MathXplorer/JS, Math Server for the WWW

The MathWizards, Inc.'s MathXplorer/JS, a distributed Math server for the WWW, provides software developers and web designers efficient, distributed, and platform-independent numerical computing services. At the core MathXplorer/JS lies a matlab-compatible MathViews numerical computation engine. By using a set of Java classes, software developers can write Java applets that access the MathXplorer/JS over a computer network. The server evaluates matlab-compatible MathViews scripts and commands on the applets' behalf. In addition, applets can extract data from server. The applet can then visualize the data or process it in any other way. Get your beta copy of MathXplorer/JS or check it out using MathXplorer/JS running on our WWW server and the following demo applets. The applets require a browser that fully supports Java 1.1 (including Java RMI).

Demo Applets

The following applets have been written to access the MathXplorer/J server running on the MathWizards web site. This server performs mathematical computations for the applets. The applets simply collect user input, forward computation to the server, retrieve the results, and display them:

Simple provides an interface whereby matlab-like commands can be entered at a prompt (screen shot).
Remez is an applet for designing optimal FIR filters (screen shot).
Linear FM demonstrates spectral analysis of a signal with linearly-modulated frequency (screen shot).

NOTE: To reduce the load on our server, the maximum number of connections allowed is small. The server might automatically disconnect to reduce loading. Please download and try on your own WWW server.

Browser Support Notes

Among other technologies, these applets uses Java RMI for communicating with the MathXplorer/JS server. You may need to to modify your browser to enable it run these demos.
Since the MathXplorer/JS, running on our server, needs to communicate with the Java applets, running on your machine, it needs to know the IP address of your machine. Therefore:
- Applets Simple and Remez might not work properly if your browser is running behind a firewall.
- Applets Simple and Remez might not work properly, for certain browsers, if you are accessing them through a dynamic-ip dialup connection
- Certain actions by client applets elicit a response by the MathXplorer/JS server. In order to respond, the server attempts to contact the client after the client has initiated a connection. Under certain circumstances (if the client is behind a firewall, for example), the server will fail to "call back." Once the client detects that the server has failed to contact it, it polls the server for the responses it would have received otherwise (resulting in a poorer responsiveness for the initial connection).

Modify your browser

To enable Java RMI on your browser you may need to upgrade your browser. The information here is bound to change. Please use the following table for properly modifying your browser.

Your current browser	Upgrade
HotJava, AppletViewer	Sun's HotJava browser is JDK1.1 compliant. We recommend these free browser should your browser experience difficulties in rendering our demonstration applets.
Netscape Communicator 4.05	The Netscape Communicator 4.05 now supports JDK 1.1.5. When inspecting the Java console ("Communicator\|Java Console"), you should see the following message `Netscape Communications Corporation -- Java 1.1.5 Type '?' for options. Symantec Java! Byte Code Compiler Version 210.065 Copyright (C) 1996-97 Symantec Corporation`
Netscape Communicator 4.0	You should be running at least version 4.04; look here for an upgrade. You might want to try Netscape’s Smart Upgrade feature. The Netscape JDK 1.1 support page provides patches for UNIX (Solaris 2.4, Solaris 2.5.1, HPUX 10, IRIX 6.2, AIX 4.1) and Windows95/NT. Netscape Communicator 4.04 Support for Java 1.1 page describes some of the details. When inspecting the Java console ("Communicator\|Java Console"), you should see the following message `Netscape Communications Corporation -- Java 1.1.4 Type '?' for options. Symantec Java! Byte Code Compiler Version 210.065 Copyright (C) 1996-97 Symantec Corporation` If you are experiencing Java security exceptions with Netscape Communicator, try saving the file prefwrangler.html to your local machine, and then viewing it. The file contains some checkboxes which, once checked, will alter some Java security preferences . You will have to restart Communicator for them to take affect. (You need to enable all Java properties except signed.applets.local_classes_have_30_powers). Alternatively, add the lines `user_pref("signed.applets.codebase_principal_support", true); user_pref("signed.applets.local_classes_have_30_powers", true); user_pref("signed.applets.low_security_for_local_classes", true); user_pref("signed.applets.simulate_signatures_on_system_classes", true); user_pref("signed.applets.verbose_security_exception", true);` to the prefs.js file ("Netscape/.../User/.." dir) and restart your browser.
Netscape Navigator 3.01	Please upgrade to Communicator 4.04. Alternately, you might want to try downloading Sun’s RMI on JDK 1.02 patch.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0	You should be running at least version 4.04. Since the default installation does not provide RMI support, please download and install the RMI library patch from Microsoft. Use the Registry Editor, on Windows 95, to add the rmi.zip to your classpath (search for the classpath key; usually at "My Computer\ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Java VM\") Adjust Java security to low while visiting our site. IE 4.0 does seem to work through a dialup connection.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0	Please upgrade to version 4.04
MacOS	Supports Java on MacOS with the addition of MacOS Runtime for Java (MRJ).

Java and RMI Resources

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MATLAB is a register trademark of The MathWorks.