Remote device management solutions provider emWare has announced its EMIT for Distributed Objects Developer Studio, a bundle of key components based on its recently announced EMIT for Distributed Objects framework. The purpose of the EMIT Developer Studio is to offer developers of embedded software a comprehensive development environment for creating fully Internet-enabled intelligent devices. At the heart of the EMIT Developer Studio is the Embedded Network Builder (ENB) software -- an innovative development tool that automatically generates the code required for networking embedded devices. Unlike various point solutions available today, the EMIT for Distributed Objects Developer Studio helps developers build a complete embedded solution that supports remote communications with such devices as printers, commercial lighting and security systems, point-of-sale systems, and medical equipment, using such client applications as Web browsers, spreadsheets, PDAs or even email.

The first release of the EMIT Developer Studio allows developers to leverage standard TCP/IP-over-Ethernet infrastructure to directly control and manage their intelligent devices. This direct device-to-client application communication is especially useful in situations in which the client applications and devices are on the same Local Area Network (LAN) behind a firewall.

"emWare is helping companies to be more competitive by enabling them to deliver a new generation of smart, Internet-enabled products that increase profits, productivity, and customer satisfaction," said Michael D. Nelson, CEO and co-founder of emWare. "We're offering developers the most flexible, easy-to-use, and affordable technology to make adding device networking and remote management capabilities to their products a reality."

Embedded Network Builder Automatically Generates "C" Source Code

The ENB is a Windows-based tool that helps developers to configure their embedded device by allowing them to easily define and expose their device's functions, variables, and events. Developers can also interactively select the networking protocols, services, and features required by their embedded applications.

Developers then use the ENB to create object interfaces that describe these networking features and functions. The ENB automatically generates EMIT Micro Object Server (MOS) source code in "C" that developers can easily integrate with their device application. The MOS software provides all the customized communication logic, protocols, and stacks that enable the device application to communicate with the other components of the EMIT for Distributed Objects framework, including the Object Access Library (OAL) for client communications. The ENB also includes a Board Support Package (BSP) for the Microsoft Windows platform, allowing developers to simulate their device application in a Windows environment before porting it to a specific hardware platform.

In addition to the ENB, the EMIT Developer Studio also includes the following components:

• Ethernet-TCP/IP SDK: The Ethernet-TCP/IP SDK, which is used together with the ENB, offers all the tools, documentation and examples needed by developers to add networked communications to embedded devices that are based on TCP/IP over Ethernet. This SDK also includes a Hitachi H8S/2134F reference board with an Ethernet add-on module for TCP/IP communications.


• ActiveX/COM Object Access Library (OAL): This software library allows developers to create powerful, sophisticated client applications that can interact with the devices they network-enabled using the Ethernet-TCP/IP SDK and ENB. The ActiveX/COM Object Access Library provides fast integration into Excel, Access, Outlook or any other application that can use ActiveX components.

Future Releases

In the near future, emWare will offer a full suite of alternative device communication SDKs and client communication libraries to allow developers to purchase the tools that best suit their needs. For example, upcoming device-communications SDKs will support TCP/IP-over-modem and serial communications. In addition, future OALs will support such client application environments and platforms as C++ and Java.