IP: Computer query

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

From: "Meeks, Brock" <Brock.Meeks () MSNBC COM>
To: "'farber () cis upenn edu'" <farber () cis upenn edu>
Subject: FW: Computer query
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 13:33:24 -0700
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Dave,


The following is from Pete Williams of NBC's Nightly News.  He's doing a 
story on the guy that has a computer program "in his head" the his former 
employer is suing him over, because the guy won't divulge it.


I told Pete I'd pass this around to a few folks I thought could answer the 
question or send his query on to appropriate places.  If it's okay to post 
on IP, great.  If not, could you forward it to mailing lists or news group 
you think are appropriate or suggest ones to me?


You can have replies sent to me at:  brock.meeks () msnbc com


Thanks --Brock


-----Original Message-----
From:   Pete Williams [SMTP:pwilliam () nbc com]
Sent:   Friday, July 11, 1997 4:20 PM
To:     Meeks, Brock
Subject:        Computer query




Brock-
Here's my query. Many thanks.


                        *   *   *   *   *   *


For a story on an intellectual property dispute in Texas, I have a question 
about computer code.
A Texas man claims to have developed an idea for converting old software 
into more modern language to run on newer machines. Here is how his legal 
documents describe the concept: "An algorithm for a software program that 
could convert machine-executable binary code into a high-level source code, 
using logic and data abstractions."  More specifically, the idea is 
described as "a way to automatically translate machine-executable binary 
code, such as Z8000, into a high level source code, such as C or C++ 
language."
My questions are:
1.      Of what practical value would such an idea be?
.       Only for mainframes, or PC's, too?
.       What could you do with it: dust off old programs written for slow 
machines and run them on today's faster machines?  Who would want to do 
that?


2.      Are there any such inventions already around?
3.      And if not, how much would such an idea be worth?  The company he's 
fighting says it would be worth "millions."


Thanks for your help.
Pete Williams
National Broadcasting Company, Inc.
Washington, D. C.