Embedded Operating System: History and Future in the Internet of Things
By Allan He and Lingyuan He
Haidian, Beijing, China
An Elektor Publication
Chapter 1: Introduction to Embedded Operating Systems
This section defines embedded systems and embedded operating systems, exploring their fundamental concepts, various categories, and diverse applications across industries.
Chapter 2: History of Embedded Operating Systems
This chapter traces the historical evolution of key embedded operating systems. It covers pioneering systems like VRTX, Motorola's OS-9, Freescale's offerings, the µC/OS family, and Wind River's influential VxWorks. It also touches upon smaller RTOS providers and their contributions.
Chapter 3: Open-Source Embedded Operating Systems
An exploration of the impact and growth of open-source operating systems in the embedded domain. It details Linux distributions tailored for embedded systems, such as MontaVista Linux and Red Hat, along with other open-source projects like eCos and Android. The chapter discusses the advantages, development trends, and community aspects of these systems.
Chapter 4: The Embedded Operating System Dream of the IT Giants
This section examines the strategies and contributions of major technology companies in the embedded OS market. It highlights Microsoft's embedded platform, WinCE, and its ecosystem, the role of ARM in shaping embedded systems, and Google's initiatives like Brillo OS for the Internet of Things.
Chapter 5: European Embedded Operating Systems
A look at significant embedded operating systems originating from Europe, focusing on Enea's OSE. It also covers RTOS designed for safety-critical applications, such as SafeRTOS and the widely adopted FreeRTOS.
Chapter 6: Asian Embedded Operating Systems
This chapter delves into the embedded software landscape in Asia, particularly in China and Japan. It discusses prominent systems like ITRON, TOPPERS, RT-Thread, and SylixOS, examining their technical characteristics, development, and market presence.
Chapter 7: Embedded Linux Operating Systems
A detailed analysis of embedded Linux, focusing on its real-time capabilities, methods for improving clock precision, and techniques for dynamic power management. It explores how Linux is adapted for demanding embedded applications.
Chapter 8: Embedded System Safety and Security
This section addresses the critical aspects of safety and security in embedded systems, especially within the context of the Internet of Things. It examines lessons learned from industry incidents, discusses security challenges, and outlines principles for designing secure IoT architectures and implementing secure updates.
Chapter 9: Embedded System and Cloud Computing
An overview of the integration of embedded systems with cloud computing. It covers cloud platforms, backend services, data analysis, and the protocols that enable communication between embedded devices and the cloud in IoT environments.
Chapter 10: Embedded Operating Systems in Mobile Phones
This chapter explores the role of embedded operating systems in the mobile phone industry. It reviews the evolution of mobile OSes, including Symbian, and the dominance of Android and its competitors in the smartphone market.
Chapter 11: Embedded Operating System Applications
This section focuses on the practical applications of embedded operating systems, particularly embedded Linux in communication devices and the development of wireless networking applications. It highlights the importance of design methods and the benefits of using Linux in these areas.
Chapter 12: Intellectual Property in Embedded Software
A discussion on the intellectual property considerations surrounding embedded software. Topics include the concept of software IP, licensing models, strategies for innovation, and industry practices for patent filing and underwriting, with specific attention to FreeRTOS licensing.
Chapter 13: Wearable Devices and Embedded Operating System
This chapter examines the operating systems powering wearable devices. It covers the current status and future trends, the history of wearable OS development, technical characteristics, and mainstream platforms such as Google's Android Wear, Samsung's Tizen, Apple Watch, and ARM mbed OS.
Chapter 14: Internet of Things Operating Systems
A deep dive into operating systems specifically designed for the Internet of Things. It covers their origins, characteristics, security features, cloud integration, and provides a comparative analysis of leading IoT OSes like Huawei LiteOS, Amazon FreeRTOS, and RT-Thread.
Chapter 15: Embedded Technology and the Internet of Things
This section explores the foundational role of microcontrollers (MCUs) in the growth of the Internet of Things. It defines MCUs, explains their importance in IoT development, and discusses the current state and future prospects of MCUs, particularly in China.
Epilogue: My 20 Years of Career in Embedded System
Personal reflections on a career spanning two decades in the embedded systems industry. This includes insights gained from working with companies like Intel, experiences with operating systems like VRTX, the influence of ARM, and the push for embedded system standardization.
In Memory of Jim Ready
A tribute to Jim Ready, recognized as a pioneer in commercial RTOS and embedded Linux, and a respected mentor.
