Introduction With the development of calculation technology, we have entered the network era by the PC era, and then enter the post-PC era. IBM created a noun in 1999 - "General Computing" (also called "popularization calculation", pervasive computing. "Universal Calculation" means, "When and where, as long as you need, you can access the required information through some kind of device." From the perspective of computing techniques, humans have gradually extended from the network to the general calculation.
In terms of popularity, the meaning of universal calculations is very broad, and the techniques involved include mobile communication technology, small computing equipment manufacturing technology, operating system technology and software technology on small computing devices. Pulping calculations refer to a way that can be calculated at any time, such as mobile devices, such as information appliances or certain embedded devices, such as handheld, BP machines, car smart devices, notebook computers, watches, smart cards , Smartphones (part of the handheld computer), set-top box, POS sales machine, screen phone (in addition to the normal phone function, you can also browse the Internet) and other new generation intelligent devices. The universal computing device can be connected to the network or intermittently. Connect to the Internet, intranet, and Extranet, users can access the relevant information anytime, anywhere, and respond. Since the height mobility of the universal computing device is also referred to as a mobile calculation. Universal calculations provide functions of using a wide variety of unsupport computing devices, accessing background data, applications, and services via a network. Regardless of the usual computing device, the user will easily access the information and get the service. Pulse calculation reduces the complexity of equipment usage, helping to improve the efficiency of office workers and the daily living standards of people.
From a software system perspective, unsupported calculations refer to the use of small computing devices, in the process of continuous movement, or in a wide range of geographic locations, to implement online transaction processing and corporate core under unstable communication conditions. data access. These small computing devices have a variety of communication methods such as mobile communication networks, satellites, and the like, which can be connected to the Internet or enterprise internet, but this connection is not a fixed connection, but an intermittent connection. Universal computing software technology allows users to use these devices to perform complex online transaction processing and information access, as the equipment used by the user is small, and the available computing resources (memory, storage devices, and CPUs) are quite limited, most processing The work is done by the calculation center's data server and the application server.
The rapid spread of Internet and the network, continuously expands to the family, makes consumer electronics, computer, communication (3C) integrated trend becomes more obvious; the advent of the information age, so that the embedded system is increated by the market and manufacturers, embedded The equipment is getting more popular, which also promotes the development of universal calculations.
1 embedded system
The embedded system is a special computer system for use-oriented ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, . Unlike general-purpose computers, embedded systems are dedicated systems for specific applications. The purpose is to make everything easier, more convenient, more common, more applicable; its hardware and software must be high efficient to design, measurement, remove Redundancy, strive to achieve higher performance on the same silicon area.
The embedded system consists primarily consisting of four parts: embedded processors, peripheral hardware devices, embedded operating systems, and specific applications. It is an independent "device" that is integrated with soft hardware; for implementation of other devices. Control, monitoring, or management functions.
The embedded system should have the characteristics of high reliability; in the case of harsh environment or sudden power-off, the system is required to work properly; many embedded applications require real-time processing capabilities, which requires embedded operating systems ( EOS) has real-time processing capabilities; software code in the embedded system requires high quality, high reliability, generally cured in read-only memory or flash memory, that is, software requires solid storage, rather than stored in a disk. in. 2 Relationship between general computing and wireless interconnection and network calculation
IBM presents the "universal calculation" concept, in order to describe the personal computer is no longer in the era of innovation, it is intentionally called the wireless era. Because IBM sees computing, communication, storage, and processing functions from traditional computers to a wide variety of devices. Today, we only contact the universal computing with mobile phones, PDA, but calculations are in different forms and experiences - it is continuously loading air pump, meter, electrical appliances, and clothing. For companies such as IBM, "universal calculations" is important because it is equally important to infrastructure and front-end equipment. For business operations, "PRACC" will change the way companies exchange between their customers, suppliers and employees. Get more benefits from e-commerce investment through any time, anywhere, from e-commerce investment. More importantly, universal calculations can reduce the complexity of equipment use, making our life easier and efficient.
In fact, the general calculation is the natural extension of the network calculation, which makes not only the PC and other smaller smart devices can also be connected to the network, thereby facilitating people's immediate access to information and take action. When this calculation mode is generally adopted, people can use the favorite ways (mainly embedded system equipment), and obtain information anytime, anywhere in a consistent way. The so-called "consistent way", emphasizes critical information, the consistency of critical data, and its form of expression can be diversified, depending on user preferences, equipment and other factors.
3 Comparison of general computation and traditional arithmetic mode
Purpose calculation is very different from traditional arithmetic models, providing new requirements for the infrastructure of providing services. The traditional arithmetic mode is two-layer structure: a system designed for some kind of device to suit the specific device access and display. In design, you must design a network protocol and display performance of a particular device.
