Chapter 2 General Information
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2.2 Relationship between TRON Specification and MR308
The TRON Specification is an abbreviation for The Real-time Operating system Nucleus specification. It denotes
the specifications for the nucleus of a real-time operating system. The TRON Project, which is centered on
TRON Specification design, is pushed forward under the leadership of Dr. Ken Sakamura at University of Tokyo.
As one item of this TRON Project, the ITRON Specification is promoted. The ITRON Specification is an abbre-
viation for the Industrial TRON Specification. It denotes the real-time operating system that is designed with a
view toward establishing industrial real-time operating systems.
The ITRON Specification provides a number of functions to properly meet the application requirements. In other
words, ITRON systems require relatively large memory capacities and enhanced processing capabilities. The
µITRON 2.0 Specification is the arranged version of the ITRON Specification for the higher processing speed,
and incorporated only a minimum of functions necessary.
In 1993, µITRON 2.0 Specification and ITRON Specification were unified, which resulted in establishment of
µITRON 3.0 Specification, with connecting functions added.
Furthermore, in 1999, µITRON 4.0 Specification4 with enhanced compatibility was established.
MR308 is the real-time operating system developed for use with the M16C/70, 80 and M32C/80 series of
16/32-bit microcomputers compliant with µITRON 4.0 Specification. µITRON 4.0 Specification stipulates stan-
dard profiles as an attempt to ensure software portability. Of these standard profiles, MR308 has implemented in
it all service calls except for static APIs and task exception APIs.
4µITRON 4.0 Specification is an open, real-time kernel specification set forth by the TRON Association.
The documented specification of µITRON 4.0 Specification can be obtained from the Web site of the TRON Association
(http://www.assoc.tron.org/).