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Optimize with a SATA RAID Storage Solution
Range of capacities as low as $1250 per TB. Ideal if you currently rely on servers/disks/JBODs
Also, I lobbed a few questions at Dr. David Ripps (david.ripps@javaworld.com), Vice President of Research at IPI.
We complete the article with a short discussion of the newly announced JavaOS from Sun Microsystems and some pointers to other sites with URLS of interest. JavaSoft has also announced plans for an embedded api and serious developers should check out the general status of all the APIs.
Now, for the interview...
Rinaldo: What is IPI and what does it do in the real-time industry?
Bernard: IPI's MTOS is a family of real-time operating systems that are widely used in embedded applications. There are more than two thousand licensees and many thousands of MTOS-based products have been developed. There are literally millions of embedded copies of MTOS in action in the real world.
MTOS ports are available for the 80x86 and 68xxx families, the MIPS R3000/R4000, and the PowerPC. Numerous board support packages have been developed and are readily available to interested parties. Among these is a highly integrated system for the 80x86-based PC. This system takes over the PC, and includes a DOS-compatible filesystem and drivers for all of the standard PC peripherals. Part of the standard package includes extensive support for third-party development and debugging software, as well as IPI's own Debugger/Resource Reporter.
MTOS applications range from a device to mix drinks to the AWACS and other high-end products. A few of the main product areas and some typical customers are given below:
| Communication Systems | Alcatel, Ericsson, Fujitsu, GPT, GTE, Motorola, NTT, Philips, Tellabs |
| Process Control | ABB, Bristol Babcock, Bailey, GE, Honeywell, Measurex, Toshiba |
| Factory Automation | GE, GM, Mitsubishi, Philips, Sony, Toyota |
| Medical Equipment | Ciba/Corning, Cobe, Gambro, GEC, Johnson & Johnson, Nova Biomedical, Puritan Bennett, Siemens |
| Graphics & Imaging | Data Products, Genicom, IBM, Kodak, Philips, Printronix |
Rinaldo: What will the effect of Java be on IPI'S business? How do you think the Picojava, Microjava, and Ultrajava chips will effect your industry?
Bernard: In order to answer this question, it's necessary to assume that Java will evolve rapidly into a system that can meet the needs of the embedded systems marketplace. I say rapidly because, if the evolution is too slow, then Java really won't get there at all. Furthermore, while Java, as presently constituted, can be used in certain non-critical embedded applications, it needs to be strengthened in significant ways. It should be more efficient, more robust, and more capable in ways that are relevant for embedded applications. One of the really undesirable things that should be avoided at almost any cost is a proliferation of proprietary solutions. Really, Sun should face up to these issues and, perhaps by working with a company like IPI, find the way forward.