Synopsis: North Coast Idea Company was hired by a leading international pharmaceutical company to build a grid based image processing application. The 4D images (3D x time) were in the Analyze voxel format. The solution required two programs, a client application on the front-end and an image processor that ran on each grid node.

The client application split the image sequences into smaller packages, submitted the subjobs to the grid scheduler's SOAP interface, polled for results and merged everything at the end. The image processor provided a flexible framework that allowed the scientist to select an algorithm by specifying it in the job's XML parameters file. Both programs were written in C++ and could be built to target either LINUX or Windows.

Tools and Technologies: Grid Computing, GridMP, SOAP, OpenSSL, HTTP Sockets, Parallel Processing, C++ Cross Platform WIN32/LINUX (MSVC/GCC), Analyze Format

Synopsis: North Coast Idea Company was hired by a medical device manufacturer to create software tests for one of their diagnostic systems. The WIN32 software that drove the device included a robust multi-threaded API that controlled both video and audio input devices, and provided data analysis.

The test system we built covered the entire API, taking a human tester step by step through a series of procedures. When they were done, the system printed a form that would be signed. We used our FormWeaver component to print the form, which could only be produced if and when the tests completed successfully.

Tools and Technologies: C++, WIN32, FormWeaver

Synopsis: North Coast Idea Company was hired by a Fortune Global 500 company to create Grid based software to scan their network for computers that might cause a threat. Performing a port scan on every possible IP address in the network was not feasible using traditional port scanning techniques, so we built a system that could divide the entire address space into hundreds of smaller jobs to be scheduled to the many nodes on the company's enterprise Grid.

This kind of approach can provide important information that can't be obtained any other way. For instance, it would be possible to find all of the web servers (http port 80) in an address space, or even to analyze the web pages.

Tools and Technologies: Grid Computing, GridMP, SOAP, OpenSSL, Multi-Threaded C++, Parallel Processing, TCP/UDP/ICMP protocols

Synopsis: The customer has thousands of staff worldwide who are required to file monthly expense reports. These expense reports can be quite complex, including individual line items with many different general ledger numbers, multiple exchange rates and detailed information about reimbursable automobile trips.

North Coast Idea Company built a robust Windows application that made it easy for users to enter information and that leveraged our FormWeaver technology to produce the application's output. This resulted in very fast, clean and accurate output. Further, because FormWeaver does the work of merging dynamic data with desktop published forms, it was easy to update the software as the organization's forms changed.

Tools and Technologies: WIN32, C++, FormWeaver, MSVC

Synopsis: North Coast Idea Company created a .NET wrapper to enable a customer to include legacy C++ code in a C# .NET web application.

In this case, virtually no changes were required to the legacy code, which was compiled and statically linked into the final DLL. The new .NET DLL was added to the customers C# web-application and did not have any additional dependencies.

Tools and Technologies: MS Visual C++ 2005 (standard and clr)

Synopsis: North Coast Idea Company was hired to help design a configuration management solution based on ClearCase for a customer who was developing a combination mobile phone and PDA.

The customer's OS ISV provided raw source code for the operating system and a suite of applets. This raw source needed to be merged with the customer's modifications and with tens of thousands of source files, merging the code and getting it to build was a formidable task.

The solution consisted of a set of scripts and ClearCase triggers that facilitated automated builds and regression testing. We also made it possible for developers to quickly and reliably create and destroy instances of the build environment on their workstations.

When we were done, the customer could run a single script, nicknamed the "Big Red Button", to build from scratch the entire operating system and all internal and external applications. The script also created the ISO image for the product resource CD.

Tools and Technologies: ClearCase, Symbian OS, GCC, MSVC++, PERL, Araxis Merge

Synopsis: We were hired by a leading UPS manufacturer to write software to drive an assembly line test harness.

The software ran on PCs that were connected to the devices via serial cables as they came off the assembly line. The PCs were also connected via GPIB to test towers that contained various measurement devices and load simulators.

The system we built first configured the UPSs, then orchestrated a series of tests by controlling the test towers and the devices. It put the devices under load and measured their ability to maintain voltage while connected to AC and when on battery. When the tests were complete, the system printed a certificate. The goal was to be as thorough as possible, as quickly as possible.

Tools and Technologies: MS Visual C++, GPIB (National Instruments), XCP Serial Communications Protocol

Synopsis: North Coast Idea Company has helped numerous small businesses set up local area networks and phone systems. We have helped install wireless networks, voice over IP (VOIP) phone systems, secure Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), e-mail and websites.

Our goal is always to keep the end user in mind, and to provide the right tools for the job. If you need help setting up a small office network or phone system, let us know. We'd love to help.

Tools and Technologies: Ethernet, 802.11x Wireless, VOIP, IPSEC VPN, CATx cabling