Reborn Tokyo Golden Age

Why is Fujitsu so nervous after hearing that people from Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric were arrested?

That's because Fujitsu's compatible machines are also somewhat related to some of IBM's technologies.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the global computer market was basically concentrated in the business field.

At that time, there was no concept of personal computers, let alone the related microcomputer market.

However, although the development of computers is slow, it has been widely used in the business field.

Among them, IBM's mainframe accounts for almost 70% of the global market.

The so-called mainframe, in layman's terms, means that the company shares a server and a storage system.

Then the employees of the enterprise aggregate the data or information that the company needs to process to a large server for analysis through their respective operation ports.

This is similar to a local area network, the difference is that the computer operated by the employee does not have processing functions, it is just an input port.

After all the data is aggregated to the server of the mainframe, it is processed centrally by the server.

This set of systems is the mainframe, which to some extent replaces the configuration requirement of one computer per employee.

From the perspective of the company's use cost, the cost of a mainframe is much cheaper than that of N personal computers.

Therefore, in the business field, mainframes are widely used, especially in banks, insurance companies, airlines, railway systems, government agencies and other enterprises that require large amounts of computing. They are the largest customers of mainframes.

Since the demand is large and the prospects are broad, it is not surprising that Xiaotian plays traditional arts.

Since the 1970s, under the organization of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Neon has begun to vigorously learn from IBM.

what to study Of course IBM's mainframe manufacturing.

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry has brought together six domestic computer companies and provided them with a large amount of research and development funds and policy support.

And divided these six clubs into three groups, and started targeted learning for different mainframe companies in the United States.

Among them, Hitachi and Mitsubishi are a group, and the object of their study is IBM.

A group of Fujitsu and Sharp, their study object is the Amdahl company in the United States.

This company is IBM's biggest competitor, and Fujitsu has even been trying to get a stake in Amdahl in order to seek its computer technology.

The companies organized by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, in addition to playing traditional arts, carry out reverse engineering.

Another way to develop mainframes is to intervene in the production details of mainframes through IBM's foundry in Japan.

With the support of the Nihong government, after more than ten years of hard work, 70% of IBM's global mainframe market has now been compressed to about 50%.

The biggest beneficiaries of this are Hitachi and Fujitsu, which are the largest mainframe manufacturers of Neon.

However, as IBM's technology continues to upgrade in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for Hitachi and Fujitsu to imitate their mainframes.

The mainframe not only includes hardware design, but also an organic whole combining software and hardware.

Mainframes must run smoothly with software packages, compilation systems, and operating systems tailored for them.

This is a very closed ecosystem, with only hardware and no software, Hitachi and Fujitsu's compatible machines are as blind as they are.

However, it is precisely because of this closedness that mainframes have the characteristics of high reliability and high security, which are deeply trusted by enterprises.

The cheapest mainframe starts at $200,000, and the profits of such high value-added products are naturally not low.

So even if they encounter some difficulties, Hitachi and the others will not give up this part of their profits.

Just like the 3081K mainframe newly launched by IBM last year, the architecture of the processor and the compilation system are all upgraded, and the security is greatly improved.

Hitachi, which has been making compatible machines based on IBM mainframes, was in a hurry.

Unable to crack its compilation system and processor architecture, it will take about 3 years for Hitachi to produce its own compatible machine.

For such a long time, IBM's mainframe has been iterated two or three times.

That's why Hitachi and Mitsubishi will feel like a treasure after they accidentally obtained the first ten volumes of technical materials for IBM's 3081K mainframe.

And because there are only half of them, internally they are eager to launch compatible models corresponding to IBM.

It was Hitachi and Mitsubishi who took the risk and wanted to use IBM's internal relationships to steal the idea of ​​​​the remaining technical materials.

The reason why the director of the Kanagawa factory believed in the FBI's fisherman so easily was because he urgently needed the remaining information from IBM to develop his own compatible machine.

Hitachi and Mitsubishi, who were in a hurry, were also set up by IBM and the FBI, and they caught everyone and got all the stolen goods.

As a member of the learning alliance, Fujitsu was very nervous after hearing the news.

It stands to reason that the object of Fujitsu and Sharp's study is Amdahl, which seems to have nothing to do with IBM.

But I am clear about my own affairs, and Fujitsu's compatible machines also refer to IBM in a large number of designs.

Not to mention the hardware, even a lot of software is imitating IBM's design.

Mazuka knew that the processor architecture of his mainframe was somewhat similar to that of IBM.

And Ryuji Tokita is also very clear that many interfaces on Fujitsu's compatible machines are common to IBM.

The reason why a compatible machine is called a compatible machine is that it can seamlessly connect with IBM's mainframe in terms of operating system and software.

It would be fine if it was only compatible, but unfortunately, none of what Fujitsu did was authorized by IBM.

Their operating system and software are nominally self-developed, but many kernels are born out of IBM's design.

Now IBM is directly ruthless, and the FBI has sent people from Hitachi and Mitsubishi to prison.

