A novel multiboot framework for embedded system

This paper introduces a new multiboot framework of embedded system bootloader. In this framework, the bootloader is divided into common function and special function modules for different embedded operating systems. The special function modules include file downloading module and OS booting module. By adding new functions into these two special modules, bootloader can easily support any operating systems. The framework can save a lot of human resources and shorten development cycle. A multi-bootloader has been designed using this framework for embedded Linux and Windows CE as an implementation instance for PXA270 development board.