Small fooprint real-time operating systems (RTOS) supplier Express Logic has introduced downloadable application modules for its ThreadX RTOS.
An advantage of the downloadable modules is that the designer can dynamically add instructions without the cost of an increased footprint or additional memory.
"This technique also provides on-demand reconfiguration and application updates for deployed systems," said the supplier.
"With these Modules, developers can structure their applications with greater functionality, while still enabling them to execute in small memory systems, and with on-demand reconfiguration and update from remote facilities," said William Lamie, president of Express Logic.
According to Express Logic this is something new in a small footprint RTOS such as ThreadX.
A kernel-module structure is commonly found in operating systems such as Windows and Linux, and in larger RTOSes, such as VxWorks and QNX.
Such architecture and functionality is not commonly found in small-footprint RTOSes like ThreadX.
The downloadable app modules are collections of application threads, not linked with the ThreadX kernel, but that are instead loaded into target memory.
They use the kernel services via an interface with a manager which is resident within the ThreadX kernel, initiates a module as well as fields and interfaces all module requests for ThreadX API services.
A number of modules that can be loaded at the same time, and no limits on the number of threads in any one module.
If desired, application threads can alternatively be linked with the ThreadX kernel and reside in target memory as part of its executable image, said the firm.
ThreadX with Downloadable Modules is available in full source code form, royalty free, at license prices starting at $17,500.