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Reading, UK – July 14, 2005 — A consortium comprised of leading
European real-time technology developers, industrial manufacturers, research
organizations and the international grouping coordinating the Safety Critical
real-time Java specification, have combined efforts to develop a new framework
for Real-time Java based high-integrity applications. Supported by the European
Commission, the High Integrity Java (HIJA) project is investing over €4.3
million (US$ 5.5 million) in an advanced architecturally neutral real-time
system (ANRTS) providing a platform-independent framework that maintains the
robust reliability essential for safety-critical and mission-critical applications,
while bringing new tools for increased reliability to developers of business
and consumer systems.
“Demand for greater intelligence in real-time components
is increasing not only in the safety-critical areas, but
also in the devices we use every day both at home and in
the office. As these embedded systems become increasingly
ubiquitous, it’s essential that there be an architecture
neutral platform that allows components to be designed and
to operate as high-integrity systems utilizing a broad range
of hardware architectures”, noted David Lounsbury,
The Open Group's Vice President of Research and Technology. “The
HIJA project will provide the market with a new real-time
tools and technologies framework for improving the reliability
of embedded systems, while delivering greater platform flexibility
inherent to Java based systems.”
The HIJA project will create a new real-time middleware
platform that supports the development of architecturally
neutral, high-integrity real-time systems (ANRTS). The goal
is to provide a framework that maintains the advantages of
Java such as portability, interoperability, object orientated
design, and the large tool and library base available for
Java, while providing a language subset that can be analyzed
by static tools and certified for a range of applications,
including the most demanding safety-critical systems.
One of several innovative aspects of the HIJA research is
its support for dynamic deployment and code mobility in high-integrity
systems. By extending Java’s “write once, run
anywhere” capabilities, solutions providers are able
to deliver the portability and upgradeability needed for
both the constantly changing business and consumer environments,
as well as the long term system performance and scalability
required in the mission-critical arena. High-integrity software
components can be maintained and distributed in portable
byte-code representation and easily distributed to and deployed
on a variety of CPU architectures and underlying real-time
operating systems.
The HIJA platform will also provide a standard set of development
tools to perform the static analysis and verification typically
imposed on developers of high-integrity software. By standardizing
these tools, the HIJA project further reduces development
costs and time, and improves software quality and maintainability.
The current Java language extension called the Real-Time
Specification for Java will be enhanced with specific features
that make it possible to develop code that has predictable
behavior and that can be used for real-time tasks where timing
is critical.
The HIJA project is receiving financial support from the
6th Framework Programme, an initiative of the European Community
created to foster European research and development of new
technologies, applications and industries. The HIJA project
will run through 2006 and is expected to contribute to ongoing
standards development activities related to safety-critical
Java, mission-critical Java, and ARINC 653 Part 2 Apex extensions.
The HIJA project is led by The Open Group and includes four
universities and research institutes: University of Karlsruhe,
University of York, FZI and Universidad Politécnica
de Madrid; three industrial manufacturers: Thales-Avionics,
Telecom Italia Learning Services, and Fiat Research Centre,
and four technology suppliers: Aicas, Aonix, Bellstream,
and Trialog.
The Open Group is a vendor-neutral and technology-neutral consortium, which
drives the creation of Boundaryless Information Flow- that will enable access
to integrated information within and between enterprises based on open standards
and global interoperability. The Open Group works with customers, suppliers,
consortia and other standard bodies. Its role is to capture, understand and
address current and emerging requirements, establish policies and share best
practices; to facilitate interoperability, develop consensus, and evolve and
integrate specifications and open source technologies; to offer a comprehensive
set of services to enhance the operational efficiency of consortia; and to
operate the industry's premier certification service.
Note to editors:
Boundaryless Information Flow is a trademark of The Open
Group.
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