An Object-Oriented Microkernel for the i960 in Oberon-2

Christoph Steindl
Johannes Kepler University Linz
Forschungsinstitut für Mikroprozessortechnik
Altenbergerstraße 69, A-4040 Linz

Abstract

The goal of this diploma thesis is an object oriented real time microkernel for Intel´s 32-Bit microcontroller 80960.
The code is written in Oberon-2 using the crosscompiler for the i960 developed by Richard Hable at the FIM. This crosscompiler should be tested for its reliability and efficiency while programming the microkernel in question.
As a basis a microkernel for the 8086 was used that had been written by Richard Fanta in C++.
After having ported the given C++ code to Oberon-2 and onto the i960 the problem of switching between processes was solved and a real time scheduling mechanism was implemented (preemptive and priority driven).
Using this microkernel now it is possible to develop real time applications in a high level language and bring in the advantages of parallelism into conventional programs. A clear programming interface provides access to the functionality of the kernel.

Diploma thesis (in German) in Computer Science at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria, April 1995.
Advisor of this diploma thesis: Prof. Mühlbacher.
Graduation in Computer Science (Dipl.-Ing.): June 1995.
You can download the full diploma thesis in postscript (approximately 110 pages).