How does the acquisition of Express Logic help Microsoft and the ecosystem of the Internet of Things?



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On April 18, Microsoft has ad The acquisition of Express Logic, an embedded software company based in San Diego, for an undisclosed amount.

Since entering the IoT market via Azure and Windows 10 IoT Core, Microsoft has made significant investments. Last year, Julia White, CVP at Azure, announced a $ 5 billion investment in IoT over the next four years. The latest Express Logic acquisition demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to creating an end-to-end IoT platform.

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Why did Microsoft acquire Express Logic? How does this acquisition help the company and its partners?

Here is an attempt to answer these questions.

Express Logic – An Integrated Operating Systems Company

Express Logic builds and deploys a real-time operating system (RTOS) since 1996.

An RTOS is a niche specialized operating system designed exclusively for constrained devices, such as microcontrollers. Unlike standard operating systems such as Linux and Windows, RTOS manages the operating system and the code written explicitly for the device in real time. Think of it as a firmware that can be inserted into a device.

Express Logic has a RTOS called ThreadX deployed in more than 6.2 billion devices. With a small footprint of 2 KB, the operating system can be deployed in peripherals with limited resources, including microcontrollers. THREADX runs on most popular 32/64 bit microprocessors, ready to use, thoroughly tested and fully supported.

ThreadX is the foundation of the Express Logic X-Ware IoT platform, which also includes built-in file support (FileX), built-in user interface (GUIX) support, integrated and cloud-based TCP / IP connectivity (NetX / NetX Duo) and USB (USBX) support. . All components are modular in construction and can be badembled to form a platform.

Although not open source, ThreadX is distributed via a template in which source code is provided and licenses are royalty-free. It is available for various platforms including ARM, Intel, NXP, TI and Xilinx. It even supports the most recent Intel FPGA platform based on Arria 10.

NASA used Express Logic's ThreadX in the Deep Impact Sensor Data Acquisition (SDA) component, a spacecraft designed to study the internal composition of the Tempel 1 comet.

Why did Microsoft buy Express Logic?

The acquisition of Express Logic is strategic for Microsoft and will help the company connect millions of devices to its Azure Cloud platform.

Microcontrollers are cheap electronic chips that are found almost everywhere. From TV remote controls to microwave ovens and even doorbells, all modern electronics are based on microcontrollers.

With the rise of smart devices, consumers want to control everything from the Internet. The mobile phone turns into a universal remote control. Even in industrial environments, factories and connected machines are becoming the norm. Microcontrollers are in the foreground of the connected world.

The traditional electronics and device manufacturers are not equipped to handle connected platforms. They are looking for a turnkey solution that will help them build smart devices that take advantage of the cloud and IoT ecosystem.

With the acquisition of Express Logic, Microsoft will transform ThreadX into a RTOS compatible with smart devices. Microsoft will make ThreadX cloud-aware RTOS by extending the kernel to include libraries that speak with Azure IoT. Each device powered by ThreadX will have secure and instant connectivity to the Microsoft Azure IoT hub. When deployed in highly resource-constrained devices, ThreadX will allow devices to discover and communicate with Azure IoT Edge devices. This architecture and topology can connect each ThreadX device to Azure IoT Hub.

Microsoft will leverage the popularity and reach of ThreadX by integrating millions of microcontrollers into its IoT platform. This action will also help Microsoft counter the threat of AWS IoT. Two years ago, Amazon acquired FreeRTOS to increase its conversation core capabilities with AWS IoT Core and AWS Greengrbad. Microsoft is ready to do the same with the Express Logic RTOS ThreadX.

What happens to the azure sphere?

Nearly a year ago, Microsoft announced Azure Sphere, a secure software platform for microcontrollers.

Azure Sphere has three components: certified microcontrollers, a secure operating system, and a cloud connectivity service. Microsoft researchers worked on all layers to create an end-to-end, secure end-to-end stack. Microsoft has partnered with silicon manufacturers such as MediaTek to create Azure Sphere chips.

Why did Microsoft invest in Express Logic while using Azure Sphere? Azure Sphere is an integrated battery designed to run on a specialized microcontroller exclusively designed for this purpose. Because of the importance given to security, Azure Stack OS can not be used with all microcontrollers. This is where the Express Logic ThreadX interface comes into play. It lowers the bar to ship just about any microcontroller to Azure. Due to reduced security policies and prerequisites, all devices powered by ThreadX can be easily connected to Microsoft's Azure IoT.

What is the impact on Microsoft's IoT strategy?

The acquisition of Express Logic extends the scope of Microsoft Azure IoT up to the last kilometer. It gives Microsoft access to millions of devices waiting to be transformed into smart devices.

Express Logic ThreadX, Azure Sphere, Windows 10 IoT Core, Azure IoT SDK, Azure IoT Edge cover the entire spectrum of microcontrollers and peripherals. Sufficiently powerful devices consume Azure IoT services directly, while constrained devices communicate with the closest Azure IoT Edge device for connectivity.

Investments in embedded software and RTOS, combined with a secure and scalable IoT platform on Azure, make Microsoft a leader in industrial automation and IoT.

