STM32WB Bluetooth® LE – Heart Rate Sensor project Migration to Azure RTOS ThreadX OS

1. Overview of Azure RTOS ThreadX OS

• Picokernel, preemption-threshold, event-chaining unique features
• Execution profiling and performance metrics
• Totally available in source code (ANSI C and assembler)
• Safety Certifications (TÜV, MISRA, UL)
• Integrated with other Azure RTOS components:
  • USBX
  • NETX and NETXDUO
  • FILEX
  • LEVELX
  • TRACEX

Fully detailed description of ThreadX OS features and benefits can be found here: Microsoft AzureRTOS ThreadX Documentation

1.1. ThreadX code organization

File:ThreadXStructure.png

ThreadX folders organization

Main folders descriptions

• cmake: original build system (not mandatory)
• common: mcu architecture independent source code
• common_modules: module feature (see: ThreadX Modules)
• common_smp: Symmetric Multi Processing feature (see: ThreadX SMP)
• docs: Just a dependency tree of Azure RTOS components
• ports: mcu architecture dependent (M3, M4, M33,...)
• ports_module: architecture dependent module code
• ports_smp: architecture dependent smp code
• samples: Microsoft example code (demo_threadx.c)
• utility:
  • benchmarks: Thread-Metric test suite
    
  • execution_profile_kit: thread execution time tracker
    
  • low_power: Low power management files
    
  • rtos_compatibility_layers: adaptation layers (FreeRTOS, Posix, OSEK)
    

1.2. ThreadX way of working

A typical ThreadX application could be similar to this one (courtesy of Microsoft):

#include "tx_api.h"
unsigned long my_thread_counter = 0;
TX_THREAD my_thread;
main( )
{
    /* Enter the ThreadX kernel. */
    tx_kernel_enter( );
}
void tx_application_define(void *first_unused_memory)
{
    /* Create my_thread! */
    tx_thread_create(&my_thread, "My Thread",
    my_thread_entry, 0x1234, first_unused_memory, 1024,
    3, 3, TX_NO_TIME_SLICE, TX_AUTO_START);
}
void my_thread_entry(ULONG thread_input)
{
    /* Enter into a forever loop. */
    while(1)
    {
        /* Increment thread counter. */
        my_thread_counter++;
        /* Sleep for 1 tick. */
        tx_thread_sleep(1);
    }
}