Erna Schneider Hoover was born on June 19, 1926. She is an American mathematician who created a method for computer-controlled telephone switching. This method changed modern communication by preventing system overloads. It monitored call center traffic and gave priority to important tasks on phone switching systems. This helped provide better service during busy times. She worked at Bell Laboratories for more than 32 years. There, she was known as a pioneer for women in the field of computer technology.

Early life

Erna Schneider was born on June 19, 1926, in Irvington, New Jersey. Her family lived in South Orange, New Jersey. Her father was a dentist, and her mother was a teacher. She had a younger brother who died from polio at the age of five. She enjoyed swimming, sailing, and canoeing. She became interested in science at a young age. One source says she read a book about Marie Curie, which showed her that women could succeed in science even though many people believed otherwise. She graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood in 1944. The school added her to its hall of fame in 2007.

Hoover went to Wellesley College, where she studied philosophy and history from ancient and medieval times. She graduated from Wellesley in 1948 with honors, earning a bachelor’s degree. She was added to Phi Beta Kappa, an honor society, and was named a Durant Scholar. She earned a PhD from Yale University in philosophy and the foundations of mathematics in 1951. At that time, only 5% of people who earned PhDs in philosophy were women, compared to men.

Personal life

While she was at Yale, she met Charles Wilson Hoover, Jr. She married him in 1953 during the time she taught at Swarthmore from 1951 to 1954. They had three daughters.

Career

Erna Schneider Hoover was a professor at Swarthmore College from 1951 to 1954, where she taught philosophy and logic. However, she had difficulty finding a permanent teaching job, possibly because of her gender and being married, according to one view. Her husband supported her career. When they moved to Summit, New Jersey, in 1954 for his new job at Bell Laboratories, she had trouble finding a teaching position. Instead, she began working for her husband’s company as a senior technical associate and was promoted in 1956. According to one source, the internal training program at Bell Labs was similar to earning a master’s degree in computer science. At the time, switching systems were changing from electronic to computer-based technologies. Problems occurred when a call center received thousands of calls quickly, overwhelming unreliable electronic relays and causing the system to stop working.

Hoover used her knowledge of symbolic logic and feedback theory to program the control systems of a call center. Her system used computer methods to track how many calls came in at different times. She prioritized processes that handled incoming and outgoing calls over less important tasks, such as record keeping and billing. This allowed the computer to automatically adjust how many calls the center accepted, reducing overloading. The system became known as stored program control.

Hoover developed the idea for her invention while she was in the hospital recovering after giving birth to her second daughter, according to several sources. Lawyers from Bell Labs visited her home during her maternity leave so she could sign patent papers. Her invention improved telephone service during busy times:

— Erna Schneider Hoover, 2008

For her invention, called the Feedback Control Monitor for Stored Program Data Processing System, Hoover was awarded U.S. patent 3,623,007 in November 1971, one of the first software patents ever issued. The patent was applied for in 1967 and issued in 1971. Because of her invention, she became the first woman to lead a technical department at Bell Labs. She managed the operations support department in 1987. The principles of her invention are still used in telecommunications equipment today.

Hoover worked on advanced projects, such as research radar control programs for the Safeguard anti-ballistic missile system, which aimed to intercept incoming missile warheads. Her department also worked on artificial intelligence, large databases, and software to support large telephone networks. She worked at Bell Labs for 32 years until retiring in 1987. In addition, she served on the boards of higher education organizations in New Jersey. As a member of the board of Trustees of The College of New Jersey, she was described as a visionary who helped increase the number of women faculty and enrolled the most qualified high school graduates in the state. She also helped improve the college by advocating for more state funding, making it a respected institution of higher education.

Awards

She received one of the first patents for computer software. In 2008, she was chosen as a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. She was given the Wellesley College alumni achievement award. In 2020, the College of New Jersey honored her with an honorary degree for her work in higher education in New Jersey, following her service on their board. Schneider Hoover was named the recipient of the National Center for Women & Information Technology's 2023 Pioneer Award.

Her invention helped create the foundation for modern communication systems that connect people and devices. Although her original system has changed and combined with other technologies, the basic ideas behind automated telephone switching systems remain the same. The work of Erna Schneider Hoover continues to influence the smooth and efficient communication networks that support today's society, especially in interactions between businesses and customers. Her contributions changed the telecommunications industry and helped open doors for future women in science and technology.