Linux Mailbox framework overview

Applicable for

STM32MP15x lines, STM32MP25x lines

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This article gives information about the Linux^® mailbox framework. The mailbox framework is involved in interprocessor communication in heterogeneous multicore systems.

1. Framework purpose

The mailbox is used in interprocessor communication to exchange messages or signals between the host and the coprocessor cores. The mailbox framework is based on:

• A mailbox controller that is platform dependent:
  • It is in charge of configuring and handling IRQ from the IPCC peripheral.
  • It provides a generic API to the mailbox client.
• A mailbox client that is in charge of the message to send or receive.

A general presentation of the mailbox framework is available in the Linux mailbox documentation .

2. System overview

2.1. Component description

• Mailbox controller

The mailbox controller is the stm32_ipcc. It configures and controls the IPCC peripheral

• Mailbox client

The user can define his own mailbox client.

For example, the RPMsg framework uses mailbox for the interprocessor communication.

In this case the mailbox client is the remoteproc driver that forwards services from/to the RPMsg framework.

2.2. API description

The APIs are described in the Mailbox client API

3. Configuration

3.1. Kernel Configuration

Activate stm32 IPCC mailbox in kernel configuration using the Linux Menuconfig tool: Menuconfig or how to configure kernel

Device drivers  --->
    -*- Mailbox Hardware Support  --->
        <*> STM32 IPCC Mailbox 

3.2. Device tree configuration

Please refer to the IPCC device tree configuration.

4. How to use the framework

The Linux mailbox documentation provides with a very simple example of use.

5. How to trace and debug the framework

5.1. How to trace

Dynamic debug traces can be added using the following commands:

echo -n 'file stm32-ipcc.c +p' > /sys/kernel/debug/dynamic_debug/control
echo -n 'file mailbox.c +p' > /sys/kernel/debug/dynamic_debug/control

• stm32-ipcc driver: drivers/mailbox/stm32-ipcc.c

6. Source code location

• framework: drivers/mailbox/mailbox.c
• client interface: include/linux/mailbox_client.h

Linux^® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Inter-processor communication controller

Application programming interface

Remote processor messaging

Linux^® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Inter-processor communication controller

Application programming interface

Remote processor messaging