Software architecture and telecommunication
bichotg@thmulti.com
bichot.ficot@libertysurf.fr
26 rue de Montmuran
35630 La Chapelle Chaussée
Tel prof : (33) 2 99273311
Tel pers : (33) 2 99458184
Technical leader
Multimedia, DVB, Set top box, HAVi, IEEE1394, EUREKA, Research Engineering , Software, Telecommunication, Network, IP, X25, Home Network, Java, C, Unix, OS9...
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Guillaume Bichot bichotg@thmulti.com bichot.ficot@libertysurf.fr 26 rue de Montmuran Tel prof : (33) 2 99273311 |
I am currently working for Thomson Multimedia Corporate Research France in the Distributed Home System Lab as a project leader and technical advisor.
Guillaume Bichot, born in 1965, holds a degree of Network & Computer (1990) Science of the University of Paris VI ("Pierre et Marie Curie").
In 1990, he joined SILICOM, a software engineering company in Rennes. He worked for Matra (Minitel), The Thomson Electronic Laboratory (D2HDMAC multiplex system - control and supervision work station), France Telecom Transpac (Access Network administration and supervision), Thomson Broadcast System (Video on demand - Electronic and software development of the mass storage board. MPEG2 compression board for US-DSS and European-DVB markets).
In 1996 he joined Thomson Multimedia to work on software development around the High Performance Serial Bus IEEE 1394. Since 1997, he has participated in the specification of the Home Audio Video interoperability (HAVi) and has contributed significantly to this effort.
Software architecture and telecommunication advisor
I am a software specialist. Since my university studies, up to now, I had many different experiences, which has enforced this expertise.
As soon as my first experience, I had the responsibility of the software architecture for the project I participated (as detailed below). I experienced different platforms PC, 8051, SPARC, Motorola 683xxx, St20 as well as different operating systems: embedded RTOS, Unix / X11, DOS, Windows, OS9, Java. As a software specialist, the scope of my knowledge covers:
I 'm naturally aware on the development process from its definition up to the test and delivery going through the specification and design. In particular, I know the development methodology based on the DOD2167, the object development methods as OMT, UML and others like SADT.
I am a telecommunication specialist. Since my university studies and along my career, I always take care to keep main interest on telecommunication related projects. In all projects, I had in charge the communication aspects. Once we need to allow communication between two or more components through a bus, a double port memory, a serial line, a shared media, I answer: present. I made a certain number of specifications and developments relative to telecommunication technologies [Matra 90], [Transpac 92], [TBS 94]. In particular I worked on media as the VME, SCSI and IEEE1394 buses, the IEEE 802, PSTN, HDLC low layer stacks, the: DOD IP, X25, Internet ISO medium layer stacks. Since 1996, I worked within the home network context. Consequently, I have a good knowledge on all related techniques and know a large palette of protocols you can find within this domain.
I'm finally a specialist on the so-called Interoperability architectures that may be viewed as a fusion between the software and the telecommunication speciality where the applications and services are distributed over a network (HAVi, Corba).
Thomson multimedia and the Home Network
Since 1996, I worked in the "Home Network" domain for Thomson multimedia. I firstly focused on the IEEE1394-1995 bus and related protocols as AV/C CTS and CEBUS-CAL [TMM96]. Since 1997, I worked as the Thomson technical representative within an international consortium named HAVi (Home Audio Video Interoperability). This allowed me to share my experience on network and distributed system taking in charge for Thomson an important part of the work that has been done within that group [TMM97]. In the mean time I worked within a Eureka (European) project named COMMEND, that focused on home network as well. I was the Thomson HAVi expert and I am currently still involved as a task leader about the inter-network connection domain [TMM97]. Finally, I coordinate and drive the developments linked with the HAVi technology between different actors (several Thomson laboratories and external sub-contracted company).
My experience has quickly been recognized by my direct or non-direct employers. Even as an external worker, I had in charge the complete development of the supervision and control workstation for the D2HDMAC multiplex system ([LER91]). I took in charge the end of the electronic development of a video on demand Hard disk board. I developed the software to manage this board within the system [TBS94]. I had in charge the development of the control software of the compression board for DSS and DVB products driving one person [TBS95]. I specified the IEEE1394-1995 software architecture and developed the first stack. During four years, I took in charge the technical studies within the HAVi project for Thomson Multimedia, driving these studies and the linked developments [TMM96].
Since 1997 ([TBS95], [TMM96]) I am involved in activities that have an International scope. In particular I had direct relations with companies from the following countries: Japan, United States, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain
This is an important aspect, I like very much as a technical leader: To be able to give or forward its technical knowledge. I had several occasions along my career to be in such situation. In particular I made several presentations internally (within the company I worked for) and externally within the ICCE (International Conference on Consumer Electronics) organisation [TMM96 ] for instance. I also acted as a tutor during one year, in the context of a Thomson training program.
