A Smart Phone-oriented Embedded Real-time Operating System

This article presents an embedded Smart Phone Operating System (SPOS) independently designed by ZTE Corporation. The SPOS is based on single kernel architecture with its multi-task real-time kernel supporting hardware platforms and resources of mainstream mobile phones. It has remarkable advantages such as highly efficient and dynamic power management, priority - based preemptive scheduling, fast startup, a variety of drivers, and excellent system stability and operability. For the development of upper layer communication protocols and application software, the SPOS provides wireless communication interfaces and the application program framework.

A State-of-the-Art Survey on Real-Time Issues in Embedded Systems Virtualization

Virtualization has gained great acceptance in the server and cloud computing arena. In recent years, it has also been widely applied to real-time embedded systems with stringent timing constraints. We present a comprehensive survey on real-time issues in virtualization for embedded systems, covering popular virtualization systems including KVM, Xen, L4 and others.

Digital arc welding power supply based on real-time operating system

A digital arc welding power supply was designed with the advanced reduced instruction set computer machine （ARM） and embedded real-time multi-task operating system micro C/OS- Ⅱ. The ARM, with its powerful calculating speed and complete peripheral equipments, is very suitable to work as the controller of the digital power supply. The micro C/OS- Ⅱ transplanted in ARM, helps to improve the respondent speed against various welding signals, as well as the reliability of the controlling software. The welding process consists of nine tasks. The tasks of great significance on reliability of the welder, for example, the A/D conversion of current and voltage, enjoy top priority. To avoid simultaneous-sharing on A/D converter and LCD module, two semaphores are introduced in to ensure the smooth performance of the welding power supply. Proven by experiments ,the ARM and the micro C/OS- Ⅱ can greatly improve both the respondent speed and the reliability of the digital welder.

Architecture of the Graphics System for Embedded Real-Time Operating Systems

This paper presents a new architecture of a graphics system for microkernel operating systems,including real-time operating systems.The following major parts of the architecture are presented:a user-level subsystem responsible for interaction with user applications;a bottom-level subsystem providing the functionality for graphics drivers,such as managing graphics output,video memory management,etc.;a kernel-level subsystem providing interaction with the kernel,and performing low-level operations,such as working with physical memory,processes,etc.The mechanisms of interaction of user applications with the user level of the graphics system,as well as interaction of the different levels of the graphics subsystem are presented.The paper pays much attention to various approaches to testing:the use of unit testing,testing using hardware and software emulators.Another important characteristic of a graphics system is its performance,in particular the performance of low-level operations such as memory allocation:the developed architecture suggests using a separate memory allocator which is faster than standard memory allocation functions.Comparison of the performances of graphics system implementation for microkernel real-time operating system and graphics server Xorg is presented,showing significant superiority of the proposed architecture in a number of work scenarios.

ARM-Based Embedded System Platform and Its Portability Research

Taking ARM as the hardware platform, the embedded system is built from both hardware and software aspects with the application as the center. In the hardware design, build the hardware platform scheme, design the schematic diagram as well as PCB, complete the hardware debugging, and ensure the system hardware platform function;in the software design, optimize the three-stage pipeline structure of ARM instruction system, design the instruction set, install the embedded system on the virtual machine, build the cross-toolchain, and set up the correct NFS network file system. Finish the design of the ARM-based embedded system platform, combined with the hardware requirements of the experimental platform, transplant the powerful Uboot as the Bootloader of the system, and further transplant the Linux-2.6. 32 kernel to the system start the operation normally, and finally, build the root file to finish the study of its portability.

A Decision Support Framework for the Choice of Languages and Methods for the Design of Real Time Embedded Systems

The choice of methods or design languages is a crucial phase in the development of systems and software, also for real time and embedded systems. An open question that remains in the design of these types of systems is to build a method, or to choose one among those existing, capable to cover the life cycle of a project, and particularly the development phases. This article contributes to answer the question, by proposing an approach based on a multi-criteria comparative study, of few languages and methods dedicated to the design of real time and embedded systems. The underlying objective of this work is to present to designers a wide range of approaches, and elements that can guide their choices. In order to reach this goal, we propose different comparison criteria. Each criterion is divided into sub-criteria, so that the designers can refine their choices according to the qualities they prefer and wish to have in the method or language. We also define a rating scale which is used to assess the retained languages and methods. The scores obtained from this assessment are presented in tables, one table per criterion, followed by a summary table giving the overall scores. Graphics built from these tables are provided and intend to facilitate the judgement and thus the choice of the designers.

