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The Open Group today announced that it has partnered with a consortium of leading European real-time technology developers, industrial manufacturers and research organizations to develop a new framework for Java-based real-time applications on modern parallel processor systems. Supported by the European Commission, the Java Environment for Parallel Real-time Development (JEOPARD) project is investing over €3.3 million (US$4.9 million) in an advanced framework for real-time Java running on multi-core and parallel systems. This platform-independent framework will maintain the robust reliability essential for safety and mission critical applications, while using the additional processing power available from the latest parallel platforms.

Led by The Open Group, the JEOPARD consortium includes four universities and research institutes: University of York, Vienna University of Technology, FZI and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca; three industrial manufacturers: EADS, RadioLabs and SkySoft; and two embedded systems technology suppliers: aicas and SYSGO. The technology research is being directed by aicas to ensure project results meet the highest industry level standards for reliability and real-time performance.

The strategic objective of the JEOPARD project is to provide the tools for platform-independent development of predictable systems that make use of SMP multi-core platforms. These tools will enhance software productivity and reusability by extending processor technology already established on desktop systems for the specific needs of multi-core embedded systems. The project will actively contribute to standards required for the development of portable software in this domain, such as the Real-Time Specification for Java (RTSJ).

In addition, the JEOPARD project will develop a platform-independent software development interface for real-time multi-core systems. The interface will be based on existing technologies, including the Real-Time Specification for Java (JSR 1 and JSR 282) and Safety-Critical Java (JSR 302). These technologies currently provide a strong foundation for the development of complex and highly reliable real-time systems, but they do not yet provide support for multi-core systems. Even more challenging, some of the technologies can not address more than one processor at a time, making it impossible to develop applications that scale with the number of processors available on current and future multi-core systems.

“The JEOPARD consortium partners are experts in all layers of a multi-core embedded system, from the processor architecture to the Java virtual machine and the C and Java API layers,” said Scott Hansen, director of European Projects at The Open Group. “We’re confident the project will solve the critical issues in each of these layers, thereby providing a powerful interface for the applications developer at the highest level.”

“Embedded systems developers require a stable platform based on recognized standards if they are to invest in new applications that fully exploit multi-core systems,” said Fridtjof Siebert, CTO of aicas and technical director for the consortium. “The JEOPARD project will provide an evolutionary path that maintains the advantages of Java such as portability, interoperability, object orientated design, while enabling real-time systems developers to achieve higher performance levels and scalability with increasingly sophisticated multi-core platforms.”

The JEOPARD project is financed in part by the 7th Framework Programme, an initiative of the European Community created to foster European research and development of new technologies, applications and industries. The project will run through 2010 and is expected to contribute to ongoing standards development activities related to real-time Java and multi-core systems.

About aicas

aicas is the premier vendor of hard realtime Java Virtual Machines for embedded applications. In addition, the company provides analysis and optimization tools to help developers to improve application quality. aicas provides customization services for JamaicaVM in order to meet the needs of its customers, especially in connection with various target environments. JamaicaVM is unique in its market segment: it is the only Java implementation with a hard realtime Garbage Collector. aicas serves the aerospace, industrial control, instrumentation, and automotive markets, among others. Its customer list includes Boeing, EADS Astrium, EADS Military Air Systems, Honeywell, and Siemens. The company's headquarters are in Karlsruhe, Germany, with subsidiary offices in the USA and Japan. In addition, aicas has reseller relationships with a group of highly qualified companies in Europe, America and Asia.

Find more information at www.aicas.com

About The Open Group

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.

Further information on The Open Group can be found at www.opengroup.org.

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