Accelerated Technology Upgrades EDGE Tool Suite to Support Eclipse 3.1 Platform.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Accelerated Technology(R), a Mentor Graphics division (Nasdaq:MENT), today announced a new version of its EDGE(TM) Tool Suite which supports Eclipse 3.1, the latest version of the open framework. The EDGE version 1.2 suite provides embedded systems developers with a complete, integrated tool solution that includes an integrated development environment (IDE), debugger, profiler, compiler, unified modeling language (UML) tools, Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) connection device and prototyping tools. The tool suite supports the ARM(R), MicroBlaze(TM), MIPS(R), Nios(R) II and PowerPC(R) family of processors.

Eclipse 3.1 introduces various enhancements to its framework, most notably improved operation performance, of which EDGE Tool Suite users can now take advantage. Because the EDGE Tool Suite is based on a standard, unmodified version of Eclipse, EDGE developers benefit from the ability to use all of the plug-ins provided by the Eclipse community, which add value to the Eclipse framework.

New features of the EDGE software include Dynamic Variant Support (DVS), which allows embedded developers to easily target variants of currently supported processor families. For instance, a user may add a variant of the PowerPC family by simply dropping in additional XML files that describe the new processor. Also, new target support packages make it easier for users to apply the EDGE tools to new embedded development boards. Additionally, developers can now benefit from a new fully automated function that allows the debugger to connect to an embedded target. These new features enable users to be up and running quickly out of the box for faster product development.

The EDGE Profiler software, part of the EDGE Tool Suite, has previously used a serial interface to move collected data from the target to the host for analysis. Now, in addition to the serial interface option, the updated EDGE Profiler software utilizes an Ethernet channel to communicate with the target board. Because throughput is faster using Ethernet versus serial, collecting profiling data on the embedded application is greatly improved. The Ethernet channel uses the IP stack so that the EDGE Profiler can gather data from remote locations without requiring a direct connection between the host and the target.

The EDGE Profiler now also contains downloadable filters, which give users complete control over collected data. This allows developers to collect only the specific data required for diagnosing a problem, thereby minimizing the impact that the profiler might have on the embedded system's behavior. An added benefit of using the filters is that data collection can be changed dynamically. The target agent doesn't have to recompile to change captured events.

"This release of the EDGE Tool Suite gives our users what they have been asking for: more performance and ease-of-use. Because our tools are built upon the Eclipse framework, customers are getting all the value we have added, plus the benefit of the work done by the Eclipse community," said Glen Johnson, product marketing manager, Accelerated Technology Division, Mentor Graphics.

"Accelerated Technology's EDGE tool chain is a great example of how Eclipse can be used in a commercial environment. Basing their tool chain around Eclipse allows Accelerated Technology to focus on adding incremental value, rather than implementing common IDE features," said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation.

The EDGE software suite comprises years of technology development. It gives embedded developers tighter tool integration, total control over the quality and stability of their applications, full control of release cycles, shorter learning curves and a common platform with desktop tools.

Pricing and Availability

Licenses for the complete EDGE Tools software package begin at U.S. $3,000 per seat. For more information, please contact Accelerated Technology at 800-468-6853 or [e-mail].

About Mentor Graphics

Mentor Graphics Corporation (Nasdaq:MENT) is a world leader in electronic hardware and software design solutions, providing products, consulting services and award-winning support for the world's most successful electronics and semiconductor companies. Established in 1981, the company reported revenues over the last 12 months of about $700 million and employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide. Corporate headquarters are located at 8005 S.W. Boeckman Road, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070-7777; Silicon Valley headquarters are located at 1001 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, California 95131-2314. World Wide Web site: http://www.mentor.com/.

Accelerated Technology, a Mentor Graphics division, is located in Mobile, Alabama with sales offices and distributors worldwide. By providing embedded systems developers with a focus on service, well-documented source code and industry-leading non-royalty-based Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) software including modeling software, prototyping tools, kernels, middleware and Eclipse-based development tools, AT's suite of products shorten time-to-market and provide a complete solution for engineers. For more information, please visit www.acceleratedtechnology.com or e-mail us at [e-mail].

Mentor Graphics, Accelerated Technology and Nucleus are registered trademarks, and EDGE is a trademark of Mentor Graphics Corporation. All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.