Energy Efficient Scheduler of Aperiodic Jobs for Real-time Embedded Systems

Energy consumption has become a key metric for evaluating how good an embedded system is,alongside more performance metrics like respecting operation deadlines and speed of execution.Schedulability improvement is no longer the only metric by which optimality is judged.In fact,energy efficiency is becoming a preferred choice with a fundamental objective to optimize the system's lifetime.In this work,we propose an optimal energy efficient scheduling algorithm for aperiodic real-time jobs to reduce CPU energy consumption.Specifically,we apply the concept of real-time process scheduling to a dynamic voltage and frequency scaling(DVFS)technique.We address a variant of earliest deadline first(EDF)scheduling algorithm called energy saving-dynamic voltage and frequency scaling(ES-DVFS)algorithm that is suited to unpredictable future energy production and irregular job arrivals.We prove that ES-DVFS cannot attain a total value greater than C/ˆSα,whereˆS is the minimum speed of any job and C is the available energy capacity.We also investigate the implications of having in advance,information about the largest job size and the minimum speed used for the competitive factor of ES-DVFS.We show that such advance knowledge makes possible the design of semi-on-line algorithm,ES-DVFS∗∗,that achieved a constant competitive factor of 0.5 which is proved as an optimal competitive factor.The experimental study demonstrates that substantial energy savings and highest percentage of feasible job sets can be obtained through our solution that combines EDF and DVFS optimally under the given aperiodic jobs and energy models.

On modeling approach for embedded real-time software simulation testing

Modeling technology has been introduced into software testing field. However, how to carry through the testing modeling effectively is still a difficulty. Based on combination of simulation modeling technology and embedded real-time software testing method, the process of simulation testing modeling is studied first. And then, the supporting environment of simulation testing modeling is put forward. Furthermore, an approach of embedded real-time software simulation testing modeling including modeling of cross-linked equipments of system under testing （SUT）, test case, testing scheduling, and testing system service is brought forward. Finally, the formalized description and execution system of testing models are given, with which we can realize real-time, closed loop, mad automated system testing for embedded real-time software.

Real-time embedded software testing method based on extended finite state machine

The reliability of real-time embedded software directly determines the reliability of the whole real-time embedded sys- tem, and the effective software testing is an important way to ensure software quality and reliability. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of real-time embedded software, the formal method is introduced into the real-time embedded software testing field and the real-time extended finite state machine （RT-EFSM） model is studied firstly. Then, the time zone division method of real-time embedded system is presented and the definition and description methods of time-constrained transition equivalence class （timeCTEC） are presented. Furthermore, the approaches of the testing sequence and test case generation are put forward. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a typical avionics real- time embedded software testing practice and the examples of the timeCTEC, testing sequences and test cases are given. With the analysis of the testing result, the application verification shows that the proposed method can effectively describe the real-time embedded software state transition characteristics and real-time requirements and play the advantages of the formal methods in accuracy, effectiveness and the automation supporting. Combined with the testing platform, the real-time, closed loop and automated simulation testing for real-time embedded software can be realized effectively.

Evolution analysis of a UAV real-time operating system from a network perspective

With the flourishing development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAVs), the mission tasks of UAVs have become more and more complex. Consequently, a Real-Time Operating System(RTOS) that provides operating environments for various mission services on these UAVs has become crucial, which leads to the necessity of having a deep understanding of an RTOS. In this paper, an empirical study is conducted on FreeRTOS, a commonly used RTOS for UAVs, from a complex network perspective. A total of 85 releases of FreeRTOS, from V2.4.2 to V10.0.0, are modeled as directed networks, in which the nodes represent functions and the edges denote function calls. It is found that the size of the FreeRTOS network has grown almost linearly with the evolution of the versions, while its main core has evolved steadily. In addition, a k-core analysis-based metric is proposed to identify major functionality changes of FreeRTOS during its evolution.The result shows that the identified versions are consistent with the version change logs. Finally,it is found that the clustering coefficient of the Linux OS scheduler is larger than that of the FreeRTOS scheduler. In conclusion, the empirical results provide useful guidance for developers and users of UAV RTOSs.

The Design of I/O Subsystem in Satellite Real-Time Microkernel Operating System

One of the most important features of modern minor satellites is to realize autonomous moving. The performance of the satellite autonomous computer operating system acting as the control center is utmost important. The recent trend in operating system development is adopting microkernel architecture which holds such advantages as microminiaturization, modularity, portability and extendibility. The performance of I/O subsystem is currently receiving considerable research attention. Object-orientation offers an approach to application development in which software system can be constructed by composing and refining the pre-designed plug-compatible software components.It also starts with some basic notions fairly well accepted in computer science, namely encapsulation and reuse. In this paper, a new object-oriented real-time I/O subsystem model has been designed.In this model, the traditional I/O subsystem framework is discarded and a stream mechanism based on the object-oriented concept is introduced. In addition, the I/O requests are classified according to their time emergency to obtain real-time performance. So, this model meets such satelliteperformance requirements as reliability, flexibility, portability and real-time performance.

