Cloud Computing for Embedded Systems

Cloud computing is using the Internet to add functionality to your PC by using storage and programs based on a web server, rather than locally. This type of application is now available for embedded systems, using Embedded Cloud Computing from SSV.

For office PCs it is a matter of course that the primary functions of the operating system and of the preinstalled software can be enhanced on demand by access to web applications. For this, no additional hardware or software have to be installed on the PC, as a standard web browser and Internet access are good enough. Typical examples of this kind of expandability are the Google office programs (Google apps: word processing spread sheet, presentations and so on), web-based e-mail services as well as Adobe Photoshop Express. Such internet services are called cloud computing services (or SaaS: Software as a Service).

With SSV/ECC (SSV Embedded Cloud Computing) SSV has developed a comparable function expandability especially for embedded systems. The main difference is that access to additional functions on the Internet use an API (Application Programming Interface) directly from the embedded client software, instead of using a browser.

The SSV/ECC Internet services, available from Kanda.com, will support the SSV product families DIL/NetPC and eSOM-200 as a first step. Initially, these are cloud services for data logging, firmware update, VPN-based remote access and remote configuration. In the future, problems with embedded systems can be solved using cloud computing, instead of expensive industrial PCs. For example, long term monitoring of process data can be realized by using a data logging service in which the measurement data is forwarded to the storage media of a data centre by calling a special API. This allows embedded systems to store several Gbytes of permanent data on the Internet.

Kanda.com have the DIL/NetPC with preinstalled SSV/ECC client functions available at no extra charge from Q4/2009. The required templates are available to the user, which allow use of Amazon (EC2), Google (App Engine) or Microsoft (Windows Azure) data centres. A cloud services fee will be charged, but a free trial is included.

For more information see Starter Kit for Embedded Cloud Computing