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On April 18, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Express Logic, an embedded software company based in San Diego, for an undisclosed amount.

Since entering the IoT market via Azure and Windows 10 IoT Core, Microsoft has made significant investments. Last year, Julia White, CVP at Azure, announced a $ 5 billion investment in IoT over the next four years. The latest Express Logic acquisition demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to creating an end-to-end IoT platform.

Why did Microsoft acquire Express Logic? How does this acquisition help the company and its partners?

Here is an attempt to answer these questions.

Express Logic – An Integrated Operating Systems Company

Express Logic builds and deploys a real-time operating system (RTOS) since 1996.

An RTOS is a niche specialized operating system designed exclusively for constrained devices, such as microcontrollers. Unlike standard operating systems such as Linux and Windows, RTOS manages the operating system and the code written explicitly for the device in real time. Think of it as a firmware that can be inserted into a device.

Express Logic has a RTOS called ThreadX deployed in more than 6.2 billion devices. With a small footprint of 2 KB, the operating system can be deployed in peripherals with limited resources, including microcontrollers. THREADX runs on most popular 32/64 bit microprocessors, ready to use, thoroughly tested and fully supported.

ThreadX is the foundation of the Express Logic X-Ware IoT platform, which also includes built-in file support (FileX), built-in user interface (GUIX) support, integrated and cloud-based TCP / IP connectivity (NetX / NetX Duo) and USB (USBX) support. All components are modular in construction and can be badembled to form a platform.

Although not open source, ThreadX is distributed via a template in which source code is provided and licenses are royalty-free. It is available for various platforms including ARM, Intel, NXP, TI and Xilinx. It even supports the most recent Intel FPGA platform based on Arria 10.

NASA used Express Logic's ThreadX in the Deep Impact Sensor Data Acquisition (SDA) component, a spacecraft designed to study the internal composition of the Tempel 1 comet.

Why did Microsoft buy Express Logic?

The acquisition of Express Logic is strategic for Microsoft and will help the company connect millions of devices to its Azure Cloud platform.

Microcontrollers are cheap electronic chips that are found almost everywhere. From TV remote controls to microwave ovens and even doorbells, all modern electronics are based on microcontrollers.

With the rise of smart devices, consumers want to control everything from the Internet. The mobile phone turns into a universal remote control. Even in industrial environments, factories and connected machines are becoming the norm. Microcontrollers are in the foreground of the connected world.

The traditional electronics and device manufacturers are not equipped to handle connected platforms. They are looking for a turnkey solution that will help them build smart devices that take advantage of the cloud and IoT ecosystem.

With the acquisition of Express Logic, Microsoft will transform ThreadX into a RTOS compatible with smart devices. Microsoft will make ThreadX cloud-aware RTOS by extending the kernel to include libraries that speak with Azure IoT. Each device powered by ThreadX will have secure and instant connectivity to the Microsoft Azure IoT hub. When deployed in highly resource-constrained devices, ThreadX will allow devices to discover and communicate with Azure IoT Edge devices. This architecture and topology can connect each ThreadX device to Azure IoT Hub.

Microsoft will leverage the popularity and reach of ThreadX by integrating millions of microcontrollers into its IoT platform. This action will also help Microsoft counter the threat of AWS IoT. Two years ago, Amazon acquired FreeRTOS to increase its conversation core capabilities with AWS IoT Core and AWS Greengrbad. Microsoft is ready to do the same with the Express Logic RTOS ThreadX.

What happens to the azure sphere?

Nearly a year ago, Microsoft announced Azure Sphere, a secure software platform for microcontrollers.

Azure Sphere has three components: certified microcontrollers, a secure operating system, and a cloud connectivity service. Microsoft researchers worked on all layers to create an end-to-end, secure end-to-end stack. Microsoft has partnered with silicon manufacturers such as MediaTek to create Azure Sphere chips.

Why did Microsoft invest in Express Logic while using Azure Sphere? Azure Sphere is an integrated battery designed to run on a specialized microcontroller exclusively designed for this purpose. Because of the importance given to security, Azure Stack OS can not be used with all microcontrollers. This is where the Express Logic ThreadX interface comes into play. It lowers the bar to ship just about any microcontroller to Azure. Due to reduced security policies and prerequisites, all devices powered by ThreadX can be easily connected to Microsoft's Azure IoT.

What is the impact on Microsoft's IoT strategy?

The acquisition of Express Logic extends the scope of Microsoft Azure IoT up to the last kilometer. It gives Microsoft access to millions of devices waiting to be transformed into smart devices.

Express Logic ThreadX, Azure Sphere, Windows 10 IoT Core, Azure IoT SDK, Azure IoT Edge cover the entire spectrum of microcontrollers and peripherals. Sufficiently powerful devices consume Azure IoT services directly, while constrained devices communicate with the closest Azure IoT Edge device for connectivity.

Investments in embedded software and RTOS, combined with a secure and scalable IoT platform on Azure, make Microsoft a leader in industrial automation and IoT.

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