CV

Client Orris Systems Ltd (Own company) Huddersfield

Job Director / Consultant

Dates Feb 2004 – Present

For the past 3 years or so I have been doing work through my own business. This work has always been windows based developing both web and windows applications. This has entailed the use of Visual Studio 2003 and 2005, developing with ASP .NET (1.0 and 2.0), VB .NET and a little C# .NET. I have developed sophisticated systems using databases (Mostly SQL server 2000 plus some MS Access and a little Oracle).

Two significant projects have been undertaken, plus some other minor ones.

BT: .NET 1.0. Windows service to automatically gather data from various sources, and place them in SQL Server 2000 database. This multithreads and schedules its own tasks to produce reports, archive data with other operational considerations. Also developed ASP .NET web site to allow users to log on and retrieve reports, and other data. Also allows administrators to log on and administer various functions such as users, ad hoc backups and the like.

SMileS: .NET 2.0 Windows service/applications to act as a universal messaging engine for SMS, HTTP and eMail based on a large SQL 2000 database. Complex system that allows customers to register, log on and set up messaging campaigns with a great variety of options. Has to handle network connections to aggregators using various protocols such as SMPP, HTTP, SOAP etc. Extensive use of XML to facilitate customers' sending/receiving data, and to facilitate sending/receiving data to/from aggregators. Also developed ASP.NET web sites to allow customers to perform their functions, and to retrieve/view their own data & statistics.

Web URLs can be given if required to show some of the work I've done.

Client Unisys Home based with visits

Job Technical Architect

Dates Apr 2003 – Jan 2004

Took short term concurrent contracts with Unisys to assist in the installation and testing of fixed line SMS system. Initially designed and configured a system so that Unisys could use their own equipment back to back to simulate a SS7 signalling network over E1 links. Later developed some software to further enhance the back to back working. Then worked at Unisys customer premises setting up the initial test bed SS7 network to connect the Unisys equipment to telephone network. Conducted initial testing to establish connectivity and routing. Thereafter tested and corrected Unisys MSC and HLR software up to the point where the customer issued certificates granting the Unisys equipment connection the live telephone network.

Client Various Home based with visits to

Job Consultant customers

Dates Apr 2000 – March 2003

April 2000 went totally independent trading via own company (Orris Systems Ltd). All work done on a fixed price basis. Whilst Unisys was the largest client work has also been completed for other companies such as Wireless Commerce Ltd, Three Trees Ltd., SGL, Hirst Wool Trading Ltd, Garside Builders, J B Sykes Motors and many others.

Many projects included the building and configuration of PCs, and the design and installation of networks. Considerable use of PC development tools – Visual Studio 6, Visual Basic, and Visual C++, to develop bespoke systems and to develop simulators so as to test software developed for the Unisys platform that communicates with other manufacturers’ platforms. Use Deamweaver 4.0 and PERL/CGI to build web sites for customers. Much use made of HTML (4) & XML to further enhance these sites to better promote customer’s needs.

First Unisys project was to develop a TCP/IP interface for USSD messaging servers into Unisys voice platforms to facilitate prepaid roaming for mobile phones. Developed test harness for above on Windows 98/NT using VB6 and TCP/IP via Microsoft’s winsock.

Developed large specialist notification systems via X.25 network for major European fixed line network operator, and interfaces for a Universal Messaging system destined to be a corporate product. Further developed notification interfaces for SMPP, UCP and France Telecom’s SGN system. Other projects include interfaces to Oracle databases via UCP type protocols over TCP/IP. Many others developing special interfaces to SMSCs. More recently added transports to notification systems that use TCAPMWI in TCAP over SS7 in both GSM and ANSI/IS41-C environments.

Provided consultancy for pre sales project for a fixed wire SMS system for other major telcos. Also involved in assisting in the development of several pre sales quotes in response to RFQs from large clients such as FT, Telefónica España, Centertel and Amtel. These quotes involved research into subjects such as SMS over fixed wire networks using POTS as well as ISDN, operating SMSCs in mixed IS41 and GSM mobile networks, & universal messaging and notification.

Client Unisys Home based with visits to foreign

Job Senior Technical Architect Unisys customers

Dates Apr 1997 – Apr 2000

Joined a development group (SDG) developing core software products for the telephony arena. Most s/w written is in Algol for Unisys NX series m/c's. Also s/w in VB on PC's to test TCP/IP connections. Wrote TCP/IP interface for fax notification to a paging bureau. Extended the SMSC for mobile network provider. Wrote SMPP short messaging TCP/IP interface for external SME's to SMSC. Wrote extensions to GNS system for major global terrestial telephone network. Wrote interface to SS7 signalling points for MWI notifications. All work is done according to ETSI standards for GSM. Wrote UCP client interface to external CMG SMSC’s. Wrote SMPP client interface to external Logica Aldiscon SMSC’s.

