• July, 2004 - December, 2004

TRONSHOW2005 Ended Successfully
updated: 9 Dec, 2004

The 21st TRON Project Symposium, "TRONSHOW 2005" organized by the T-Engine Forum and the TRON Association was held at the Tokyo International Forum from Tuesday, December 7th to Thursday, December 9th, 2004. The Symposium attracted many domestic and international visitors. The TRONSHOW2005 was held under the theme "Ubiquitous Computing for Everyone". The organizers' exhibition floor introduced the ongoing feasibility study experiments for food traceability, medicine/medication management, inventory management, logistics, office equipment/supply management, the Free Mobility Assistance Project, the Ubiquitous Sightseeing Guide and others. An experience corner was setup where the visitors could try the hardware and software themselves. Furthermore, a support system through which the Ubiquitous ID Center help members in conducting feasibility study experiments was introduced and a consultation counter was set up. In the Asia Pavilion, activities in China, Korea, and Singapore were introduced. In the opening session on Tuesday, 7th, a keynote speech by Chairman Sakamura and talk shows with invited guests were held and they were well received.
(http://www.tron.org/show_e.html)

"Nios II Processor"-equipped µT-Engine Development Board Announced
updated: 7 Dec, 2004

On Tuesday, December 7th, 2004, Altera Japan, Ltd., Altima Corp, and Personal Media Corp. announced the µT-Engine/Nios II development board equipped with the Nios II softcore embedded processor, and also announced a version of T-Kernel that runs on this board. These will be sold as the "µT-Engine/Nios II Development Kit".In addition, the "FPGA add-on board for T-Engine/µT-Engine" was announced at the same time. This board enables users to add user-defined hardware on the standard T-Engine and µT-Engine. This will provide a unique development platform that has the advantages of a T-Engine development environment as well as the advantages of FPGAs- efficiency and flexibility of hardware development.
(http://www.altera.co.jp/corporate/news_room/releases/japan/nr-japan_nio2tengine.html)

TEPS2005 Held
updated: 4 Dec, 2004

On Saturday, December 4th, 2004, the TRON Enable-ware symposium "TEPS2005" was held at the Tokyo International Forum. The symposium started with a keynote speech by Chairman Sakamura titled "Towards the Realization of a Universally Designed Ubiquitous Computing Country", and 8 companies that support the Autonomous Movement Support Project exhibited their products and technology. Members of the TRON Enable-ware Research Group and the Free Mobility Assistance Project participated in the panel session and had a lively discussion from the users' point of view on various issues that may arise when a huge society-wide information infrastructure is built.

Two Types of RFID Tag Chips by Hitachi ULSI Systems Authorized as Standard ucode Tags
updated: 3 Dec, 2004

On Friday, December 3rd, 2004, the Ubiquitous ID Center authorized two types of RFID tag chips made by Hitachi ULSI Systems, Co., Ltd., the MWD6502 chip and MWD6503 chip, as Ubiquitous ID Center standard ucode tags (Interface Category 1, Security Class 1). They are ID tag chips used in the 2.45GHz frequency band and supports Ubiquitous ID technology.
(http://www.uidcenter.org/english/press/TEP041203_u08e.pdf)

Images with Digital Watermark ucode Authorized as Printed ucode Tags
updated: 3 Dec, 2004

On Friday, December 3rd, 2004, the Ubiquitous ID Center authorized images in which ucodes are embedded using the digital watermarking technology, developed by NTT, as Category 0 ucode tags (printed ucode tags).
(http://www.uidcenter.org/english/press/TEP041203_u07e.pdf)

Development of the Mobile IP High-Speed Hand-over Function Required for Seamless Communications Succeeds on T-Kernel
updated: 3 Dec, 2004

On Friday, December 3rd, 2004, the YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory announced that it had successfully developed a high-speed IP hand-over method which is required in order to seamlessly use real time applications such as streaming videos, even while moving between networks, and installed it on T-Kernel.
(http://www.ubin.jp/english/press/pdf/TEP041203_u06e.pdf)

Development of pT-Engine Succeeds
updated: 3 Dec, 2004

On Friday, December 3rd, 2004, the YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory and Hitachi, Ltd. announced the successful development of pT-Engine (pico T-Engine)- the smallest unit of ubiquitous computer for sensing and controlling in a ubiquitous computing environment. pT-Engine, an ultra-tiny computer, requires very low power consumption and becomes part of wireless networks.
(http://www.ubin.jp/english/press/pdf/TEP041203_u05e.pdf)

