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The Rationale for Distributed Semantics as a Topology Independent Embedded Systems Design Methodology and its Implementation in the Virtuoso RTOS

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Abstract

Virtuoso VSP is a fully distributed real-time operating system originally developed on the Inmos transputer. Its generic architecture is based on a small but very fast nanokernel and a portable preemptive microkernel. It was further on ported in single and virtual single processor implementations to a wide range of processors. This paper describes the rationale for developing the distributed semantics of Virtuoso’s microkernel and describes some of the implementation issues. The analysis is based on the parallel DSP implementations as these push the performance limits most for hard real-time applications. Extensions of the model towards heterogeneous embedded target systems are discussed.

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References

  1. The Transputer Databook. Inmos Ltd., 1989.

  2. Transputer Instruction Set. Inmos Ltd. Prentice Hall, 1988. p. 82.

  3. Oceam 2 Reference Manual. Inmos Ltd. Prentice Hall, 1988.

  4. Verhulst, E. Preemptive Process Scheduling and Meeting Hard Real-Time Constraints with TRANS-RTXC on the Transputer. In Applications of Transputer 2. IOS Press, 1990. Paper presented at Transputer Applications '90 Conference, Southampton, July 1990.

  5. Lehoczky, J. P., L. Sha, J. K. Strosnider, and H. Tokuda. Fixed Priority Scheduling Theory for Hard Real-Time Systems. In Foundations of Real-Time Computing. Scheduling and Resource Management. Kluwer Academic Press, 1991.

  6. Verhulst, E. RTXC/MP, a Distributed Real-Time Kernel Defined for a Virtual Single Processor. In International Conference on Signal Processing Applications and Technology, Boston, MA, Nov. 1992.

  7. Verhulst, E. Virtuoso: Providing Sub-Microsecond Context Switching on DSPs with a Dedicated Nanokernel. In International Conference on Signal Processing Applications and Technology, Santa Clara, CA, Sept. 1993.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eonic Systems NV, Nieuwlandlaan 9, B-3200, Aarschot, Belgium

    Eric Verhulst

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  1. Eric Verhulst
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Verhulst, E. The Rationale for Distributed Semantics as a Topology Independent Embedded Systems Design Methodology and its Implementation in the Virtuoso RTOS. Design Automation for Embedded Systems 6, 277–294 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014018820691

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014018820691

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