Basic C initialization and runtime sequence

This article explains the initialization and runtime sequence of Basic C modules. Note that the C modules are associated with C libraries (dll).

Each function of the framework initialization and runtime sequence is associated to one or several functions to be accessed in the C library.

Overview

The initialization and runtime sequence of C modules follows several phases:

• The initialization phase: this phase takes place during the module initialization
• The start phase: this phase takes place during the module start
• The runtime phase: this phase takes place during the framework runtime phase

Initialization phase

When the module is initialized, the pointers to the Java functions to use to invoke services are given to the C library. These pointers allow to set values for Services datas:

• void setIntInvoker(void (*intInvoker)(char*, int)) for setting the value of an int data
• void setFloatInvoker(void (*intInvoker)(char*, float)) for setting the value of a float data
• etc...

Also the C library init function is called. This function must have the following signature:

      init(void (*startInvoke)(long), void (*endInvoke)())

• The first void (*startInvoke)(long) pointer points to the Java function which will be called at the start of a Service invocation
• The second void (*endInvoke)() pointer points to the Java function which will be called at the end of a Service invocation

Start phase

When the module is started, the C library start function is called. This function must have the following signature:

      start()

Runtime phase

Service notification

A Service notification follows the following steps:

• The void startNotify(long) function is called with the ID of the Service as argument
• The void receiveXXXX(char*, value) function is called for each Service data
• The void endNotify(long) function is called with the ID of the Service as argument

Service invocation

A Service invocation follows the following steps:

• The C library calls the void (*startInvoke)(long) function with the ID of the Service to invoke as the argument
• For each Data the C library wants to set the value, the C library calls the void (*xxxInvoker)(char*, value) function with the name of the data and the value as arguments. The function pointer called for each data type is the one specified during the initialization phase
• The C library calls the void (*endInvoke)() function to specify that the Service invocation must be performed