The universal computing model has a big difficulty in achieving a variety of application services, making each additional device need to rewrite those application services, and each additional service needs to override those devices. s application. This limitation is determined by the hierarchy of the existing system. However, it is difficult for us to preview what is innovative, and users are willing to use; and some devices can communicate two-way communication, and some can only passively receive information in one direction. Existing systems are very complicated when they are expanded to new equipment and new application services. For example, we can use SMS (short message) and WAP mobile phone to access stock information, we can't preview what Top's popular equipment tomorrow, and, everyone's personality varies from person to person, and hopes personalization, future The information equipment will be a group, and hundreds of pairs.
4 Conditions required for general computing
First, the processor prices are getting cheaper, while the volume is getting smaller, making computer functions widely used. Computer components can be mounted on any various small computing physical devices for monitoring or acquiring data, such as household appliances, data collectors, trackers, etc.
Second, high network bandwidth also ensures fast network connection, more convenient, cheaper, and more complete network to ensure the quality and efficiency of network connections.
Third, honeycomb technology that has been widely used is also developed. The coverage capacity and range of cellular mobile communication systems is wide than any communication system, and the price is low. The cellular phone does not have to be inserted on the wall, and the user can play anywhere. With cellular technology, you can connect POS sales machines to the local area network without physical connection. 5 general computational characteristics
Interrupt connection and lightweight calculation are the most important two features that are generally calculated. Universal computing software technology is to implement transactions and data processing systems in this environment.
The first feature of the general calculation is an intermittent connection, which is whether the server keeps in touch with the user (especially mobile users) from time to time. The user must be able to access server information, and can handle this information in the case of interrupt contact. Therefore, the data and application servers in the enterprise calculation center can become a very critical factor with users. Since some data should be stored on a universal computing device, the database in the universal calculation is a very critical software base part. For example, many small car computer components are installed on new vehicles, which are used to control the use of fuel, and adjust the operation of the engine based on temperature and air pressure. These components are connected to each other and measure data as the analysis of basic data for automotive operation. When the car is repaired, the repair person inserts a computer connection device to obtain this data to analyze. It is also possible to increase complex data connection functions, such as connecting to the global positioning system, allowing the driver to accurately know the current position, connected to the electronic map, enter the destination, showing the fastest path to the destination, and other information on the Internet, Such as the weather forecast, the address and phone number of the hotel, etc. A perfect data connection feature provides users with more services.
The second feature of the universal calculation is lightweight calculation, that is, the calculation resources are relatively limited. Pulse calculations are mainly used for commercial use data processing, usually for mobile office workers and staff of the company's system data, they need to obtain and process data on core systems without regional and time limits. .
6 general calculation requirements for the database
The database is an important basis for realizing unusual calculations. If the traditional relational database applied directly to the mobile device, the overhead of the database is high. The two problems to be solved in the database is: the first is the implementation of data replication, or it can be called data synchronization, ensuring consistent with the data anytime, and promotes two-way flow of the device and the server. The second is to develop small DB2 that supports standard API and SQL subset, allowing users to easily transplant existing applications, can also write new applications with the same tools and APIs; at the same time Lower system overhead and higher data processing performance. The data used is from the data obtained from the central server from the center server with the data replication.
The universal calculated database must be a scalable database environment with a persistent storage mechanism, which can store large amounts of data, and can ensure that the data is not lost even during operation. The usual way is to put the data in the Flash memory, so data recovery technology is not only the same as a normal database. Database services in multi-user environments should consider the problem of log lock, so there is a concurrent control mechanism, but the mobile database does not necessarily need a blocking mechanism. In addition, since the amount of data is small, the index is also reduced, and some traditional query optimization techniques become less important, so the mobile database and the typical database difference are still large. Therefore, there are three basic requirements for the database:
First, a small database management system with low system overhead is installed on the universal computing device for local access. Since the equipment is usually small, the database management system must be smaller than current to these devices.
Second, in the distribution of software, data backup and recovery, mobile access, etc., it is necessary to have efficient and real-time data replication capabilities. Ensure that the data on the mobile device is synchronized with data in the enterprise database, so there is special requirements for the backup and recovery of the database, distributed database management, etc.
Third, universal calculations are also closely linked to e-commerce, and those e-commerce applications are available to communicate and access information. IBM's DB2 database mobile version is a relatively mature universal computing database product. When installing on a mobile device, a series of function options provide user selection, in addition to creating tables, insert, delete, modify, query, sorting, In addition to database core functions such as primary keywords, index, and connection operations, other extensions such as subqueries, aggregation, concurrent control, backup, and recovery, etc., can be selected according to the actual situation.