Degree ("Licence") on micro-electronic and computer science
1990 July: MATRA - portable Minitel development
Developments around the 8051 micro-controller of the connection path memory: a function that permits to register and replay the path to reach a particular Minitel page. The user was able to register the connection path and replay on demand to reach directly a Minitel page without keyboard usage.
1991 January: Thomson CSF Electronic Laboratory of Rennes - D2HDMAC multiplex system - Control and supervision work station
This was an exiting experience since I was responsible of the complete development of this workstation that was used with success during the Olympic games in Albertville (February 1992). The workstation was based on PC platform with a dedicated graphic use interface. There was an ad-hoc protocol between the D2HDMAC multiplex system and the control work station (kermit based) that allows a remote control through different media (PSTN for instance).
1992 January: France Telecom Transpac - mainframe for administration and supervision of the access network
This mainframe (a UNIX system) permitted to collect events from captors present within the Access Transpac network around the France (and Europe) area. Each day, some statistics were processed and results were sent automatically to subscribers through printer and terminals directly connected to the x25 network. I designed a new User Interface (X11 based), new configuration compiler (Lex, Yacc) to take into account specific X25 errors, supervision of private sub-network (IP based for instance) and others.
1994 July: Thomson Broadcast Systems - development (software and hardware) of the disk board of a video on demand system
This project gathered the realization of three electronic boards: one controller, one input/output video and one Disk board. The Disk board gathered five SCSI channels and was designed around a 68360 controller. I had in charge to finalize the electronic development (design and writing of programmable array logic components) and to test it. Moreover, I took in charge the development of the file system of this board under OS9 operating system.
1995 January: Thomson TBS - development of the control software of DSS and DVB MPEG2 compression boards
Still as an external worker (SILICOM), I took in charge the design and development of the control software of two MPEG compression boards dedicated for, respectively the US market (DSS) and the European market (DVB). These boards were elements from, respectively, a DSS encoder and a DVB encoder.
For the DSS board (US), since the encoder was designed by a non-Thomson US company, I coordinated the technical relations with the involved US companies.
For the DVB board, I designed a dedicated protocol that allowed several encoders to participate jointly in a variable bit rate processing.
Both boards were designed around a 68340 controller under OS9 operating system.
1996 July: Thomson Multimedia Corporate Research France - Home Network
1394 protocol stack development
This was my first task as a Thomson Employee. I developed the first complete IEEE1394-1995 stack and gained IEEE1394 expertise. I then specify the next generation of this stack according to embedded software constraints.
HAVi studies
HAVi (Home Audio Video Interoperability) is a software architecture that is network distributed. This was an International project in the framework of a consortium composed by eight consumer electronic companies: Thomson, Philips, Matsushita, Sony, Hitachi, Toshiba, Sharp, and Grunding.
Since the beginning of 1997, I had in Charge for Thomson multimedia the technical aspects. I drive the technical proposals from Thomson and I contributed significantly in the whole standard. Several core components of the architecture have been directly owned by Thomson and specified by either me and/or some others from our laboratory. I had in charge, in particular the following aspects:
Of course, during this period I drove the Thomson patent effort and I directly initiated a half ten patent fillings.
Eureka COMMEND
In the mean time I was involved in the Eureka COMMEND project participating mainly as the Thomson HAVi expert. I am still involved as a task leader to extend the HAVi 1.0 specification to allow multiple clustering within the HAVi network.
Home network technical support For Thomson
I am involved, since three years, in collaboration with other Thomson (Indianapolis and Hanover) laboratories about different subjects around the home network technologies. In particular I was involved in:
Technical knowledge gaining
Directly or indirectly, I gained technical experienced for my laboratory. I initiated and drove several experiences that permitted us to gain knowledge on different subjects as Java techniques, IP over IEEE1394, HTTP and home WEB server.
Technical tutoring
I was a technical tutor within the "FUTE" framework. This Thomson training program allows employees (Engineer or technicians) to gain experience in Software technologies. Moreover, I drove several trainees on subjects relative to IP in home network, Internet, HAVi and Java technologies.
Technical training
I had, during the last four years several occasion to forward my knowledge. In particular I participated in the following events as a speaker:
Software Development coordination
I specified and designed the HAVi software architecture stack for St20 and PC based platforms. In particular, I designed the software in such a way it is, as much as possible, independent of the platform. I initiated developments on PC platforms.
Since several years, I coordinate the development around the HAVi technology between the Thomson laboratories (Thomson Rennes and Hanover) and those developed by sub-contracted company.
Last Revised: April 2000