LOS ANGELES Internet technology pioneer Jon Postel, the man credited with creating the Internet address system that allows connection to computers throughout the world, has died in hospital, it was reported Monday. He was 55. Postel died October 16 at a hospital in Santa Monica, news reports said. Postel is said to have wielded great influence over technical management of the Internet system.

In 1969, he helped establish a connection system between government sites and research universities for the U.S. Defense Department and began compiling a list of network protocol numbers for the system. Later, he developed such Internet protocols as the domain name system, file transfer and Telnet. Postel occasionally appeared a caricature of a computer genius. According to one story, the bearded and bespectacled engineer was once delayed in entering a U.S. military installation after being summoned for an emergency repair to a communications system because he arrived at the main gate without shoes, causing concern among guards.

Born in California, Postel attended the University of California at Los Angeles, obtaining a master's degree in engineering and a doctorate in computer science. (DPA)