towards the future (1) the organisations (before the tcs) seven layer communications small,...

Towards the future (1)

The Organisations (Before the TCS)

Seven Layer Communications

Small, innovative company withexcellent experience in softwaredevelopment for a major industrial customer

School of Computing, Napier University

Strong undergraduate programmes in networking and software engineering. Good skills in software integration with hardware.


A Few Facts

Fact 1: Computer networks are getting fastereach year, as the demand for datatransfer increases

Fact 2: Organisations are now dependent on fastand reliable networks, thus networkingproducts must be well-tested, for every possible situation

The success of the TCS programme has been highlighted with a proposal from the Scotsman which favoured an expansion of the 27-year-old TCS programme to stimulate increased R&D activities

Report hits out at SME’s lack of R&D innovationScotsman, 25 Apr 2003 [http://www.business.Scotsman.com/paperboy.cfm?id=472412003]


What’s the Problem?

Rule: How do you test a network devicewhich is working at the limits of technology?

Obviously the testing device mustbe working at a much higher rate

Check forErrors?

Verify performance

Performtasks

Test forevery condition


Embedded Systems

Types of computers? Computer systems areeither general-purpose orembedded with software andhardware carefully engineered

Desktop computers:- Often unreliable.- General-purpose.- Complex to setup.- Poor software and hardware integration

Embedded systems:- Robust.- Fast, highly-optimised.- Easy to configure.- Strong integration of software and hardware


Complexity of Embedded Systems

Complexsystem running

a state-of-the-artoperating system

and optimised software

Complexsystem running

a state-of-the-artoperating system

and optimised software

Complexityand processing power

Networking device

Handheld device

Mobile device

LINUX

WindowsCE

It is expected that, in the forthcoming years, that there may be as many as ten times the number of embedded computers running software sold, as there are desktop computers.


What’s the Problem?

Rule: Embedded software running at thecurrent limits of technology mustbe carefully engineered to performa specific function

TCS Achievement:To prove the concept of, and provide new techniques for, reusable software components for high-speed network design tools using embedded software. This type of development will keep the UK at the forefront of Internet developments and in network testing/validation.

The UK government and the EU have defined embedded software technologies as one of the key areas of technical developments for the future prosperity of the IT industry


Benefits to the Company?

Benefit: Expected increase of £250,000 in profit as a result of the programme, with further product development into integrated network test tools. Sales turnover has increased from £353,809 (1999/2000) to £593,225 (2001/2002).

Benefit: New Two-Associate KTP.

Benefit: Improved business case analysis, which allows for resourcing and planning to be more easily managed

Benefit: Improved business case analysis, which allows for resourcing and planning to be more easily managedBenefit:

Creation of a reusable software platform which can be used for other projects.

And so on: Initiated new ideas and methods within the company.Creation of a broader client base for the company’s products.Increased publicity for the company, especially as a result of research paper publication.


Benefits to the Associate?

Benefit: Increased technical exposure to the research and development process during the TCS project, has considerably improved the Associate’s project management skills.

Benefit: Paper published in IEEE Conference.

Benefit: Complete integration within the DSMA research group at Napier University, along with establishing strong links to other universities.

Benefit: Professional membership of the IEEE and IEE. The TCS programme has provided an excellent route to CEng status. Benefit:

MPhil Completion within two years.

And so on: Areas of work from the TCS project were presented in the IEEE Industrial track at ECBS Conference held in Lund, Sweden in April 2002. This increased the expose for the Company Partner, and shows that the company are working at the forefront of embedded systems developments.


Benefits to the University?

Benefit: Exposure to state-of-the-art networkingand software development

Benefit: New MSc programmein Adv. Nets

Benefit: · Investigation into a new research area, which has been identified as a leading strategic technological area in the UK and the EU.

Benefit: New research groupCreated (Distributed System and Mobile Agents)

Benefit: MPhil Completion.

And so on: Exposure to current industrial practices for Software Engineering, and in project management.Generation of new research area in software component design …New material in network programming used in undergraduate programme Project placements ….Increased recruitment on undergraduate networking-related programmes and for PhD programmes …


The Future?

Future: New TCS Programme with IC DesignAnd Software Development

Future: New BEng (Hons) programming in Embedded Systems

Future: · Work using in RAE submission

Benefit: New modulesin network programmingand embedded systems

Future: Enhanced MSc/BEng (Hons)projects

And so on: Increased product development.Increased MPhil completions.…

Towards the futureof British Industry and Academia… for wealth creationand prosperity


Technology/Knowledge Transfer

TCSProgramme

TCSProgramme

TCS/KTP Consultant

Pro

ject

man

agem

ent s

kills

Networking skills

Organisational skills

Softwaredevelopm

ent skills

Academic

rigor/paper publishing

Enterprise/innovation

Tra

inin

g ad

vice

Technology skills

Tec

hnol

ogy

skill

s


Technology/Knowledge Transfer Results

TCSProgramme

TCSProgramme

TCS/KTP Consultant

Pro

ject

man

agem

ent s

kills

Networking skills


Softwaredevelopm

ent skills

Academic



Tra

inin

g ad

vice

Technology skills

Tec

hnol

ogy

skill

s

Improved teaching/research

Improved wealth generation

Improved advice/funding

towards the future (1) the organisations (before the tcs) seven layer communications small,...

Documents