Towards the future (1) The Organisations (Before the TCS) Seven Layer Communications Small, innovative company with excellent experience in software development for a major industrial customer School of Computing, Napier University Strong undergraduate programmes in networking and software engineering. Good skills in software integration with hardware.

Towards the future (2) A Few Facts Fact 1: Computer networks are getting faster each year, as the demand for data transfer increases Fact 2: Organisations are now dependent on fast and reliable networks, thus networking products must be well-tested, for every possible situation The success of the TCS programme has been highlighted with a proposal from the Scotsman which favoured an expansion of the 27-year-old TCS programme to stimulate increased R&D activities Report hits out at SME’s lack of R&D innovation Scotsman, 25 Apr 2003 [

Towards the future (3) What’s the Problem? Rule: How do you test a network device which is working at the limits of technology? Obviously the testing device must be working at a much higher rate Check for Errors? Verify performance Perform tasks Test for every condition

Towards the future (4) Embedded Systems Types of computers? Computer systems are either general-purpose or embedded with software and hardware carefully engineered Desktop computers: - Often unreliable. - General-purpose. - Complex to setup. - Poor software and hardware integration Embedded systems: - Robust. - Fast, highly-optimised. - Easy to configure. - Strong integration of software and hardware

Towards the future (5) Complexity of Embedded Systems Complex system running a state-of-the-art operating system and optimised software Complex system running a state-of-the-art operating system and optimised software Complexity and processing power Networking device Handheld device Mobile device LINUX Windows CE It is expected that, in the forthcoming years, that there may be as many as ten times the number of embedded computers running software sold, as there are desktop computers.

Towards the future (6) What’s the Problem? Rule: Embedded software running at the current limits of technology must be carefully engineered to perform a specific function TCS Achievement: To prove the concept of, and provide new techniques for, reusable software components for high-speed network design tools using embedded software. This type of development will keep the UK at the forefront of Internet developments and in network testing/validation. The UK government and the EU have defined embedded software technologies as one of the key areas of technical developments for the future prosperity of the IT industry

Towards the future (7) Benefits to the Company? Benefit: Expected increase of £250,000 in profit as a result of the programme, with further product development into integrated network test tools. Sales turnover has increased from £353,809 (1999/2000) to £593,225 (2001/2002). Benefit: New Two-Associate KTP. Benefit: Improved business case analysis, which allows for resourcing and planning to be more easily managed Benefit: Improved business case analysis, which allows for resourcing and planning to be more easily managed Benefit: Creation of a reusable software platform which can be used for other projects. And so on: Initiated new ideas and methods within the company. Creation of a broader client base for the company’s products. Increased publicity for the company, especially as a result of research paper publication.

Towards the future (8) Benefits to the Associate? Benefit: Increased technical exposure to the research and development process during the TCS project, has considerably improved the Associate’s project management skills. Benefit: Paper published in IEEE Conference. Benefit: Complete integration within the DSMA research group at Napier University, along with establishing strong links to other universities. Benefit: Professional membership of the IEEE and IEE. The TCS programme has provided an excellent route to CEng status. Benefit: MPhil Completion within two years. And so on: Areas of work from the TCS project were presented in the IEEE Industrial track at ECBS Conference held in Lund, Sweden in April This increased the expose for the Company Partner, and shows that the company are working at the forefront of embedded systems developments.

Towards the future (9) Benefits to the University? Benefit: Exposure to state-of-the-art networking and software development Benefit: New MSc programme in Adv. Nets Benefit: · Investigation into a new research area, which has been identified as a leading strategic technological area in the UK and the EU. Benefit: New research group Created (Distributed System and Mobile Agents) Benefit: MPhil Completion. And so on: Exposure to current industrial practices for Software Engineering, and in project management. Generation of new research area in software component design … New material in network programming used in undergraduate programme Project placements …. Increased recruitment on undergraduate networking-related programmes and for PhD programmes …

Towards the future (10) The Future? Future: New TCS Programme with IC Design And Software Development Future: New BEng (Hons) programming in Embedded Systems Future: · Work using in RAE submission Benefit: New modules in network programming and embedded systems Future: Enhanced MSc/BEng (Hons) projects And so on: Increased product development. Increased MPhil completions. … Towards the future of British Industry and Academia … for wealth creation and prosperity

Towards the future (11) Technology/Knowledge Transfer TCS Programme TCS Programme TCS/KTP Consultant Project management skills Networking skills Organisational skills Software development skills Academic rigor/paper publishing Enterprise/innovation Training advice Technology skills

Towards the future (12) Technology/Knowledge Transfer Results TCS Programme TCS Programme TCS/KTP Consultant Project management skills Networking skills Organisational skills Software development skills Academic rigor/paper publishing Enterprise/innovation Training advice Technology skills Improved teaching/research Improved wealth generation Improved advice/funding

Towards the future (13) Technology/Knowledge Transfer Results TCS Programme TCS Programme TCS/KTP Consultant Project management skills Networking skills Organisational skills Software development skills Academic rigor/paper publishing Enterprise/innovation Training advice Technology skills Improved teaching/research Improved wealth generation Improved advice/funding