Techniques for configuring an embedded processor operating system
AssigneeAltera Corporation
InventorsAndrew Draper, Iain Scott, Paul Riley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An operating system for a processor in a hardware device is configured by reading data defining a configuration of the hardware device. Based on the defined configuration of the hardware device, it is determined which operating system configuration options, from a plurality of available operating system configuration options, are valid. Then, only the valid operating system configuration options are presented to a user. The hardware device may be a fixed hardware platform, or may be a configurable hardware device such as an FPGA. The data defining the configuration of the hardware device can be read from a high level design entry tool.
Claims21
A method of configuring an embedded operating system for a processor of an embedded hardware device, the method comprising:
- receiving data defining a configuration of the embedded hardware device from a high-level design tool, wherein the embedded hardware device includes said processor, wherein the data defining the configuration received from the high-level design tool comprises a set of functional blocks and interconnections between functional blocks, each functional block representing functionality to be implemented in the embedded hardware device, and wherein the high-level design tool provides an interface for selecting component functional blocks;
- based on the defined configuration of the embedded hardware device, determining which operating system configuration options, from a plurality of available operating system configuration options, are valid;
- and
- presenting only the valid operating system configuration options to a user.
An operating system configuration tool, for configuring an embedded operating system in an embedded hardware device, wherein the configuration tool:
- receives data defining a configuration of the embedded hardware device from a high-level design tool, wherein the embedded hardware device includes said processor, wherein the data defining the configuration received from the high-level design tool comprises a set of functional blocks and interconnections between functional blocks, each functional block representing functionality to be implemented in the embedded hardware device, and wherein the high-level design tool provides an interface for selecting component functional blocks;
- based on the defined configuration of the embedded hardware device, determines which operating system configuration options, from a plurality of available operating system configuration options, are valid;
- and
- presents only the valid operating system configuration options to a user.
A configurable hardware device, comprising:
- an embedded processor;
- an input for receiving configuration data, such that a configuration of the configurable hardware device is determined by the received configuration data;
- embedded operating system software, comprising a board support package and a configuration tool, for configuring the operating system;
- wherein the configuration tool:
- receives data defining a configuration of the configurable hardware device from a high-level design tool, wherein the configurable hardware device includes said processor, wherein the data defining the configuration received from the high-level design tool comprises a set of functional blocks and interconnections between functional blocks, each functional block representing functionality to be implemented in the configurable hardware device, and wherein the high-level design tool provides an interface for selecting component functional blocks;
- based on the defined configuration of the configurable hardware device, determines which operating system configuration options, from a plurality of available operating system configuration options, are valid;
- and
- presents only the valid operating system configuration options to a user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.