En

Efficient Development for new mobile device

“„Model Driven Development with Rational Rhapsody® was a critical success factor for developing inspiro within the required schedule and market needs. Thanks to EVOCEAN's support, we were able to implement the tool quickly and apply the methodology effectively."“

Details

A complex development task, limited resources, and deadline pressure. These are the conditions under which Phonak began development on its new product generation based on dynamic FM technology. EVOCEAN supported the project team from the beginning.

Using Model Driven Development with Rational Rhapsody® from IBM allowed Phonak to bring the inspiro transmitter device based on completely new technology to a state of market readiness in just 12 months.

EVOCEAN supported the project team from the beginning, from the evaluation of the development environment through design of the software architecture to system integration.

Challenge

Phonak Communications AG is a leading manufacturer worldwide of highly miniaturized wireless communication systems. At the end of 2006, the company started development of the inspiro, a new transmitting device for instruction in classrooms with hearingimpaired students. inspiro is based on the revolutionary “Dynamic FM” platform, which has increased language comprehension in situations with excessive noise to a level previously considered impossible. inspiro combines a graphical interface with digital audio signal processing and a number of wireless links. The correspondingly complex, completely new software had to be developed within a very short time and using existing internal resources.

Solution

A comprehensive analysis of the initial situation showed that the only way to reach the desired goals was by using completely new development tools and target hardware:

  • UML with Rational Rhapsody® from IBM
  • Target platform with ARM9, USB, 3 proprietary wireless links,digital audio signal processing
  • RTOS Sciopta, GUI with Peg++, C++.

The critical element for the success of the project was applying Model Driven Development (MDD) using Rhapsody®:

  • Incremental iterative process
  • Graphical display of the new application (UML) in reusable models
  • Code generating from models to target platform
  • Fast prototyping for early validation of target hardware
  • Complete integration of development tools
  • Parallel development at multiple locations.

The role of EVOCEAN

EVOCEAN is a “Advanced Business Partner” of IBM in Switzerland. As an official Rational Rhapsody® competence center, we have not only access to all tools, but also to the internal know-how and knowledge pool of the Rhapsody® developers. Our team of consultants has broad technical knowledge and many years of experience in the area of Model Driven Development.

We offered Phonak support in the following areas of concern:

  • Consulting to select a development environment
  • Coaching for introducing MDD (UML) and using Rhapsody®
  • Onsite support as Lead Software Architect and in developing various key components
  • Support in project management
  • Responsibility for integrating all components into the application
  • On-the-job training for Rhapsody® and MDD method
  • Know-how transfer and exchange of experience.

Added value for the customer

Model Driven Development and Rational Rhapsody® allowed us to keep a handle on the considerable complexity of the project and lower the error rate significantly:

  • We met the ambitious goals related to functionality and quality
  • Launch on schedule with existing internal resources
  • High market acceptance of the new product
  • No major product improvements required after the market launch
  • Kick-start for em

    Phonak Communication AG

    „Model Driven Development with Rational Rhapsody® was a critical success factor for developing inspiro within the required schedule and market needs. Thanks to EVOCEAN’s support, we were able to implement the tool quickly and apply the methodology effectively.”

    D
    r. Rainer Platz
    Director of R&D

    ployees in Model Driven Development (method and software competence)

  • Solid software architecture for subsequent development
  • Well established development environment for follow-up projects
  • Universally comprehensible models and current documentation
  • Very easy to train new employees.

Customers about our services

Rhapsody Training Feedback

Ich war mit allem zufrieden. Das war das beste Training, das ich je besucht habe.

Grösserer Automobil Zulieferer

Software Engineer

Bernina International AG

„The architecture must be set up in the right way and in conformity with the requirements of model driven development – right from the beginning! I strongly recommend to seek for the support of an external, experienced Rhapsody specialist as for example supplied by EVOCEAN and to model the architecture together.“

Giovanni Annunzio

System Architect

Schindler Elevator Ltd.

„Seamless integration of the development environment is one of our critical success criteria. Model Driven Development with Rational Rhapsody®allows us to generate the code for the target platform direct from the UML model. Integrating the debugger saves us enormous amounts of time in developing complex, embedded real-time applications. Thanks to EVOCEAN's support, today we can use this tool efficiently."

Juan Carlos Abad

Project Manager

Bernina International AG

„In earlier days, we launched one new product model every year – today several thanx to re-use, which also reduces the time needed for testing significantly."

Giovanni Annunzio

System Architect

SIX Financial Information Ltd

„The EVOCEAN continuous improvement method stabilized our processes and had a positive influence on the quality and on the satisfaction of the employees. I would recommend to use this approach at any time. Continuous improvement must become a part of everyday work."

Michael K. Steinhöfel-Cordova

Head of Quality Management

Hamilton Medical AG – Rhapsody

„The direct coupling of design and code with Rhapsody helps us managing the complexity of our products more easily, as design and code remain consistent in the long term.“

Andreas Anderegg

Senior Software Engineer

Hamilton Medical AG

„Employing our platform strategy and Model Driven Development with IBM Rhapsody® enables us to bring our innovations rapidly to numerous ventilation solutions.“

Gion Durisch

Head of Software Development

Kern AG

„Even if the change to Rhapsody required at first additional investment and effort – we have never regretted our decision. The fully automatic code generation from the model makes our life easier!“

Andreas Dubach

Head of Development Systems

Rhapsody User Group

Good experts present. Always interesting to meet other Rhapsody users.

Stefan Singler

Software Engineer

Rhapsody Training Feedback

The trainer was very well prepared, has an excellent overview and deep knowledge about the tool and about our surrounding processes (A-Spice) and methods.

Large Automotive Supplier

Systems Engineer