Application of Real Time Operating System in the Internet of Things

This article proposes an application of a mini-malistic Real Time Operating System (RTOS) for a construction of a device that works in the Internet of Things. The solution described in the article is an effective and feasible alternative to minicomputers with the Linux and Python language interpreter. The application of RTOS reduces significantly the required hardware resources, which results in a decrease of the cost of the device and an increase in its energy saving efficiency and reliability. The paper presents the design of an access server that makes remote operation of 16 serial ports possible and that controls 16 power lines via the Ethernet. The device has been developed on the basis of an 8-bit micro-controller equipped with 64 kB of external memory for data and simple power-saving ethernet driver without dedicated processor. Thanks to the application of the operating system the software is composed of a number of tasks running in parallel and being in close communication with one another. With the approach that is compatible with the philosophy of the Internet of Things, there is no need to implement an advanced management panel on the device. This functionality can be implemented in the cloud - on a virtual server.