Technology

We took what works on the web and brought it to embedded systems.

Emmoco created a software model based on ideas that have allowed the web to scale – that of a uniform, resource-oriented API. This model allows embedded developers to quickly add mobile control to any product, without having to rewrite or even dramatically change their existing embedded software.

Our tools do the work of generating C code as well as a custom application protocol for your product. Bottom line – you can add iPhone and Android mobile APIs to most products with just a few days of software development.

Here's how it works.

Define the features that you want to control.  You do this by creating a schema – a simple, machine-readable description of your embedded resources. The schema is an interface contract that allows our tools to generate a mobile API, an application-specific protocol, and an embedded implementation in C code. Schemas are created and edited using Em-Builder, an Eclipse-based application. You can start by defining a few resources within minutes, and then iteratively add on. When you're done, results are automatically transferred up to Em-hub.com by Em-Builder, for collaboration with mobile developers.

Connect an Emmoco Development Board (EDB) to your product.  Each EDB requires a simple serial UART connection that can be implemented with virtually any microcontroller – typically with less than 25 lines of C code that reads/writes individual bytes across this serial connection. We make available sample code for a variety of popular microcontrollers.

Implement your embedded resources.  Em-Builder generates custom C code for your product which does the work of exchanging data with the mobile API. All you have to do is include this C code in your product, and then fill in some functions for reading, writing, and notifying your embedded resources. This is much simpler than implementing your own embedded user-interface using buttons, knobs, and a screen!

Start controlling your product.  You don't have to write a mobile app! Once our Em-Browser mobile application for either iOS or Android reads your schema from Em-hub.com, you can instantly start interacting with your product using a mobile device. This makes it easy to add new features using Em-Builder, implement them within your product, and then immediately test them using your phone – all within minutes!

Kick off your mobile app development.  Now that you've defined the features of your product that you want to control, mobile developers can work on building a custom app using the Em-Framework libraries for either iOS or Android. A unique feature of the Emmoco tools is resource simulation – which means that mobile developers can work remotely and independently, without needing access to your hardware to build a fully-functioning app.