[comp.software-eng] Foresight: Real Time CASE Product Announcement

jim@athsys.uucp (Jim Becker) (11/16/88)

***************** COMMERCIAL PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT ***************

                  --New Product Announcement--
           Real Time CASE Toolset from Athena Systems

Background

Athena Systems of Sunnyvale California announced it's first  pro-
duct,  Foresight, on October 31, 1988. Athena is a privately held
two year old firm with venture capital backing from Hambrecht and
Quist.

Product Function

Foresight is a requirements analysis tool  specifically  designed
for  real  time  systems.   It falls under the class of tools now
known as CASE (Computer Aided Software  Engineering).   Foresight
addresses  the needs of system engineers in specifying system re-
quirements for real-time  systems.  The  product  is  extensively
graphics based with a simple pop-up and pull-down user interface.
Using Foresight the engineer quickly creates a model of the  sys-
tem  as  it  is  intended  to  operate  using standard structured
analysis modeling constructs from Ward/Mellor and  Hatley.  These
include  state  transition diagrams, mini-specs (procedures), and
data flow diagrams. Foresight's unique Executable System  Protyp-
ing  (ESP) capability automatically creates an executable version
of the model. With ESP the engineer can freely exercise the model
to  test  different  assumptions,  examine  normal  and  abnormal
operating conditions, or evaluate hardware/software architectural
tradeoffs.

Evaluation Software

Athena will make available evaluation software and  documentation
to  customers  for  up  to  45 days. In order to qualify customer
engineer(s) must attend a one-on-one instruction  and  consulting
session  led  by  one  of Athena's senior applications engineers.
This ensures that the evaluation period is used productively.

Training, Support, and Consulting

Athena believes strongly in providing superior  service  for  our
customers.   Athena  is staffing aggressively in the training and
support areas. Athena provides hotline support to  all  customers
free  for  90  days  and  for  customers who purchase maintenance
agreements thereafter. Athena provides introductory and  advanced
product  training  classes at our headquarters or at the customer
site.  Athena also offers consulting  to  customers  on  modeling
techniques and simulation strategies in order to best make use of
our products.

For More Information

Please telephone Pam Price, Product Marketing  Manager,  at  408-
730-2100.

Mail:   Athena Systems, Inc.
        139 Kifer Court
        Sunnyvale, California 94086

        Voice:  408-730-2100
        Fax:    408-730-2358
        Telex:  981449