7 general computation requirements for system overhead
According to the requirements of the general calculation, the requirements for system overhead can usually be divided into three types, using three types of operating systems, suitable for different types of users, three different data storage needs for different markets.
The first is Windows CE, which has a typical front-end office application application, is a full operating system for business processing, running on a small and convenient personal computer. The user inputs data with miniature keyboard, and the overall system overhead is approximately 2 MB, so the overhead of the database is small, about 1 MB, physical storage is about 500 MB to 600 MB.
The second is the handheld device (also called the handheld, Palm), runs the manufacturer specialized handheld operating system (Palm OS). This device is smaller than the Windows CE device, and the data is recorded through the handwritten pen, and there is a small browsing window. Usually the memory capacity available on the device is less than 1MB, and the physical storage amount is below 500 mb.
The representative of the third device is a built-in computer component of the car. This device has only 100 kB of memory, no hard disk storage, running a dedicated real-time operating system developer development operating system.
8 general computing use and prospects
Pulse calculations are mainly used for business, usually for mobile office workers and staff who need to regularly access the company's system information. The current computer components are getting smaller and smaller, and therefore, these functions can be concentrated in one device to replace various dedicated devices, such as devices such as replacing calls, calls, computers, and network connections.
The universal computing is a lot of new opportunities, and the digital families are one of them. It will change people's future lifestyle. Digital families can access the broadband network to the home through the home gateway, and the network within the home can be wireless or wired. Inside the home, handheld devices, PCs, or household appliances are connected to the network through wired or wireless ways, providing a seamless, interaction, and universal environment. People can visit community service networks at any location, such as tickets for a match, electronic home solutions, and automatic timing, centralized and remote control, etc., to make life more convenient through advanced equipment and electrical diagnosis, automatic timing, centralized and remote control. Comfort; monitor the family through the remote monitor, make life safer. IBM proposes the goal of universal computing concepts to develop more practical various types of information terminal products to truly implement e-commerce to extend to information end products. At present, IBM has determined the general calculation to determine another major development strategy after e-commerce, and starting the technical research and development of end-to-end solutions. 2000 IBM released IBM WebSphere Everyplace Suite Jujube Based on server-side WebSphere Everyplace Software Suite and embedded versions of client-based WebSphere Everyplace Software Suite.
Mr. Michael Rhodin, a senior vice president of IBM, is responsible for the implementation of the basic conditions for realization of general calculations, and the computing equipment is getting smaller and convenient for people to wear and use anytime. Under the conditions of the computing device, uncomfortable conditions can be achieved. However, the enhancement and volume of computing device functions have brought a problem that people must face: How to effectively operate these devices? The solution is only one: Let the computer learn to understand people's expressions, feelings, the ultimate Natural manner uses a computer. For example, IBM's BLUEBOARD (Blue Board) technology is a thin screen board. The user only uses a small card that is nothing to do with the ordinary staff card with the ordinary employee card. You can Shows its personal homepage and other content. All of the following operations and tasks are only based on the user's fingers, including the fingers, including the information, sharing files, interpretation information, send instructions, arrange tasks, synergies, etc. . It's too convenient! With Blueboard, when people travel, they will no longer need to carry a computer, just take this small card, enter the system to work or pass information anywhere, this little card has become a computer. . Conclusion
Currently, computing and information access is still a working mode, using a computer or a "technology". If one day, calculations and information access will no longer be "work" and "technology", and become part of our lives, although people can't express their existence, but they are inseparable from every moment. They can be said that we have achieved the ideal realm of "universal calculations". The development of embedded systems has expanded the depth and breadth of unimputable calculations, providing a nearly infinite possibility for developing new applications and services, and all walks of life may use universal calculations. Now, IBM scientists are working hard for this goal.
The concept of "general calculation" is not long, and it is hoped that this paper has a babbling of the cultivation of the cultivation.
references
1 Jochen Burkhardt, Horst Henn, Stefan Hepper. Pervasive Computing: Technology and Architecture of Mobile Internet Applications. USA: Addison Wesley Professional, 2001-11
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3 Daniel Amor. Internet Future Strategies: How Pervasive Computing Services Will Change THE World.usa: Prentice Hall Ptr, 2002-02
4 Zhao Hai. A information technology revolution in embedded Internet-21st century. Beijing: Tsinghua University Press, 2001
5 Tanenbaum Andrew S. Modern Operating System. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1999
A Summary of Embedded Systems for the 21st Century.
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