He has conducted research in the area of distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems for the past six years, with an emphasis on middleware frameworks for configuring and enforcing real-time, fault-tolerant, and embedded system properties. He is a member of a small group of editors seeking to collect and refine DRE patterns reviewed at the PLoP 2002 focus group on DRE systems, as well as from a similar workshop at OOPSLA 2002. Papers submitted to this focus topic (in Word, PS, or PDF formats only, please), as well as any questions regarding submissions, shepherding, or other topics relevant to this focus topic should be sent to Chris Gill at cdgill@cse.wustl.edu.