Introduction

The open, real-time system, standard development platform aimed at the construction of ubiquitous networks in which computers are incorporated in all sorts of things and linked together via a network is T-Engine. The concept called ubiquitous computing or pervasive computing today is basically synonymous with the Highly Functional Distributed System (or "Computing Everywhere") that the TRON Project led the world in proposing in the 1980s. Entering into the 1990s, research was also carried out in European and American universities and research institutions, and terms such as ubiquitous, pervasive, and calm came to be used. Arriving in the 21st century, semiconductor technology and network technology has greatly approached the point where ubiquitous computing or the Highly Functional Distributed System could be made a reality. The
T-Engine project was started with the aim of efficiently developing devices and software for actually constructing ubiquitous computing environments.

In order to more effectively promote the T-Engine project, on June 24, 2002, the T-Engine Forum was launched after obtaining the participation of 22 companies. Member firms reached 63 companies as of November 15, and they continue to further increase. In just half a year, multiple types of CPU boards have been released for T-Engine hardware platforms, and they cover the representative CPU architectures of the embedded line, SH, M32R, MIPS, and ARM. In these T-Engine hardware platforms operates the real-time operating system T-Kernel, and the development of various types of middleware groups that run on top of it is proceeding energetically. Amassing and distributing these middleware groups as resources is a great aim of the T-Engine project. These middleware are not created one by one for each CPU, but rather they can be provided for use with each CPU by recompiling. This is realized through the prescription of a common object format for the T-Engine/T-Kernel base plus the standard development environment and middleware distribution.

In developing application products for ubiquitous computing environments, we develop expansion boards as necessary for standardized hardware, and, on the other hand, we combine the necessary middleware in the manner as if they were parts, on top of which we develop applications. With hardware running in parallel with software development and evaluation, it possible to finish development in a short period by reorganizing the board or making things into ASICs depending on the purpose of the product. We call application appliances that are created in this manner T-Engine Appliances. Already, an IP telephone terminal that is based on a µT-Engine has been turned into a product, and a developer has succeeded in the development of a terminal for educational use in only several months by combining T-Engine with a group of upper layer middleware.

•Table List of Products

The Merits of T-Engine

T-Engine is an open, standardized development platform. We have prepared a series of four types for typical applications : the standard T-Engine , µT-Engine (micro-), nT-Engine (nano-), and pT-Engine (pico-). Standard T-Engine is a 120 x 75 mm board, and it is a platform for PDAs and next generation cell-phones premised on communication with humans. µT-Engine is a business-card-size board 85 x 60 mm that is for home appliance products with a comparatively small graphical user interface. nT-Engine is a board about the size of a coin for intelligent objects in the Highly Functional Distributed System, in other words, it is for for the smallest elements connected to networks and is to be embedded in various devices around us, such as lighting equipment, various types of sensors, electrically operated blinds, and air conditioning dampers. pT-Engine is a very tiny chip for installing in our various belongings that are not electronic devices; it communicates wirelessly. A common merit of these members of the T-Engine series is that they are loaded with the eTRON security architecture. The details on eTRON are taken up elsewhere, but this is a system for guaranteeing information security, which we must attach importance to in ubiquitous computing environments connected to networks.

As we introduced previously, T-Engine appliance product development in which we applied T-Engine has already been realized; we have added a new specification called Ubiquitous Communicator (UC), which is specialized toward the development of typical applications in ubiquitous computing environments. A UC is a communication tool for people to communicate with ubiquitous computing environments. With multiple wireless communication channels, the UC itself functions as an eTRON ticket or electronic money. Possessing functions personalized to each individual user, it is a terminal that can be used by anyone anywhere.

T-Engine Forum

In the T-Engine project, we have launched the T-Engine Forum as an organization for promoting its activities. Among the members, there are A members and B members. A members are members that are deeply involved mainly in research on T-Engine hardware, software, the development environment and eTRON standards and specifications or in the development of the development platform itself. They carry out these activities by participating in working groups (WGs). B membership has been set up mainly for users carrying out product development through the application of the T-Engine development board and for firms interested in developing and creating products such as expansion boards and middleware for T-Engine.

As for working groups, A members are qualified to participate; at present, the following six working groups are conducting activities.

Hardware WG

The Hardware WG carries out activities based on the theme of the hardware specifications of the T-Engine family: standard
T-Engine, µT-Engine, nT-Engine, and pT-Engine. Hardware based on the standard T-Engine and µT-Engine have been made into products. At present, studies are moving forward on hardware for nT-Engine and a ubiquitous communicator in cooperation with the Ubiquitous
Communicator WG.

Kernel and Development Environment WG

The Kernel and Development Environment WG carries out activities based on the theme of the software specifications of the T-Monitor basic monitor and T-Kernel basic kernel that run on top of the T-Engine family, plus the development environment for the applications and middleware on top of T-Kernel.

Middleware WG

The Middleware WG conducts activities based on the theme of the distribution of middleware that runs on top of T-Kernel.

Java WG

The Java WG carries out activities based on the theme of the Java language environment in particular among middleware.

Ubiquitous Communicator WG

The Ubiquitous Communicator WG carries out activities based on the theme of machines on T-Engine/T-Kernel that possess a human interface, such as PDAs, and that have communications functions that can communicate with a ubiquitous environment.

eTRON WG

The eTRON WG carries out activities based on the theme of the total security architecture for realizing T-Engine appliance network security functions. This WG is advancing research on the security infrastructure itself including the eTRON chip and server system, but we will establish an eTRON system application users' sub working group.


In the above manner, enthusiastic activities are being carried out on a wide range of themes related to ubiquitous computing in the working groups of the T-Engine Forum.

On the other hand, for B members, we regularly conduct seminars for promoting the application of T-Engine. These are wide ranging, from explanations of the hardware, operating system, and development environment to such things as guidelines for creating expansion boards and techniques for developing middleware to be distributed for T-Engine. As for expansion boards and middleware that have been developed, it will be possible to register them with the T-Engine Forum and market them through distribution channels. For example, if middleware developed for use in your company's product is utilized not just in your company but sold to another company as a part, development costs will have been reduced. Depending on the situation, there may also be a case in which the party supplying the part makes a profit.

The strong points of the T-Engine project are that there is participation by many members and that the more lively activities become, the more software and hardware resources that can be utilized increase, which forms a structure in which merits, such as enabling us to lower development costs, reduce development, and develop products with high reliability, are fostered one after the other. We hope by all means that many firms will participate.