T-Kernel
Encyclopedia
T-Kernel is an open source
real-time operating system
designed for 32-bit
microcontroller
s. It is standardized by T-Engine Forum. T-Kernel is distributed by T-Engine Forum under the license agreement called T-License.
For embedded systems with 16-bit
and 8-bit
microcontrollers, μT-Kernel
is designed to have a small footprint.
was started by Prof. Dr. Ken Sakamura
of the University of Tokyo
. The project's goal was to design an open RTOS kernel. The TRON framework defines a complete architecture for the different computing units. ITRON
is the most popular TRON architecture. ITRON specification promotion was done by the various companies which sell the commercial implementations. T-Kernel is the name of the specification and at the same time a single implementation based on the authorized source code available from T-Engine Forum for free under T-License
. T-Engine is arguably the most advanced ubiquitous computing platform in the world.
In 1989, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd now known as Panasonic Corporation introduced a TRON
PC. This TRON
PC had an 80286 Intel chip of 8 MHz and only 2 MB of memory, but it could display moving videos. Also, it had a dual-booting system that could run both the TRON
OS and MS-DOS
. When the Japanese government announced it would use TRON PC in Japanese schools, the U.S government objected. It threatened the move with sanctions. The Japanese, dependent on the U.S export market, dropped the plan.
But, ITRON
survived, and today it is used in many gadgets, household appliances, automobile electronics, robots and even in satellites. ITRON is also used in factory automation systems in China. Embedded system
developers claim it is the number one OS for embedded chips in both Japan and the United States.
, T-Kernel has separate specification for subsystem and device driver
which will be suitable for different types of middleware APIs. A real-time OS appropriate for individual application can be created by combining the middleware
called T-Kernel Extension with the T-Kernel itself. T-Monitor initializes hardware
and handles the interrupt
set up at the beginning. T-Monitor lessens hardware-dependency of T-Kernel, and improves the application portability. T-Kernel consists of the following three components from the viewpoint of functionality.
function and address space management function in order to manage middleware such as device drivers and subsystems.
s to be used in development tools.
for software cross-development targeting T-Kernel.
The current release of T-Kernel 2.0 is distributed with a plug-in for Eclipse
IDE. Also, a version of T-Kernel that runs on QEMU
based emulator, and the QEMU
based emulator itself, are available so that testing, training and development can be done on a PC without a target hardware.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
real-time operating system
Real-time operating system
A real-time operating system is an operating system intended to serve real-time application requests.A key characteristic of a RTOS is the level of its consistency concerning the amount of time it takes to accept and complete an application's task; the variability is jitter...
designed for 32-bit
32-bit
The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory....
microcontroller
Microcontroller
A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Program memory in the form of NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM...
s. It is standardized by T-Engine Forum. T-Kernel is distributed by T-Engine Forum under the license agreement called T-License.
For embedded systems with 16-bit
16-bit
-16-bit architecture:The HP BPC, introduced in 1975, was the world's first 16-bit microprocessor. Prominent 16-bit processors include the PDP-11, Intel 8086, Intel 80286 and the WDC 65C816. The Intel 8088 was program-compatible with the Intel 8086, and was 16-bit in that its registers were 16...
and 8-bit
8-bit
The first widely adopted 8-bit microprocessor was the Intel 8080, being used in many hobbyist computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, often running the CP/M operating system. The Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 6800 were also used in similar computers...
microcontrollers, μT-Kernel
Micro T-Kernel
μT-Kernel is a real-time operating system designed for 16- and 8-bit microcontrollers. μT-Kernel is standardized by T-Engine Forum.An article comparing 9 RTOSs among which Micro T-Kernel was evaluated and given favorable remarks appeared in IEEE publication.-External links:*****...
is designed to have a small footprint.