Developed test harness programs to run on PCs using TCP/IP VB5 & 6 and telnet OCXs.

Client Unisys London

Job Senior Technical support

Dates Jan 1997 – Apr 1997

In a small team providing technical support to the Voice processing development teams based on Unisys A series computers, alongside the telephony network based on physical switches and PC networks.

Use of Affinite tool GPM to extract performance data, and its subsequent analysis and use.

Client Orange PCS Bristol

Job Senior Network Engineer

Dates Oct 1996 - Jan 1997

In a small team providing technical support to the Voice processing systems based on Unisys A series computers, alongside the telephony network based on physical switches and PC networks.

Client Affinité Europe West Yorks

Job Senior Technical Consultant

Dates Apr 1995 - Oct 1996

Affinité Europe is a small software and consultancy company that provides software and consultancy to Unisys A series users.

Concentrating on the connectivity and networking of mainframes and PCs. Heavy involvement on the use of LANs and via bridges and routers into high speed WANs. These networks being supported by protocols such as IPX/SPX, NETBIOS, NETBEUI, TCP/IP etc. Developing PC systems using Visual Basic, Excel Basic & MS Access/Access Basic that communicate with mainframes and servers via specialised VBXs & OCXs.

In addition involved in Client / Server systems where the servers consist of Unisys A series enterprise servers, Clearpath, NT, etc. with associated systems and database systems such as MS Access with ODBC and SQL interfaces.

Much of this work involved use of Attachmate products such as INFOConnect, data bridge and others.

Provided consultancy in mainframe performance measurement, capacity planning and database administration. The tools used concentrate on extracting data from the mainframe onto PCs, and printing/displaying data in graphical, tabular and easy to understand reports. Also provided telephone and onsite support services to a variety of customers.

Client DCA (now Attachmate) International Support Group Shannon Eire

Job Systems Engineer - Unisys Division

Dates Jan 1995 - Apr 1995

Provide telephone and onsite support services on Attachmate's Unisys terminal emulators and connectivity products for Unisys A series mainframes and LAN connectivity products, for DOS/Windows/OS2/NT/MAC/Novell environments, to customers in Europe, Africa, and Middle East Region, and to DCA's sales, pre sales, and marketing staff. The products consist of Intercom, PEP, INFO Connect, Data bridge and Netwizard. Also support DCA's PC adapter board range which varies from Unisys Communications to DCA's Token Ring adapter boards.

Client Unisys UWT Prague

Job A Series Technical support

Dates Apr 1994 - Jan 1995

Employed to design and develop a “Managed File Transfer System”. This system transmits files from any host on the Ceska Sporitelna network to any other. It will cascade files to many nodes via other nodes. In addition these file transfers are requested by software, and upon delivery the receiving software is informed. The system maintains it’s own database of configuration data, and running data. It is fully resilient in that it automatically ensures that integrity and delivery of all files despite any hardware, software or communications failure(s). This software is fully modular, and security conscious.

Uses Algol, BNA and interfaces to LINC on the A series. It employs advanced techniques such as circular library links, DCAlgol Queues, BNA port files, multiple asynchronous task control, multiple concurrent dialogs, etc.

Client Toys "R" Us USA

Job Technical support consultant

Dates Oct 1993 - Apr 1994

Employed to support large Unisys A series mainframes (A17 & A19, plus an A4 for systems software testing) and their associated network of 7 CP2000's, LAN workstations and X25 links into a large countrywide DECNET network. Responsible for development of network control agent, maintenance of various remote printing systems, installation of all systems software, along with support of DMSII, RDB. Involved with the planning of, and moving 1 mainframe to another remote site with high speed peripheral and LAN links. Responsible for installation of Metalogic's Supervisor, JamPack and Wait watcher, OPAL programming, and general maintenance of the supervisor environment. Also supporting WFLmanager, BLPack, RemotePrint and general technical support and guidance in all aspects of A series computers.

Client Unisys World Trade Czech Republic

Job Network consultant

Dates Sep 28 1992 - Oct 1993

Employed to design and implement a large complex network using X.25 over BNA for Ceska Sporitelna in the Republic of Czech. Hardware consists of 2 x Unisys mainframes (A16 in Brno, A19 in Prague) each with 6 CP2000's communicating with (in the 1st phase) 250 SG5000 CTOS BNA hosts. Each CTOS host having from 4 to 10 SG2000 workstations using BTE, and an AP9210 printer. The network has had to be designed to be able to grow to 1000 CTOS hosts, and to take into account a very poor telephone line infrastructure. In addition it has to support a high speed link between the Aseries mainframes (2 MBit Micro wave link). The network has inbuilt redundancy, uses Eurotel's countrywide X.25 PDN and supports local X.25 networks owned by the bank.

