Demystifying Embedded Systems Middleware (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Demystifying Embedded Systems Middleware 4
Copyright 5
Contents 6
About the Author 8
Chapter 1 - Demystifying Middleware in Embedded Systems 10
Chapter Points 10
1.1 - What is the Middleware of an Embedded System? 10
1.2 - How to Begin When Building a Complex Middleware-based Solution 15
1.3 - Why is a Strong Technical Foundation Important in Middleware Design? 19
1.4 - Summary 22
1.5 - End Notes 22
Chapter 2 - The Foundation 24
Chapter Points 24
2.1 - A Middleware Programmer’s Viewpoint – Why Care about Processor Design and I/O? 26
2.2 - The Memory Map, Storage Mediums, and Middleware 29
2.3 - Device Drivers and Middleware 38
2.4 - The Role of an Embedded System’s Operating System and Middleware-specific Code 43
2.5 - Operating Systems and Device Driver Access for Middleware 50
2.6 - A Brief Comment on Multiple Middleware Components 63
2.7 - Summary 63
2.8 - Problems 64
2.9 - End Notes 66
Chapter 3 - Middleware and Standards in Embedded Systems 68
Chapter Points 68
3.1 - What are Standards for Middleware Software? 68
3.2 - Real-world Middleware Standards Implemented in Embedded Systems 69
3.3 - The Contribution of Standards to an Embedded System 77
3.4 - Market-specific Middleware and the MHP (Multimedia Home Platform) Standard Example 83
3.5 - Summary 100
3.6 - Problems 100
3.7 - End Notes 101
Chapter 4 - The Fundamentals in Understanding Networking Middleware 102
Chapter Points 102
4.1 - Step 1 to Understanding Networking Middleware: Networking Models 103
4.2 - Step 2 to Understanding Networking Middleware: Understanding the Overall Network 107
4.3 - Step 3 to Understanding Networking Middleware: Understanding the Underlying Hardware and System Software Layers 111
4.4 - An Embedded OS and Networking I/O APIs 120
4.5 - Step 4: Networking Middleware 125
4.6 - Step 5 Putting it All Together: Tuning the Networking Stack and the Application Requirements 171
4.7 - Summary 197
4.8 - Problems5 198
4.9 - End Notes 199
Chapter 5 - File Systems 200
Chapter Points 200
5.1 - What is a File System? 200
5.2 - How Does a File System Manage Data? 201
5.3 - File System Data and the File System Reference Model 204
5.4 - Remembering the Importance of File System Stability and Reliability 258
5.5 - Summary 261
5.6 - File System Problems 261
5.7 - End Notes 262
Chapter 6 - Virtual Machines in Middleware 264
Chapter Points 264
6.1 - The First Step to Understanding a VM Implementation: The Basics to Programming Languages1 264
6.2 - Understanding the Elements of a VM’s Architecture1 270
6.3 - A Quick Comment on Selecting Embedded VMs Relative to the Application Layer 309
6.4 - Summary 311
6.5 - Problems 312
6.6 - End Notes 313
Chapter 7 - An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Database Systems 314
Chapter Points 314
7.1 - What is a Database System? 314
7.2 - Record-based versus Object-oriented Database Models 316
7.3 - Why Care About The Different Database Models? 323
7.4 - The Fundamentals of Database Design: The First Steps 324
7.5 - Real-world Database System Model 326
7.6 - Utilizing Embedded Databases in Real-world Designs and the Application Layer 334
7.7 - Summary 335
7.8 - Problems 337
7.9 - End Notes 337
Chapter 8 - Putting It All Together 338
Chapter Points 338
8.1 - Message-oriented Middleware and Distributed Transaction 339
8.2 - Authentication and Security Middleware 344
8.3 - Integration Brokers 346
8.4 - Summary 348
8.5 - Problems 348
8.6 - End Notes 349
Chapter 9 - The Holistic View to Demystifying Middleware 350
Chapter Points 350
9.1 - Does using Middleware in your Embedded System Design Actually ‘Make Sense’? 352
9.2 - Buy an Off-the-shelf Middleware Solution or Do-it-yourself? 353
9.3 - Conclusion – See the Pattern Yet? 363
9.4 - End Notes 365
Appendix A - Abbreviations and Acronyms 366
Appendix B - Embedded Systems Glossary 376
Index 398