Development of LSI for nT-Engine Succeeds
updated: 3 Dec, 2004

On Friday, December 3rd, 2004, the YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory announced the successful development of LSI for nT-Engine (nano T-Engine), which is a module to control sensors and various devices via a network in a ubiquitous computing environment. UNP (Ubiquitous Network Protocol) - a light/secure/high-level network protocol (a set of communication rules)suited for controlling devices - was newly developed and implemented in this LSI for nT-Engine.
(http://www.ubin.jp/english/press/pdf/TEP041203_u03e.pdf)

T-Engine Forum Chairman Sakamura Attends Meetings at RFID China Summit 2004 (Beijing)
updated: 29 Oct, 2004

RFID China Summit 2004, a conference hosted by RFID China, was held from October 11th (Mon.) to 12th (Tue.) in Beijing, China.
This conference was one of the biggest RFID conference/exhibitions in China and attended by more than 350 groups this time. Not only the supplier companies but also many user companies and government officials attended the meetings and engaged in active discussions regarding RFID and its standardization. On the first day of the meetings, Chairman Sakamura made a lecture titled "uID: Open Global Standard for RFID tags." After the lecture, the Chairman participated in a panel discussion -"The Significance and Requirements of Realizing International Standardization", in which the Chairman discussed such matters as the current situation and future efforts regarding coding, wireless, and tag standardization for RFID application, with American, Chinese, and Korean panel members. This discussion is likely to have a great impact upon the course of decision-making regarding RFID in China.
Also, the ucode tag (RFID version)-attached admission tickets were distributed to the participants this time. Their registration and entrance/exit were controlled by a software from the Ubiquitous ID Center using UCs and were very popular among the participants.
(http://www.rfid-world.com/rfidchina/)

Korea T-Engine Center (KTEC) to Start its Operation
updated: 7 Oct, 2004

T-Engine Forum has concluded Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea System Programmer (KSP) and established KTEC (Korea T-Engine Center) so as to conduct activities related to T-Engine technologies and their promotion in Korea. KTEC will conduct educational activities including workshops on T-Engine and T-Kernel, and activities such as localizing T-Engine technical documentation and the web page information into Korean.
(http://www.t-engine.co.kr/)

"Kobe Free Mobility Assistance Project" First Stage Feasibilty Experiment
updated: 30 Sep, 2004

First stage feasibility study experiment for "Free Mobility Assistance Project" of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure &Transport were conducted in the "Sanchika" underground mall and Kyomachi-suji in Sanmomiya, Kobe. In these preliminary feasibility study experiments, the recently released new UC models are used to enable the users to find their current location and barrier-free information and information about goods in nearby shop, etc. via electronic tags implanted in 350 locations, streets, Braille pavement blocks and other objects. This is the first stage of the feasilibity study experiment conducted in a public area and it will last for approximately two months.

Chairman Sakamura's Lecture at a Hokkaido Area Food Traceability Seminar
updated: 28 Sep, 2004

On September 28th, 2004, Chairman Sakamura gave a keynote speech, "Ubiquitous Computing and the Future of Our Food", at a Hokkaido area food traceability seminar held at the Sapporo Convention Center. This lecture, focusing on "Ubiquitous Technology", "Food Traceability Systems", "Verification Trials" and "The Future of Our Food", drew a great deal of attention from interested people in Hokkaido. The subtitle of this seminar, "Towards Secure Production and Consumption in Hokkaido - Meeting Ubiquitous Technology" showed high interest in and expectations for Ubiquitous computing. Also, the T-Engine Forum had a booth at the system exhibition and introduced their technologies and food traceability system that focuses on Ubiquitous ID Centers.

"Tsuwano/Ubiquitous Sightseeing Guide" Verification Experiments to start
updated: 24 Sep, 2004

A feasibility study experiment of a sightseeing system that utilizes Ubiquitous ID technology, "Tsuwano Ubiquitous Sightseeing Guide", will be conducted starting in October. On September 24th 2004, an opening ceremony and open demonstrations were held prior to the experiments at the Anno Art Museum with the Mayor of Tsuwano town and Chairman Sakamura. Within Tsuwano town, Plate-type electronic tags and infrared transmitters will be setup in 40 locations to enable the sightseers to acquire information about the spot and the facilities available in the vicinity in the forms of text, photographs or moving images by placing a UC over these tags or transmitters. High expectations are placed on this system as this is the first system to utilize the latest technologies for tourism in Japan.

