The First Software Patent and Other First Systems

I joined Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1965. My friend from Control Data, Dan Kelly, helped me get the job. In fact he insisted that I talk to the Director of Applied Mathematics. Dr. Y. Shimamoto had ordered a 6600 a while ago and it was being installed now. Dr. Shimamoto was also on the NASA evaluation team for the 1964 NASA RFP which awarded me the first prize for technical excellence for my solutions and timing analysis. Dan wanted the best people at Brookhaven at that time, since the success or failure for the installation spelled serious money for him. A 6600 with all the peripheral gear at that time sold for about $10,000,000 dollars and his commission was 6%. So, you can understand how important that installation was for him.Control Data paid the commission in 3 installments: First installment of 30% was paid at the time of the order. The second installment of 30% was paid after the installation, and the last installment of 40% was paid after the acceptance by the customer. Thus, at the time I joined Brookhaven, Dan had 70% of his commission outstanding. In addition, he had received an 'order of intent' for a second 6600 computer system and was negotiating an order for 'EXTENDED CORE STORAGE', also a significant order.