I-Logix Announces `Get Connected' Technology to Rapidly Web-Enable Embedded Applications.

Business/Technology Editors

ESC 

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SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2000

Acquires Technology from Israel-based Start-up and Partners with

Allegro Software to Enable Connectivity, Monitoring and Control of

Remote Embedded Devices From Standard Web Browsers 

Representing its continuing effort to remove the roadblocks to "pervasive computing," I-Logix Inc., the premier provider of enterprise solutions for embedded applications development, today demonstrated the first products in a comprehensive initiative to Web-enable embedded devices and to leverage the Internet as an infrastructure for embedded software development. Through the acquisition of technology from an Israel-based start-up, a partnership with embedded Web technology provider Allegro Software Development Corporation, and the introduction of Rhapsody(TM) 3.0, I-Logix enables embedded applications designers to quickly and easily add a Web-based communications infrastructure into any pervasive computing device. For example, with Web connectivity, authorized users can remotely view the actual code driving devices and make changes without leaving their desk, reducing service calls. In addition, designers will be increasingly able to utilize the Web as a collaborative development platform.

"Many designers today recognize the value of adding functionality like Bluetooth or an embedded Web server into their device designs, however, it can be very difficult to implement these changes," said Gene Robinson, president and CEO of I-Logix. "We continue in our commitment to provide the embedded community with the best design tools possible to smoothly transition to pervasive computing, in which every device is connected to the Web. We are focused on this initiative to enable our users to make the transition in the most seamless fashion possible."

Embedded Web Connectivity

One major component of many new pervasive computing device designs is the communications infrastructure. The ability to link a device to a network through radio communication, an embedded Web server or other hard-wired mechanism is critical in today's networked environment. Services like remote management, remote control and error notification have the potential to save manufacturers significant time and expense associated with service and repair calls. Companies today are looking to this communications infrastructure as a way to streamline costs and add services for their customers. I-Logix is working to make it easier to build this functionality into devices.

To enable remote users to view a system's operations, it is necessary to have a way to access the status of devices remotely through a browser. I-Logix has acquired technology from an Israel-based start-up that gives designers a graphical view into the execution of application software. With this browser-based view, users can remotely view, monitor, reconfigure and control embedded devices.

Once the view into a device is in place, a communications infrastructure must be embedded in the device. To streamline the process of adding Web technology such as Web servers into embedded applications, I-Logix has partnered with Allegro Software Development Corporation, a leader in the Internet appliance solutions market, to leverage its market-leading RomPager(R) embedded Web Server. (See related release titled "I-Logix and Allegro Software Development Agree to Integrate RomPager Embedded Web Server with I-Logix' Rhapsody Visual Application Development Platform.") Through this partnership, I-Logix will deliver with Rhapsody, a Web server component ready to be built into any design. Designers will be able to add the server to their device and generate the code to test and validate their design before going into production. In addition, Allegro offers other Web-related component technologies that can be plugged into Rhapsody-generated applications that, for example, will enable embedded devices to send email or parse XML information.

"In today's market, the need to remotely monitor and control embedded devices is skyrocketing. I-Logix' tools will help build these Web-enabled embedded devices that will allow authorized users to reconfigure, collect status and control embedded applications from the browser on their desk. Manufacturers will be able to provide these devices with increased customer support and service built into them," said Bill Claybrook, research director, Aberdeen Group.

Enhanced Web Collaboration with Rhapsody 3.0

In addition, with the launch of Rhapsody 3.0, the latest version of its award-winning visual application development platform, I-Logix announced added functionality in Rhapsody to aid distributed design teams in their collaboration on projects over the Web anytime, anywhere in the world. Designers that want to leverage the Web for broader collaboration among teams, even those who are not co-located in the same building, or even on the same continent, can now hold interactive design review sessions using built-in support for Microsoft NetMeeting.

About I-Logix Inc.

Founded in 1987, I-Logix is a venture-backed software company that provides enterprise solutions for real-time embedded applications development in the growing "pervasive computing" market. I-Logix' solutions significantly compress software development cycles while improving product quality. These products allow engineers to graphically model the behavior and functionality of their embedded systems, analyze and validate the system and automatically generate production quality code in a variety of languages. I-Logix uniquely integrates and associates the entire design flow from concept to code across an enterprise using both conventional and collaborative Web-enabled technology.

I-Logix is a member of the Object Management Group (OMG) and the Bluetooth SIG, a founding member of the Embedded Linux Consortium, and a founder of the Unified Modeling Language (UML). I-Logix is backed by ABS Ventures, Commonwealth Capital Ventures, Gilde Investments, One Liberty Ventures and North Bridge Venture Partners. The company is headquartered in Andover, Mass., and has sales offices and distributors throughout the USA, Europe and the Far East. I-Logix can be found on the Internet at http://www.ilogix.com.

Editors Note: Rhapsody is a registered trademark of I-Logix Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.