The nature of this has completely changed, as the newspapers said, this is a case of commercial espionage, this is a crime!

What is even more exaggerated is that IBM is preparing to launch an international accountability procedure.

And the FBI has already issued an arrest warrant in Neon China, and none of the Hitachi Kanagawa factory directors and others involved in the behind-the-scenes transactions can escape.

The FBI is so domineering. Arresting people in small days is like arresting people at home.

Mazuka Moriyoshi and Tokita Ryuji were frightened by IBM, because Fujitsu's own ass was not clean.

But even so, Bai Chuanfeng still didn't understand the reason why Fujitsu notified him to come here urgently.

"Mazuka-san, since Fujitsu has nothing to do with this commercial espionage case, why are the two of you so nervous?

What is the so-called reason to let me come here so urgently? "

Faced with Bai Chuanfeng's question, Mazuka Daoyi deliberated for a long time before opening his mouth with an embarrassed expression.

"Unbeknownst to Shirakawa-san, some of the design inspiration for the Fujitsu compatibles came from IBM.

According to internal information, IBM is thoroughly checking all compatible machines on the market, especially the Neon here.

If some infringements are found, it may be more troublesome. "

Bai Chuanfeng probably understood that the six members of the Neon study group were a little flustered when IBM began to settle accounts after the fall.

In the past, most infringements involved lawsuits and gossip. They have experienced too many such things.

Under the circumstances that the neon government protects the calf, it is normal for a transnational lawsuit to be filed for several years.

Therefore, Fujitsu and the others did not care much about the so-called infringement before.

The big deal is that due to the pressure of the United States, they can sign an agreement in private, pay a sum of compensation and it's over, without even bowing.

But this time is different. This time Hitachi's incident was classified as an act of commercial espionage.

In particular, Hitachi and Mitsubishi's liaison officers in the United States have not stopped being arrested, and now they are starting a transnational pursuit process.

None of the Hitachi senior engineers and Kanagawa factory directors who participated in the previous work could escape.

This is more scary. Being in a prison in the United States is not a joke.

As the direct executives of Fujitsu-related businesses, Mazuka Moriyoshi and Tokita Ryuji broke into cold sweats several times now.

After all, in the study group where Fujitsu is located, the main person in charge is the two of them.

One is responsible for hardware architecture and one is responsible for software design. If IBM wants to use this incident to expand the scope of its attack, it may really be able to catch up with them.

Because Hitachi and Fujitsu will not go bankrupt, but employees will be arrested for breaking the law.

Therefore, it is understandable that Mazuka Moriyoshi and Tokita Ryuji are so anxious all day long.

Bai Chuanfeng nodded, probably understanding the meaning behind it.

Sure enough, there is no sovereignty and a small day of injustice, and there is no room for retaliation after being cleaned up by the master, and he is slaughtered by others.

"Mazuka-san, don't worry, if Fujitsu is not involved in this matter, only part of the design refers to IBM.

Then you two can rest assured that the dispute between Fujitsu and IBM is at best a software licensing dispute, which can generally be resolved through economic means. "

For software infringement, it’s over if you lose money.

Even if Fujitsu can take the initiative to communicate with IBM about licensing issues, then this matter may not even be a splash.

After hearing Bai Chuanfeng's comfort, Mazuka Daoyi immediately waved his hands.

"Of course Fujitsu was not involved in this matter. It was all a misunderstanding. Who knew that things like software also have copyright?"

Yes, the computer industry was just developing. At this time, in the eyes of Neon people, there is no concept of software copyright at all.

After the IBM espionage case, the general public realized that software also has copyright.

What a reckless era, everything is growing savagely.

Later generations attach great importance to copyright and severely crack down on piracy, also because they have stepped on countless thunders in the process of development.

Growth is always accompanied by labor pains, which is a problem that any country will encounter in the process of development.

But... After eating the melon, Bai Chuanfeng thought of his purpose of coming here again.

"By the way, Mazuka-san and Tokita-san, the two of you haven't said what this matter has anything to do with me?"

I didn't participate in your compatible machine business, so you can't find me.

Mazuka Moriyoshi and Tokita Ryuji looked at each other, with some hesitation on their faces.

In the end, Mazuka Daoyi, who had relatively more contact with Bai Chuanfeng, spoke up and told the reason for the incident.

"It is rumored that because of this incident, IBM is applying to review the designs of all of Hitachi's computer operations.

Including but not limited to compatibles, and most likely personal computers are also under review. "

Review the design of the computer? Bai Chuanfeng's eyes widened, this request was a little too much.

It is roughly equivalent to showing your own software and hardware design, inside and out, to others without reservation.

There are no commercial secrets at all, and even one's own cutting-edge technology will be learned by others.

Suddenly, Bai Chuanfeng was startled. "Fujitsu here...?"

"It's just a rumor, a rumor..." Mazuka Daoyi began to wipe his sweat again.

Although the other party tried his best to explain, Bai Chuanfeng's face had already darkened.