Streamlining software development
Many
of
the
consumer
products
developed
today
have
tiny
“computers”
in
them.
Devices,
like
telephones,
cable
boxes
or
Global
Positioning
System
(GPS)
have
small
programs
and
databases
with
stored
information.
Finding
efficient
ways
to
create
the
programming
within
the
devices
and
coordinate
data
transfer
between
central
servers
and
the
device
is
part
of
David
Toman’s
research.
“We are developing a software tool which will allow you to write a query in a natural way and ultimately compile code in the actual device,” says David. The tool requires the development of a description language, a variant of Structured Query Language (SQL) that allows programmers to more quickly and accurately write the code that lets these small devices communicate. David has been working for the past year on the theory of description language — how to think about description, complexity, system description and how to decide the questions to ask.
Now that a good portion of the theory work has been done, version 0.1 of the tool will allow the programmer to type a single query line. The query would be converted to C or Java and then executed within the device’s embedded system. A programmer would previously have to hand-write pages and pages of code to get the devices to communicate. A single coding mistake could result in “buggy” code and system failures.
David explains, “The goal is streamlining software development and making it more robust so people don’t have to do software upgrades.” The project (Database Technology for Embedded Systems) and the software tool have been developed using telecommunications as test systems. David sees applications beyond telecom to other industries with embedded systems and distributed devices. Grants from Nortel Networks™, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), CITO, and Canada Foundation for Innovation®/Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT) have made the research possible.
University of Waterloo Mathematics, Annual Report 2005
Note: Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Nortel is a trademark of Nortel Networks. CFI is a registered trademark of the Canada Foundation for Innovation.