Analysis and Comparison of Five Kinds of Typical Device-Level Embedded Operating Systems

Today, the number of embedded system was applied in the field of automation and control has far exceeded a variety of general-purpose computer. Embedded system is gradually penetrated into all fields of human society, and ubiquitous embedded applications constitute the 'ubiquitous' computing era. Embedded operating system is the core of the em-bedded system, and it directly affects the performance of the whole system. Our Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Embedded Technology has successfully developed five kinds of device-level embedded operating systems by more than ten years’ efforts, and these systems are Webit 5.0, Worix, μKernel, iDCX 128 and μc/os-II 128. This paper mainly analyses and compares the implementation mechanism and performance of these five kinds of device-level embedded operating systems in detail.

LXI instrument development platform based on an open embedded operating system

This paper introduces the architecture and components of LXI instrument development platform based on an open embedded operating system,which is a modular and configurable platform.The platform is a total solution to develop LXI instrument modules and systems.On the other hand,it also supports other types of instrument development.This is a generic and efficient platform.At the end,this paper addresses the technical tends, challenges,and recormnends solutions.

A Requirements Engineering Environment for Embedded Real-Time Software—SREE

The paper presents the embedded real-time software-oriented requirements engineering environment—SREZ. It involves the whole process of software requirements engineering, including the definition, analysis and checking of requirements ,specifications. We first explain the principles of the executable specification language RTRSM. Subsequently, we introduce the main functions of SREE, illustrate the methods and techniques of checking requirements specifications, especially how to perform simulation execution, combining prototyping method with RTRSM and animated representations. At last, we compare the SREE with other requirements specifications methods and make a summary for SREE＇s advantages.

Energy-Efficient Deterministic Fault-Tolerant Scheduling for Embedded Real-Time Systems

By combining fault-tolerance with power management, this paper developed a new method for aperiodic task set for the problem of task scheduling and voltage allocation in embedded real-time systems. The scbedulability of the system was analyzed through checkpointing and the energy saving was considered via dynamic voltage and frequency scaling. Simulation results showed that the proposed algorithm had better performance compared with the existing voltage allocation techniques. The proposed technique saves 51.5% energy over FT-Only and 19.9% over FT ＋ EC on average. Therefore, the proposed method was more appropriate for aperiodic tasks in embedded real-time systems.

Architecture of Graphics System with 3D Acceleration Support for Embedded Operating Systems

An increasing number of tasks now require the use of hardware accelerators to reduce the time required for computation and display the computational results.This paper presents a new graphics system architecture for operating systems(OSs)with microkernel architecture,including real-time OSs.The proposed system architecture provides capabilities for displaying graphical images on various information display devices and for accelerating graphical operations on GPU.The architecture of the graphics system uses a concept of allocators to manage system and video memory,provides an abstraction of memory operations with a single interface for video memory management,and simplifies memory handling where incorrect operation is the cause of many failures.A comparison between the performance of a real-time OS and Linux OS implementing the graphics system using the example of a glmark2 benchmark is presented,thereby the superiority of the proposed architecture in several scenarios is demonstrated.

Analysis of Airplane Precipitation Operation on Embedded Convective Clouds in Hunan Province

Based on NCEP 1°×1° reanalysis data, ground encryption houdy precipitation, FY-2E stationary satellite and Doppler radar data, the structural characteristics of precipitation clouds in Hunan Province and the effects of airplane precipitation operation were analyzed. The results show that under the effects of low-pressure system and southwest monsoon, Hunan was rich in water vapor, which was beneficial to the maintaining of precipitation clouds. During the process of the artificial precipitation operation over Hunan Province, convection developed vigorously, and precipita- tion was strong in the south of the province; embedded convective clouds were dominant and precipitation was weak in the east of the province. Cloud optical thickness correlated with ground precipitation positively. After catalyzing, echo at high altitudes responded firstly, and the echo intensi- ty increased gradually; the response of low-altitude echo lagged behind that of high-altitude echo. It shows that catalysis could lead to increase of upper precipitation particles in size and quantity. As time goes on, upper precipitation particles descended to low altitudes, so that echo intensity in- creased at low altitudes. It is clearly seen that catalysis could lead to increase of echo intensity and prolong the lifetime of target clouds to improve the area of strong echo zone, showing obvious positive catalytic effect. At the same time, houdy average precipitation in the affected region tended to increase stably and was obviously more than that of the contrast region where hourly average precipitation reduced gradually with time. The changing trend of hourly average precipitation in the affected region correlated positively with the response of radar echo.