Product/Service

Real-Time CORBA VisiBroker for C++

Source: Highlander Engineering
The Highlander VisiBroker for Embedded Systems products accelerate the development of distributed applications, enables the integration of sophisticated network management capabilities and provides an embedded real-time implementation of CORBA
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    As embedded systems have become more interconnected and distributed, the ability to rapidly develop robust, flexible, object-oriented applications has become critical to today's embedded developer. While object-oriented languages such as C++ and Java have become commonplace, a complete approach to object orientation requires standard structures for object architecture, object management, and inter-object and inter-system communication. The Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), administered by the Object Management Group (OMG) industry consortium, has become the world's most widely deployed standard for distributed object computing. The Highlander VisiBroker for Embedded Systems products accelerate the development of distributed applications, enables the integration of sophisticated network management capabilities and provides an embedded real-time implementation of CORBA.

    Embedded CORBA Overview
    The CORBA specification defines a software bus – the Object Request Broker (ORB) – that provides an infrastructure for platform-independent and language-independent communication and execution of active and data objects (see Figure 1). Other key CORBA elements include the Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP), an upper-layer communications protocol for local and wide area object communications; and the Interface Definition Language (IDL), which enables objects written in different computer languages (C, C++, Java) to execute in any CORBA-enabled system. As a form of middleware, the ORB interfaces to application hardware, memory, and other software through VxWorks.

    VisiBroker is easy to use yet supports the development of complex systems. Its object-oriented framework insulates developers from the details of inter-processor communication and system architecture. For heterogeneous applications, VisiBroker is also available for Java, Windows 98/NT 2000, major Unix platforms and Linux. CORBA itself supports seven programming languages and over 50 operating systems ranging from embedded through mainframe. In addition, CORBA is a standard component of the Java 2 platform.

    VisiBroker provides a high degree of transparency at both development- and run-time. CORBA objects are represented and implemented in the same manner as standard classes in the programming language(s) being used. An object and its users may be implemented in different programming languages (e.g., C++ and Java) and be running on different operating systems (e.g., VxWorks and Windows). When a distributed object is accessed, CORBA receives the local method call, locates the processor on which the object is implemented and does all the work necessary to turn the call back into a local invocation on the receiving end.

    VisiBroker Benefits
    VisiBroker for C++ is developed in partnership with Inprise/Borland Corporation and is based on the same core technology as the Inprise/Borland VisiBroker for Java, Windows, Unix, and Linux products. This partnership provides a number of benefits to embedded systems developers:

    • Proven reliability and interoperability. VisiBroker is the most widely deployed CORBA solution. In addition to embedded applications, there are over 30 million VisiBroker licenses for products from vendors including Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore), Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Netscape, Novell, Oracle, Informix and Sybase.

    • Cross-project and cross-platform compatibility. The VisiBroker development environment is available for all major general-purpose operating systems, including VxWorks and pSOS. Between Highlander and Inprise/Borland, over 14 different platforms are supported.

    • Broad standards support. Both Highlander and Inprise/Borland are active members of the OMG, the organization that defines CORBA standards. Highlander focuses on embedded, real-time and telecommunications technologies, complementing the Inprise/Borland focus on core standards support, horizontal services and enterprise applications. The collaboration between Highlander and Inprise/Borland on the standards-setting, tracking and implementation fronts assures the continued broad applicability of VisiBroker.

    Highlander Engineering, 208 East Pine St., Lakeland, FL 33801. Tel: 941-686-7767; Fax: 941-687-7767.