In addition set up LANs to communicate in the data centres. These LANs coexisted Unisys CPLAN, and Novell Ethernet to enable the LAN network to retain it's existing client/server facilities whilst at the same time allowing the PCs to communicate with the Unisys network via terminal emulators etc. over the LAN.

Additionally involved in mainframe support in Brno using DMSII and LINC supporting LFMS and OCTAGON systems. Written several system utilities (BNA program agent, reporting s/w) to monitor and react to the network to improve reliability in an attempt to alleviate the problems caused by bad lines and such like. Instructed and trained Czech personnel in BNAv2, NAU etc etc so that they can devolve their own support in the future.

Client                          Bytes & PC's
Job                              PC building, support & training
Dates                          April 1992 - Sep 1992

Set up own company building & selling PC's. Involved in installation support and training for Word processing, spreadsheet and accounting networks (Novell, Mainlan etc). Had to install systems into customers' existing networks as well as establishing new networks. All these networks were based on Novell, some pure some with an IPX interface to use Sage's Mainlan at the logical level.

Client:                   National Power PLC                                          Harrogate
Job:                       Support Systems Analyst
Dates:                   Oct 1990 - Apr 1992

Member of a team of 5 supporting networks of Unisys computers (A4, A10, CP2000's, B20's, B1000's) using BNAv2, COMS, MARC, SYCOM, GEMCOS, NAU etc. Extensive analysis/programming duties supporting a large WIP/Stores control system using ALGOL, COBOL and DMSII. Involved in technical support of the A series network and system software.

Client:                   Midland Bank PLC                                           Sheffield
Job:                       Technical Support Analyst
Dates:                   Feb 1990 - Oct 1992

Member of a team of 6 supporting a Unisys network of 4 x A17's, CP2000's, B28's, V510's etc. using BNAv2, COMS, MARC, MCP, NAU, NCF etc. Installed NCF (the 1st time for the bank). Developed an on-line interactive log analyzer program. Supported MCS's, NDLII, etc in addition to the software mentioned above.

Client:                   S.W.I.F.T. inc                                                 Culpeper USA
Job:                       Network Support Analyst
Dates:                   Jun 1987 - Feb 1990

Swift is an extremely large user of Unisys A series equipment worldwide.First assignment was to develop a system to test and qualify SWIFT's own version of the BiSync communications protocol. On completing this task reported the problems with this protocol. Was subsequently asked to stay on to correct the protocol.

After this (about a year's work) was kept on to support network software and provide technical support and guidance to others. Also investigated and tested X.25 for use on CP2000's and subsequently provided support and guidance in this discipline.

Client:                   Post Office                                                     Chesterfield
Job:                       Support Analyst
Dates:                   Sep 1986 - Jun 1987

Dual responsibility for support to systems on a Burroughs A9F and B5900, and general systems analysis work. Implemented an on line system for data collection and analysis via a bespoke file transfer MCS. Supported general systems software and also completed several small technical support systems.

Client:                   Ford Motor Company                                        Port Elizabeth (RSA)
Job:                       Technical Support Analyst
Dates:                   Aug 1985 - Aug 1986

Employed as general technical support to 2 x Burroughs B6900's (Tightly coupled via global memory etc.) and a Burroughs A9F (loosely coupled via ISC's and BNA) with an inhouse network of TD830's on TDI lines, and an external network to countrywide Burroughs B20 clusters and to worldwide file transfer. Initially debugged Ford's own automatic file transfer MCS to transfer parts files between PE, England, Germany and the USA and made it work. Subsequently extended it to trap print backup files on completion, send them to Pretoria's IBM complete with IBM JCL to automatically print them with appropriate header sheets on the appropriate printer. In addition responsible for the maintenance of NDLII, GEMCOS SMFII, and systems software. Debugged Burroughs poll select algorithm in NDLII to correct and make work group poll. Wrote local utilities and SMFII reporting routines.

Client:                   BNFL plc                                                        Warrington
Job:                       Project Leader
Dates:                   Mar 1981 - Aug 1985

Initially employed to do a manpower expenditure project. BNFL is involved in large construction projects which needed accurate manpower budgetting & expenditure analysis. Undertook the initial feasibility study and progressed through systems analysis & design, programming and implementation. Was responsible for 3 analysts and 5 analyst/programmers.

On completion designed and implemented a testing system for a large and complex online management information system. Produced the initial documentation, oversaw the testing and was responsible for logging & reporting the results.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE SUMMARY