CSULB Launches Startup Company

A new inventory management system being developed by CSULB’s first technology transfer startup company, TruePoint Systems Inc., will simplify the task of locating goods spread across a wide area.

TruePoint originated from research by Professor Kenneth James of electrical engineering, and computer engineering and computer science. Its first product is called DIMS, or Distributed Inventory Management System.

DIMS offers a number of advantages over other current systems, he explained. It uses motes, small individual units that communicate with each other and to control-motes that, in turn, communicate to a central server. In addition to locating an item, a mote “has sensors and business rules onboard so that it can recognize and report on factors affecting the inventory” such as shelf life or environmental conditions, James said.

TruePoint is focusing on enterprise software development rather than hardware manufacturing, added Jonathan Yee, a CSULB engineering alumnus who is a founder and board member of the firm, which is partially owned by the university through the CSULB Foundation. Long-time technology executive James B. Healy is its president.

With the assistance of the office of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), James received an initial research contract from the United States Office of Naval Research to develop the DIMS project for the Defense Logistics Agency, which manages military goods movement. The federal Bayh-Dole Act enables universities to use government funding for research that leads to patentable technologies and products.

“The development of CSULB’s first technology transfer startup company represents a major step for the university,” said President F. King Alexander, adding that a number of faculty are engaged in commercially promising research.

Boeing Donates $100,000 to CSULB

In its largest donation to a single university in California once again, The Boeing Company has this year donated $100,000 to CSULB to fund a variety of activities, including curriculum development, faculty and student research grants, student scholarships, student societies and research within six of the campus’ eight colleges.

“We are very pleased that The Boeing Company has chosen to continue its close relationship with our university,” said President F. King Alexander. “While its contribution to our engineering program is an obvious venue, we are delighted that it chooses to also recognize and support a variety of programs throughout our institution.”

“Our goal as a corporate citizen is to make our community a better place,” said Steven Chesser, Boeing senior manager of community relations. “I can think of no more effective way to do so than supporting ‘The Beach.’”

From left are Engineering Dean Michael Mahoney, Boeing executives Steven Chesser and Howard E. Chambers, and President Alexander.

CSULB A Top Ph.D. Source

Cal State Long Beach had the largest number of graduates among master’s-level universities who went on to earn doctoral degrees in research fields between 1995 and 2004, according to a recent National Science Foundation study.

The report, titled “Baccalaureate-Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients: 1995-2004,” noted that CSULB had 595 undergraduate and graduate alumni who earned doctorates in physical sciences, engineering, life sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, and professional or other fields. It excludes certain professional degrees in health care and law. The study is periodically compiled as part of the annual “Survey of Earned Doctorates.”

As a teaching-intensive, research-driven university, Cal State Long Beach emphasizes providing students with hands-on research opportunities. They are frequent co-authors on faculty research journal articles and are invited to make presentations at research conferences. A number of graduates have gone on to top doctoral-granting universities, including Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins and Stanford.