Classification, characteristics and development trend of embedded software

With the popularization of embedded system applications, to ensure the smooth operation of embedded systems, embedded software has developed rapidly and has become a new force in the software industry.

Embedded Software is inseparable from embedded systems. an embedded system is a device that controls, monitors, or auxiliary equipment, machines, and workshops run. It is an application-centric device based on computer technology, moreover, the software and hardware can be cropped, which is suitable for dedicated computer systems with strict requirements on functions, reliability, cost, volume, and power consumption of application systems. It generally consists of embedded microprocessor, peripheral hardware devices, embedded operating systems, and user applications. Program Is used to control, monitor, or manage other devices. Embedded Software is a software based on embedded system design. It is also a computer software. It is also composed of programs and their documents and can be subdivided into three types: system software, supporting software, and application software, is an important part of embedded systems.

Classification of embedded software:

1. Embedded Operating System: the embedded operating system EOS (Embedded Operating System) is a widely used system software. In the past, it was mainly used in industrial control and defense systems. EOS is responsible for allocating and scheduling all the software and hardware resources of the embedded system, controlling and coordinating concurrent activities. It must reflect the characteristics of the system, it can achieve the functions required by the system by loading and unloading certain modules. Embedded operating systems are usually mainly engaged in commercial operations. Since the 1980s S, commercial embedded operating systems have been booming. Currently, internationally renowned embedded operating systems include Windows CE, Palm OS, Linux, VxWorks, PSOs, QNX, OS-9, and lynxos, foreign products that have entered the Chinese market include Windriver, Microsoft, QNX, and nuclear. China's embedded operating system started late. Domestic such products are mainly based on proprietary Linux operating systems, represented by soft Linux, red-flag Linux, and Oriental Linux.

2. Embedded supporting software: supporting software is used to help and support software development. It usually includes databases and development tools, among which database is the most important. Embedded Database technology has been widely used. With the advancement of mobile communication technology, people have put forward higher requirements for mobile data processing, the embedded database technology has attracted the attention of academic, industrial, military, and civil departments. An embedded mobile database or emdbs is a database management system that supports mobile computing or a specific computing mode. The database system is integrated with the operating system and specific applications, it runs on a variety of smart embedded devices or mobile devices. Among them, database systems embedded on mobile devices involve database technology, distributed computing technology, mobile communication technology, and many other fields, it has become an active research and application field. Major international embedded mobile database systems include Sybase and Oracle. China's embedded mobile database system is represented by the openbase mini embedded database system developed by Neusoft group. Because of

3. Embedded Application Software: embedded application software is a computer software designed to meet user expectations based on a fixed hardware platform in a specific application field. Because user tasks may have time and precision requirements, some embedded applications require the support of specific embedded operating systems. Embedded Application Software is different from common application software. It not only requires accuracy, security, and stability to meet the needs of practical applications, but also needs to be optimized as much as possible, to reduce the consumption of system resources and reduce hardware costs. At present, there have been a variety of embedded application software in China's market, includes browsers, email software, text processing software, communication software, multimedia software, personal information processing software, intelligent human-computer interaction software, and various industry application software. Application Software in embedded systems is the most active force. Each type of application software has a specific application background. Although the scale is small, it is highly professional, therefore, embedded application software, unlike operating systems and supporting software, is subject to foreign product monopoly and is an advantage field of embedded software in China.


Features of embedded software:

1. Embedded Software has unique practicability. Embedded Software serves embedded systems, which requires it to be closely associated with external hardware and equipment. Embedded systems are application-centric,
Embedded Software is an application system. It is developed based on application requirements. It is industry-oriented and market-oriented and requires specific industry experience. Each type of embedded software has its own unique application environment and practical value.

2. Embedded Software should have flexible applicability. Embedded Software can usually be considered as a modular software. It should be very convenient and flexible to use in a variety of embedded systems, without disrupting or changing the original system features and functions. First, it must be small and cannot occupy a large amount of resources. Second, it should be flexible to use. The configuration should be optimized as much as possible to reduce the overall inheritance of the system, and the upgrade and replacement should be flexible and convenient.

Development Trend of embedded software:

With the rapid development and popularization of information technology and the Internet, the integration of 3C (computer, communication, and consumer electronics) has become the only way to achieve industrial modernization and intelligence, embedded products have gone deep into all walks of life. Embedded access devices are a major product in the digital age. embedded software has become the core of digital products. Embedded Software is widely used in the home market, industrial market, commercial market, communication market and national defense market. In recent years, the rapid development of Information appliances has also contributed to the development of embedded software. Color TV, DCD, mobile phones, MP3/MP4, handheld computers, and automobiles are all potential information appliances. Unlike general operating systems and databases, the information and electric appliance platform does not have a monopoly on the market of foreign software vendors. This field has become a breakthrough in China's software industry.

Embedded systems are designed for specific application fields and developed based on application requirements. With the general needs of intelligent products, they have penetrated into various industries. With the continuous innovation of hardware technology and the rapid development of micro-electronics technology, the chip function is more powerful, the processing capability of the hardware platform is constantly enhanced, the hardware cost is continuously reduced, and the product size is getting smaller and smaller, meanwhile, the reliability, timeliness and maintainability of embedded software are further improved. Embedded software has become the key and driving technology for product digitalization and intelligent value-added. Mobile communication, handheld computers, and digital TVs are important application fields of embedded operating systems. As the performance of handheld devices such as handheld computers improves, embedded operating systems will become necessary configurations. With the promotion of the industry, the industrial application software market will expand rapidly. As the features of handheld computers continue to expand, special functional software is facing new development opportunities.

Because embedded systems are related to people's livelihood and involve all aspects of social life such as industry, agriculture, commerce, national defense, and government affairs, they must not be subject to human beings, embedded Software is bound to become a major direction for the future development of China's software industry. China currently has advantages in the field of embedded application software, or the competition in this field is not bad, so it is relatively easy to take this as a breakthrough. It is wise to first take over the terminal application field, gain a firm foothold, and then take advantage of local advantages to make breakthroughs one by one.