History
In 1984 TRON ProjectTRON Project
TRON is an open real-time operating system kernel design, and is an acronym for "The Real-time Operating system Nucleus". The project was started by Prof. Dr. Ken Sakamura of the University of Tokyo in 1984...
was started by Prof. Dr. Ken Sakamura
Ken Sakamura
is a Japanese professor in Information science at the University of Tokyo. He is the creator of the real-time operating system architecture TRON.In 2001, he shared the Takeda Award for Social/Economic Well-Being with Richard Stallman and Linus Torvalds....
of the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
. The project's goal was to design an open RTOS kernel. The TRON framework defines a complete architecture for the different computing units. ITRON
Itron
Itron Inc. is a provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software. It has nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on their technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water...
is the most popular TRON architecture. ITRON specification promotion was done by the various companies which sell the commercial implementations. T-Kernel is the name of the specification and at the same time a single implementation based on the authorized source code available from T-Engine Forum for free under T-License
T-License
T-License is the license used by T-Engine Forum for distributing T-Kernel source code. License fee is free if products are developed according to T-License conditions...
. T-Engine is arguably the most advanced ubiquitous computing platform in the world.
In 1989, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd now known as Panasonic Corporation introduced a TRON
Tron
-Film:*Tron , a franchise that began in 1982 with the Walt Disney Pictures film Tron** Tron , a 1982 science fiction film by Disney, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, Dan Shor and David Warner...
PC. This TRON
Tron
-Film:*Tron , a franchise that began in 1982 with the Walt Disney Pictures film Tron** Tron , a 1982 science fiction film by Disney, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, Dan Shor and David Warner...
PC had an 80286 Intel chip of 8 MHz and only 2 MB of memory, but it could display moving videos. Also, it had a dual-booting system that could run both the TRON
Tron
-Film:*Tron , a franchise that began in 1982 with the Walt Disney Pictures film Tron** Tron , a 1982 science fiction film by Disney, starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, Dan Shor and David Warner...
OS and MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
. When the Japanese government announced it would use TRON PC in Japanese schools, the U.S government objected. It threatened the move with sanctions. The Japanese, dependent on the U.S export market, dropped the plan.
But, ITRON
Itron
Itron Inc. is a provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software. It has nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on their technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water...
survived, and today it is used in many gadgets, household appliances, automobile electronics, robots and even in satellites. ITRON is also used in factory automation systems in China. Embedded system
Embedded system
An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal...
developers claim it is the number one OS for embedded chips in both Japan and the United States.
OS Overview
To make it easy to distribute middlewareMiddleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
, T-Kernel has separate specification for subsystem and device driver
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
which will be suitable for different types of middleware APIs. A real-time OS appropriate for individual application can be created by combining the middleware
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
called T-Kernel Extension with the T-Kernel itself. T-Monitor initializes hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
and handles the interrupt
Interrupt
In computing, an interrupt is an asynchronous signal indicating the need for attention or a synchronous event in software indicating the need for a change in execution....
set up at the beginning. T-Monitor lessens hardware-dependency of T-Kernel, and improves the application portability. T-Kernel consists of the following three components from the viewpoint of functionality.
T-Kernel/SM (System Manager)
This offers the functions including system memory managementMemory management
Memory management is the act of managing computer memory. The essential requirement of memory management is to provide ways to dynamically allocate portions of memory to programs at their request, and freeing it for reuse when no longer needed. This is critical to the computer system.Several...
function and address space management function in order to manage middleware such as device drivers and subsystems.
T-Kernel/DS (Debugger Support)
This offers the functions for debuggerDebugger
A debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs . The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator , a technique that allows great power in its ability to halt when specific conditions are encountered but which...
s to be used in development tools.
Development Environment for T-Kernel
eBinder from eSol Corporation is one of the commonly used IDEIntegrated development environment
An integrated development environment is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development...
for software cross-development targeting T-Kernel.
The current release of T-Kernel 2.0 is distributed with a plug-in for Eclipse
Eclipse (software)
Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...
IDE. Also, a version of T-Kernel that runs on QEMU
QEMU
QEMU is a processor emulator that relies on dynamic binary translation to achieve a reasonable speed while being easy to port on new host CPU architectures....
based emulator, and the QEMU
QEMU
QEMU is a processor emulator that relies on dynamic binary translation to achieve a reasonable speed while being easy to port on new host CPU architectures....
based emulator itself, are available so that testing, training and development can be done on a PC without a target hardware.