[To A Members] The T-Java Source Code Made Open to A Members.

The Java source code has been made open to the T-Engine Forum board members and A members since June 28th, 2004. If you are a board member or an A member, please do not miss this opportunity. Furthermore, if you are a board member or an A member participating in the Kernel and Development Environment WG, please make use of the T-Kernel Standard Extension source code that has been made open to you.

New-upgraded Ubiquitous Communicator (UC) is released
updated: 15 Sep, 2004

At the YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory, it succeeded in development of a new style Ubiquitous Communicator, and a press announcement was made at this Laboratory on September 15th. In this announcement, the new model's higher quality and highly precision in all functions from the conventional model was introduced in detail through the over-one-hour explanation , and a demonstration.
(http://www.ubin.jp/press/pdf/TEP040915-u01e.pdf)

The English version of the specification of T-Kernel operating system is made open to public
updated: 1 Sep, 2004

The English version of the specification for T-Kernel realtime operating system has been uploaded to the website on the source code download page. If you have already downloaded the source code, you will be able to download this specification with the same ID and password. Please refer to the Change log as this specification is for T-Kernel Source Code version 1.00.00.
(http://www.t-engine.org/T-Kernel/tkernel_e.html)

T-Engine Workshop Held
updated: 27 Aug, 2004

The first of eight T-Engine workshops was held at the T-Engine Forum Annex on Friday, August 27th, 2004. This workshop was designed to be easy even for newcomers to understand, with topics ranging from the outline of the T-Kernel source code and the transition from ITRON to T-Kernel to specific programming demonstrations under the theme of "Understanding and Using T-Kernel". Also, the second workshop was held under the theme of "T-Java" on Thursday, September 30th, 2004. All T-Engine Forum members are entitled to participate in the workshops. Please note that participation in the workshops is free of charge for the board/A/B members.
(Materials from the first workshop are available on the members-only web page).

The First Ubiquitous ID (uID) Workshop Held
updated: 27 Aug, 2004

The first uID workshop (total 4 workshops) was held at the T-Engine Forum Annex on Friday, August 27th, 2004, with more than 100 members participating. At this 2-hour workshop, mainly targeted at newcomers, participants were introduced in detail to the uses and applications of the latest ubiquitous ID technologies. Future workshops will be held for topics including "Food Traceability Systems" and "A Ubiquitous System for Everyone".
The second workshop will be held under the theme of "Food Traceability Systems" from 10:00 to 12:00 on Friday, October 15th, 2004. All T-Engine Forum members are entitled to participate in the workshop. Please note that participation in the workshops is free of charge for the board/A/B members.
(Materials from the first workshop are available on the members-only web page).

Chairman Sakamura was appointed honorary consultant of Dalian Software Park
updated: 28 Jul, 2004

Dr. Ken Sakamura, Chairman of the T-Engine Forum, has been appointed honorary consultant by Mr. Gao Wei, president of Dalian Software Park (DLSP), representing DLSP, on July 28, 2004. Furthermore, the both parties have signed an agreement to cooperate and collaborate in the future.
On the following day, Dr. Sakamura gave a lecture on ubiquitous computing and the T-Engine architecture at the First Sino-Japan Embedded Software Technology Seminar sponsored by Dalian Software Park.
(http://www.dlsp.com.cn/english/index.asp)

The First Academic Members Meeting Held
updated: 22 Jul, 2004

On Thursday, July 22nd, 2004, the first meeting for academic members was held. At the meeting, the outline of T-Engine and T-Kernel and the latest hardware and middleware technologies were introduced by Chairman Ken Sakamura, Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory researchers, and others. The meeting is planned to be held several times a year.

T-Kernel source code is upgraded.
updated: 13 Jul, 2004

The T-Kernel source code which is open to public has been upgraded from version 1.00.00 to version 1.01.00. The major change made this time is an additional support for the compliant T-Engine supported products. If you are a subscriber of T-Kernel already, you are able to download the new version of the code and use it as with the previous version. When you would like to apply for new subscription to the T-Kernel source code , please click the following link: http://www.t-engine.org/T-Kernel/tkernel_e.html
(Japanese Subscription Page is here.)