Embedded developers who want field access to new products may now have a solution, thanks to a new software tool from Wind River Systems Inc.

The embedded software giant rolled out Wind River Field Diagnostics in May, reportedly marking the first time product developers will be able to remotely monitor, diagnose and repair "live" embedded devices deployed in the field.

"With this, the developer can non-intrusively obtain information, either in the test lab, or more powerfully, after the device has been used in the field," notes Naren Nachiappan, vice president and general manager of device software management at Wind River. The diagnostics package, part of Wind River's existing Workbench Diagnostics product, is aimed at all kinds of embedded products, from handheld computers to medical and industrial devices.

To date, most such embedded diagnostic systems have called for debugging operations to be run in the lab, after developers switch the devices to a maintenance mode, and then attach specialized debuggers to them. Wind River engineers, however, claim such techniques don't provide a true picture of how those devices interact with other integrated modules.

"All other methods are invasive," Nachiappan contends. "Debuggers will typically stop some parts of an overall system, and therefore alter the behavior of the device."

A key part of Wind River's new technology is the use of a "Device Management Server," which acts as a secure collection point for data gathered from devices deployed in the field, as well as those being debugged in the lab. By employing this server, and by using the Internet to connect deployed devices to that server, the design team can virtually carry its development capabilities into the field.

"All of the capabilities that are available for the development team can now be taken out over the Internet, into the field," he says. "So even after a device has been shipped to a customer, you now have the ability to do the very same kind of diagnostic debugging that you could do in the lab."

Click for more information on Wind River Field Diagnostics.