."

"Internet interconnection?" Winton and Knuth both sat up straight.

"Yes, NSFnet, UUNET, SPI, Amerinet... they all have some differences in their communication protocols. Designing in this way will ensure that the software can communicate with each other in different network environments."

"But the reality is that these network operators are unlikely to interact with each other," Knuth had to counter his assumption, "Even NSFnet has many restrictions at the moment."

"That’s just temporary. NSFnet will inevitably move towards privatization," Dean replied, his gaze steadfast, "The increasing number of private service providers is proof that people’s desire for internet freedom will drive this process."

If Winton and Knuth had merely appreciated Dean before, now they were truly astonished by his talent.

"Alright, assuming your prediction is correct," Knuth began seriously, his arms crossed, "how do so many network operators interact with each other?

Or how do we ensure communication between users on different networks? As you just said, the protocols of each operator might not be uniform, and servers are also an issue."

Each network operator has its own servers; how would cross-network interaction be executed? This was a question that even Winton and Knuth hadn’t figured out.

However, Dean, as if it were a given, spread his hands and said, "That’s simple, just use packet switching."

Packet switching? Knuth blinked, turning to his old friend, "Winton...?"

The latter subtly shook his head; he also didn’t understand the concept of packet switching.

"Dean, as your mentor, I need to ask you some professional questions now, as a punishment for your prank," Knuth said, retrieving a student evaluation form from his desk, "Your answers will directly affect your grades in the professional courses."

"Professor Knuth, please ask," Dean said, breathing a sigh of relief that the prank was finally behind him.

"How to solve the interchange problem between different network operators? Please provide as detailed a solution as possible." Donald Knuth pretended to jot down Dean’s name on the evaluation form.

"I call this solution packet switching, which requires the existence of a third-party intermediary organization," Dean pondered as he recalled, "It’s actually quite simple: these network operators just need to add each other’s routers and a set of connection lines in their respective data centers.

Through these facilities, a user of one network company can send messages directly to a user of another network company. All service providers that join the organization will send their network transmission content to routers located in the exchange network center and promise to accept the content transmitted to the same router by every other company."

Thus, member interconnectivity can be achieved. Of course, the members of the organization need to pay a fixed fee to cover the cost of equipment and maintenance. Lastly, to promote the universalization of the Internet, each member should also undertake not to charge by the amount of information transmitted."

The so-called network interconnectivity of course refers to the physical interconnection. Data from everyone is sent to an exchange center, and the receiving company must cooperate fully to ensure that the information transferred from other companies through this node reaches its own users.

This is the method later adopted by network operators, a solution that’s straightforward and crude but effective. Dean knew that Cisco’s new generation of multiprotocol routers could already complete such work; there were no technical difficulties.

The pen in Donald Knuth’s hand had long since stopped moving, and Vinton was holding his beard, seemingly oblivious. Not long ago, they were agonizing over how to resolve the privatization of NSFnet, especially Donald Knuth, who did not want a monopoly like AT&T to emerge in the network services.

Now, Dean’s packet switching proposal had given them inspiration. As long as the participating operators joined together to form such an intermediary organization, IBM would no longer be able to defeat them one by one, and the latter might even end up isolated.

"Dean, this is your second academic year, correct? Have you decided on a future major yet? Are you interested in the field of algorithms and program design?" Donald Knuth put away the evaluation form and began discussing academic matters with Dean with a smile.

"This semester is mainly general education courses, next semester I’ll..."

"Ok," without waiting for him to finish, Donald Knuth nodded in satisfaction, "That’s settled then, algorithms and program design will be your major, and I will serve as your mentor."

Dean: ???

I haven’t said anything yet, and my future major has already been decided?

"Dean, your suggestion has given us some inspiration, and I am very fortunate to have taught a public course at Stanford," Vinton said with a smile as he returned the floppy disk to him, "and of course I’m also lucky to have run into a certain naughty boy’s prank."

"Professor Cerf... I apologize for my earlier behavior..." Although they were no longer concerned about it, Dean still stood up solemnly to apologize.

"We’ve all been bad boys," Vinton gestured for him to relax, "but as for the code issue, you guys solve it on your own, I won’t get involved."

What Vinton Cerf was referring to was the arrangement between Dean and Adam – young people’s affairs are best settled amongst themselves. Friendships and connections might just be entangled together because of these small matters.

"Of course, if you have other questions about network technology in the future, feel free to email me." Vinton handed over his business card, which had his email address on it. "Lastly, I wish your software early success."

...

Dean, who had come out of the office, glanced at the business card in his hand and slightly raised his eyebrows – this was an unexpected pleasure.

He had unwittingly shown off in front of the father of the Internet, but in the end, everything went smoothly.

He had not received a warning, and even the two bigwigs were very approachable. Of course, this didn’t compensate for the fact that Adam had set him up, so the next day, Dean found David and the main culprit in the school’s coffee shop.

"David, to be honest, I am very concerned that you became friends with this guy. Because he’ll sell you out clean when you’re not paying attention," Dean looked at the person opposite him and sincerely offered his advice.

"Hey~ it was just a little test. The invitation to PBK is something many people dream of. Dean, you should feel proud of yourself." Adam intentionally revealed the Phi Beta Kappa key badge on his chest, which only a few were qualified to wear.

Seeing his proud expression, Dean was quite disdainful. "I’m not interested in joining any fraternity, especially with those uncomfortable trials. I guarantee, the time it takes to complete them, I could have become a billionaire."

"Dean, PBK is not some fraternity," Adam had to correct his mistake, "Its full name is the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the American collegiate honor society, and only the top 5% to 10% of students in the entire grade have the opportunity to join."

"Ah ha~ I am truly honored! Because of your crappy trial, the internet was almost closed off to me!" Dean scoffed at Adam’s key at his collar, "What’s the difference between this Greek-letter organization and the other fraternities on campus? To me, they’re all the same."

"Alright, Dean," Adam shrugged, "your so-called PBK fraternity has produced 16 American Presidents and more than 30 Supreme Court justices, and over a hundred Nobel laureates."

WTF? Is there such an awesome fraternity? Dean turned his head to look at David, who was as quiet as a girl. The latter nodded earnestly; in a sense, Adam was right.

"I forgot to mention, PBK doesn’t discriminate between men and women and doesn’t mind if members join other fraternities. However, it will only issue an invitation to the target once in a lifetime, with no repeats," Adam winked at Dean, "What do you think, want to consider it?"

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