Enhancements Incorporate Tools Asked For By Developers of Distributed Software Applications

WALTHAM, Mass., June 15, 1998 ¾ Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America (ITA) today is unveiling Concordia 1.1, which adds major functionality to the Java mobile agent software technology originally released in January 1998. Many of the enhancements were incorporated as a result of feedback received by ITA from beta users and licensees. The improvements in Concordia 1.1 include:

Encryption - This enables users to realize the full benefits of tamper-proof mobility with the encryption of agents during transit. Agents are enclosed in digital envelopes (all objects in the digital envelope are encrypted), and Concordia Servers are validated and authenticated via digital certificates.

Remote Agent Debugging - A full-function mobile agent debugger has been added, which makes it possible to follow an agent around the network, set breakpoints and view/modify agent properties, etc.

Firewall Penetration Support - The developer is able to specify a specific TCP/IP port through which the agent can travel. This enables Concordia to send agents, debugging agents and administration commands through a firewall.

Enhanced Lightweight Agent Transporter API - Enables an existing application to receive, execute and launch Concordia agents. Remote Agent debugging and encryption are supported by the lightweight agent transporter API.

Performance Enhancements - Speed and the number of agents that can be supported is dependent on the application. However, round-trip travel time by Concordia agents during stress tests has improved by up to 100 percent. Details can be supplied by request.

Concordia 1.1 is compatible with Windows 95, Windows NT and Unix operating systems, and any network using TCP/IP protocol. Concordia 1.1 will be available June 30. Complementary evaluation and academic kits, as well as licensing information will be available through the Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America Web site located at http://www.meitca.com/hsl.

Concordia's mobile agent technology is ideal for solution providers who develop software applications to support disconnected computing, synchronization of time sensitive data, as well as providing enhancements for legacy applications so they can interact with client-server applications or Internet based applications. The technology also is well suited to deploying applications that interface with multiple platforms or small platforms such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, pagers and information appliances. Concordia provides developers with the ability to run automated programs or agents, especially those involving wireless communication, mobile communication or disconnected computing.

Concordia enables mobile agent applications to move across networks efficiently to perform automated functions on behalf of users, such as collecting information, processing data, executing decisions or delivering information. With this framework, mobile agents can perform these tasks quickly and easily at the data source thus reducing congestion.

Concordia 1.1 is available with and without the Encryption Option (initially, the encryption option will be available domestically only; an application for encryption export is being processed). Concordia always includes security in the form of flexible access control features.

Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America (ITA) is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. ITA is composed of three laboratories focused on information technology research and product development in the areas of Internet computing, advanced graphics, digital TV, multimedia, and communications. Concordia is developed and supported by ITA’s Horizon Systems Lab (HSL) in Waltham, Mass. ITA is a recognized pioneer and world leader in technology for Social Computing. HSL performs applied research and advanced product development for and with various organizations of Mitsubishi Electric, both in the U.S. and in Japan. HSL is also partnering with companies outside of the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation family to increase its effectiveness at reaching the global marketplace.

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