CEApps is a range of embedded domain
solutions which involve extensive use of
Microsoft embedded technologies, mostly
the Windows CE environment – hence
the name CEApps. Development work under
CEApps has spanned across both, the Systems
and the Application domains.
These embedded solutions are a result
of an offshore development center (ODC)
at Ruksun, involving a customer which is
Microsoft’s preferred system integrator
for Windows CE. Being a preferred system
integrator for Microsoft’s embedded
technologies (Win CE), its main business
activity has been that of providing adaptation
and customization support to various hardware
vendors and equipment manufacturers (OEM’s).
This customer has a history of association
with industry majors like NEC, Casio, Sharp,
Motorola and Sierra Wireless.
Given the challenging development
domains and their vast market reach, the
customer required a technology partner that
would serve as a strong Win CE development
backbone-providing the exact domain expertise
coupled with high edge product quality,
reduced development cost as well as client
retention capabilities. In short, the requirement
was that of a rare combination of experience,
expertise and excellence in the Win CE embedded
domains.
Based on the challenging requirements
of the customer, Ruksun stood to be a complete
match in terms of its Win CE experience
and strong domain expertise. On Ruksun’s
offer was an offshore development center
that includes a dedicated technical team
of experts, thoroughly exposed to Win CE
development activities and with strong expertise
in the embedded domains, both at the systems
as well as application level.
The development process under this ODC
is an ongoing activity and consists of multiple
short-term projects which can be broadly
classified under Systems and Application
Development.
The development work here is centered
on the base hardware platform, which would
be used in the next generation devices.
The end products of systems development
have been drivers required for the base
hardware platforms. . These drivers are
based on the Windows CE driver architecture
that specifically defines each class of
drivers. The drivers once ported to a particular
hardware are usually reused for multiple
device development efforts. The drivers
are integrated in the board support package
(BSP) which generates a binary that is used
by the device platform.
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Various Windows
CE drivers like Keyboard, USB (keyboard
and mouse), Serial and Printer drivers |
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Boot loader development
for CE.NET 4.2, including Ethernet boot
and Serial boot. |
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Updated the Sierra
BSP for Macallan beta support (CE 5.0
beta) |
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Bug fixes for
the Sierra platform like getting ActiveSync
working over serial, Universal keyboard
driver problems etc. |
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Writing a plug-able
PCMCIA card driver for communicating
with PC Card. |
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Involved in SDIO
(Secure Digital IO) development |
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Creating Board
Support Packages |
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On the application level our team
has worked on various solutions that provide
functionalities to devices based on the
Win CE platform.
IRCamera is an infrared digital camera,
which is used to show temperature ranges
and capture heat information along with
the IR photographs. The device is based
on CE 4.2, which runs on a Sharp processor
with a separate DSP processor and camera
attachment for image capturing. Designed
as a standard MFC application, our solution
takes care of the user interface, while
the signal processing unit (DSP) is controlled
by a pre-developed API. The entire development
was carried out on a Win CE emulator with
a dummy DSP implementation. The actual integration
takes place onsite wherein the dummy DSP
is replaced with the real DSP code and tested
on the hardware.
Helix is the open source version
of Real player, which supports multiple
media formats like rm, ram, mp3 as also
streaming media. Anduril involved porting
this Helix client to Windows CE 4.2 X 86
platforms. In order to be ported, the client
had to be wrapped inside an ActiveX component.
The major challenges here were to understand
the Helix code base; its architecture and
its complex build system. The entire research
and development process along with the solution
delivery had to be completed against tight
timelines. With Ruksun’s expertise
at managing and understanding huge, complex
code bases, this porting process was carried
out very efficiently in a planned and
phased manner, thus benefiting the customer
in terms of delivery times.
Additionally, we also executed short
term significant application development
modules which are outlined below.
This module involved porting CE 4.2
along with various applications (spreadsheet,
calendar, contacts, tasks, World Clock,
Calc, etc.) over NEC Mobile Pro - a successful
clamshell model device. The applications
in question were non-Microsoft - 3rd party
solutions each posing its own porting challenges,
majority of them related to the screen sizes
and their adaptation to new screen resolutions.
Home Hub is a CE 4.2 platform device
with utility features like financial quotes,
weather forecasts, news reports and family
calendar reminders. Under the Intelligent
Home Appliance module, new features were
to be added to Home Hub. The feature additions
included support for Broadband connectivity,
support for multiple alarms, color as well
as black and white display modes and so
on. Development here was carried out using
the Win CE emulator with the actual integration
happening on-site. Limited controls on the
device -with only 4 buttons for input, navigation
as well as selection; posed a major development
constraint. Worth mentioning is the development
of a text and IP address input control
for the device.
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Fast, Efficient and Cost-Effective
Development
Ruksuns team of Win CE experts offered
rich knowledge and domain expertise,
coupled with excellent development skills
and good project practices. This was
an exact match in terms of what the
customer was looking for. As a result
the development model functioned very
efficiently at both ends, cutting down
delivery times and costs. |
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Collective Development Efforts
Under this tie-up, Ruksun’s development
team worked in tandem with the customers
technical team under clear lines of
communication and understanding. As
a result, the geographically different
team locations, never proved to be a
roadblock in the development efforts.
In fact, it helped to collate development
activities on both sides. |
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