Bob Metcalfe Leads a Celebration of 40 Years of Ethernet Innovation

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May 22,1973 was the day the Ethernet concept was first outlined in a memo from the young Bob Metcalfe at PARC and, forty years on, this key moment in the history of human communications is being celebrated in the form of a Ethernet Innovation Summit looking at past, present, and future innovations in networking.

The event will include a great line-up of industry speakers from the “Ethernet Inventors” to future “Innovations in Networking.” Join Bob Metcalfe, Dave Boggs, speakers and representatives from PARC, and other networking visionaries, pioneers, and drivers to hear the genesis of the Ethernet, its role today, and how today's network innovations will impact tomorrow’s business.

Registration is required.

7:45 - 8:30 a.m.      Conference registrations and coffee/tea refreshments 

8:30 - 8:40 a.m.      Introduction: Ethernet’s invention and early history

8:40 - 9:00 a.m.      Opening keynote presentation:  Bob Metcalfe - From ALOHA to Eternity
                                  How CSMA emerged from Hawaii, early choices and challenges, Metcalfe’s Law

9:00 - 9:15 a.m.      Keynote interview on stage

9:15 - 10:30 a.m.    Session 1: Ethernet’s early history and war stories
                                   The inventors of Ethernet
                                   "Ethernet or Ethernot?” - Ethernet vs. competing technologies

10:30 - 11:00 a.m.   Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30 p.m.   Session 2: The innovation process that conceived Ethernet
                                    The Ethernet as a case study in how innovation works – in partnerships with
                                    government, academia, and commercial business – and how it can still be
                                    fostered today.

                                    Architecture and the environment it creates
                                    What is so unique about PARC and Silicon Valley? What was the spirit of the
                                     time? Where is it flourishing now?

                                    Standards and the evolution of the business model
                                    Approaching IEEE, Xerox’s motivation, SNA v. TCPIP

                                    Government/Academia/Industry in fruitful partnership
                                    When does it work? Why does it not always succeed? How can it be encouraged?

12:30 - 1:45 p.m.      Luncheon

2:00 - 3:30 p.m.        Session 3: The Status of Ethernet Today
                                     Ethernet in enterprise networking
                                     Ethernet in the home
                                     Ethernet in Service Provider networks - Globalizing Ethernet from LAN to WAN

3:30 - 4:00 p.m.        Refreshments

4:00 - 5:30 p.m.        Session 4: The Future of Networking
                                     Future Network Architectures
                                     Green shoots – the future from a start-up perspective
                                     A panel of networking start-up companies discuss the challenges, their vision, why
                                     they are in business, and where they can take tomorrow’s networking

Ethernet 40th Birthday Party Celebrations
Table reservation required; individual tickets may be available subject to availability
Spend the evening among Silicon Valley’s key 'movers and shakers,' researchers, business leaders, visionaries, and top Silicon Valley VC’s at the Gala Dinner. The evening will include network industry ‘Innovation Awards’ and a charity auction in aid of the STEM project.

The Ethernet Innovation Summit follows PARC's ENC Spring Summit 2013.