Product category:
Embedded Software and Operating Systems
News Release from: LiveDevices | Subject: Embedinet SDK for Hitachi H8
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 01 November 2001
Software developemnt kit puts Internet
on MCUs
Hitachi and LiveDevices are collaborating on the development of Internet connectivity for Hitachi's H8 family of microcontrollers.
Hitachi and LiveDevices are collaborating on the development of Internet connectivity for Hitachi's H8 family of microcontrollers These will enable the rapid deployment of low-cost, open TCP/IP embedded Internet solutions within a wide range of consumer, industrial and automotive products and equipment
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 10 Aug 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Development for embedded Internet applications
LiveDevices has launched its Embedinet Pro SDK to accelerate the development of low-cost embedded Internet solutions for the data telemetry, home appliance and automotive markets.
Automotive RTOS cuts hardware overkill
LiveDevices reckons its Realogy Real-Time Architect (RTA) version 3.0 is the automotive industry's first fully analysable, deterministic OSEK-compliant real-time operating system (RTOS).
To facilitate the collaboration, LiveDevices has ported its Embedinet software development kit (SDK) to the Hitachi H8 microcontroller family.
Initially available on the H8S, with support for the H8/300H Tiny variants to follow, the Embedinet SDK includes LiveDevices' real-time kernel and a fully standard TCP/IP internet connectivity stack, both of which can be deployed on the device on a royalty-free basis.
Ultra-small and highly efficient, the real-time kernel is ideal for resource-constrained hardware.
Further reading
World first full OSEK OS 2.2 certification
Realogy Real-Time Architect is the world's first real-time operating system to achieve full OSEK OS 2.2 certification for every conformance class, as well as the OSEK COM classes CCCA and CCCB.
RTOS automatically creates internal resources
LiveDevices has released version 3.1 of its world-class Realogy Real-Time Architect (RTA) featuring the SSX5 real-time operating system (RTOS).
Architect aids real-time control of engine valves
Compact Dynamics has used LiveDevices' Realogy Real-Time Architect and Embedinet solutions to realise a preproduction version of its new TCP/IP-enabled electronic valve control system.
The kernel offers priority based pre-emptive scheduling of multiple tasks and efficient intertask communication.
A full implementation of IP, TCP, UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) with SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) and PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) data transport layers is included in the Internet connectivity stack.
In addition, because true TCP/IP connectivity is enabled on the embedded device, there is no additional gateway solution required when building embedded Internet applications using the LiveDevices Embedinet SDK.
Included with the SDK are a number of Embedinet Application Layer Modules (EALM), which offer implementations of higher level elements of the Internet protocol set and other application area functionality.
Several EALMs are included with the SDK: File (FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)), Time (SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol)), Name (DNS Client (Domain Name System Client), and Email (SMTP Client (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol Client)).
Additional add-on EALMs are available alongside the SDK, the first of which is the WebServer module which provides an implementation of http that enables the embedded device to serve web pages as required.
Other EALMs are in development to offer remote Flash memory reprogramming capability, allowing software upgrades and data updates to be performed on products in the field.
For example, a vending machine manufacturer may wish to regularly update the pricing data on its machines.
A secure data transfer module, based on standard Internet cryptographic protocols and methodologies, will eliminate the risk of unauthorised viewing of sensitive information.
Hitachi's highly integrated H8 family of microcontrollers often allows the replacement of multiple-chip architectures by a single device.
This makes them highly popular with a wide variety of OEMs as they can produce compact, low power, low noise designs while reducing their bill of materials.
Together with the Embedinet SDK, these devices are ideal for use in deeply embedded applications where internet connectivity at a low price point is essential to high volume take-up.
"We recognise that Internet-ready functionality is an increasingly important issue for our microcontroller customers", commented Graeme Clark, Senior Product Marketing Engineer at Hitachi.
"They need solutions that are not only robust, but also standards-based.
LiveDevices' technology scores on both counts.
Its credentials are second-to-none and our collaboration is key to ability to meet the Internet connectivity challenge".
"Through this close working relationship, Hitachi and LiveDevices will provide our customers with a smooth and seamless migration path to full embedded Internet connectivity, enabling them to capitalise on the wealth of market opportunities that are starting to emerge", said Nick Keeling, Director of Product Marketing at LiveDevices.
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