Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET 1
Contents
Overview 1
Overview of Windows CE .NET 2
Core Operating System Architecture 17
Advanced Features of Windows CE .NET 33
Networking and Communications 34
Real-Time Communication 45
Multimedia Support and Architecture 50
Security Features and Architecture 55
Internationalization 62
Internationalization (continued) 64
Internationalization (continued) 66
Review 69

Module 1: Overview of
Windows CE .NET
2 Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET Information in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, is subject to
change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, the example companies, organizations, products,

Advanced Features of Windows CE .NET

Networking and Communications

Real-Time Communication

Multimedia Support and Architecture

Security Features and Architecture

InternationalizationIn this module, you will learn about the design goals that were considered in
developing Windows CE .NET and the new features of the operating system.
You will also learn about the architecture of Windows CE .NET and its
advanced features.
After completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe the design goals and hardware requirements of Windows CE
.NET.

Explain the architecture of Windows CE .NET.

List the advanced features that are supported by Windows CE .NET.

Explain the networking and communication support feature.

Describe the real-time communication feature.

Windows CE .NET: Design Goals

Modular and compact operating system

Wireless and wired connectivity

Robust real-time capabilities

Rich multimedia and multilingual support

Strong development tool supportThere are several design goals that are considered to build Windows CE .NET.
Modular and Compact Operating System
Windows CE .NET is highly modular in its design so that footprint size can be
customized to meet the specific product requirements of a range of devices.
Only those modules required by the nature of the device need be included in the
operating system image. An original equipment manufacturers (OEM) can
further customize an operating system by selecting from a subset of available
components for a particular module.
Wireless and Wired Connectivity
Windows CE .NET allows you to build scalable wireless platforms to flexibly
connect mobile devices into existing infrastructures. It provides broad wireless
support for PANs, LANs, and WANs, including Bluetooth, 802.11. It allows
you to remotely authenticate, authorize, administer, and update new
applications and operating system services on your device.
Robust Real-Time Capabilities

Microsoft Visual Basic and Microsoft Visual C#, and eliminates the common
problems faced with language interoperability.

Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET 7 What Is New in Windows CE .NET?

Internet Explorer 5.5 for CE

Wireless support

Multimedia

Customizable UI

Security Services

Real-time collaboration and communication

Better multi-language support

ClearTypeThere are several new features that are added to Windows CE .NET.
Internet Explorer 5.5 for CE
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5.5 for Microsoft Windows® CE is a highly
compatible, feature-rich browser control for the Windows CE operating system.
It encompasses nearly all the functionality of the desktop version of Microsoft

elements on your platform. You can customize window controls, common
controls, and the non-client area of windows.
Security Services
Windows CE .NET provides security services for user authentication, credential
management, and message protection using a programming interface called
Security Support Provider Interface (SSPI). Within SSPI, different security
options, such as NTLM Security Support Provider (SSP) and Kerberos SSP, are
available. Each security option contains different authentication and
cryptographic schemes. Optionally, an OEM can write its own security package
and add it to the registry for applications to use.
Real-Time Collaboration and Communication
Real-time Communications (RTC) enables you to build applications that
perform:

Text messaging.

Voice over IP (VoIP).

IP telephony bridging from IP to PSTN telephony.

Receiving and sending presence information.

Microsoft® Windows® CE .NET provides RTC APIs built on the Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP), an IETF standard. SIP allows a Windows CE device to
call, or receive calls from, any SIP client. A SIP client can be a Windows CE
.NET device, Windows XP machine, or a third-party SIP user agent. The
Windows Messenger application, which ships on Windows CE .NET, supports
RTC as a back end.
Better Multi-Language Support
Similar to Windows CE 3.0, Windows CE .NET is localized in more than a

supports Korean handwriting input. The Korean IME kernel and UI mode
also have been separated to allow for increased customization.
ClearType
ClearType display technology uses characteristics of LCDs to make
electronically produced text seem less jagged and more like printed type on
paper, improving the readability of the text.
10 Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET Basic Configurations

PDA or mobile handheld device
z
Variants with our without applications, such as WordPad

Cell phone/smart phone
z
160x220 nominal display resolution

Web Pad
z
Touch-screen user interface and 640x480 or larger display

Internet appliance
z
Browser-based with a fixed (CRT or LCD) display and a keyboard.

Media appliance
z
Playback or store music, video, and other electronic media

PDA / Mobile Handheld with Applications variant includes the features in
the PDA / Mobile Handheld variant, as well as Inbox, Windows Media
Player, and WordPad.

Cell Phone/Smart Phone
The Cell Phone/Smart Phone configuration is targeted to provide functionality
for a Microsoft® Windows® CE-based mobile handset. There is only one
Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET 11 variant of the Cell Phone/Smart Phone configuration. It supplies the foundation
for supporting voice data, e-mail, and Web-browsing on such a device. The Cell
Phone/Smart Phone configuration provides an environment with rich graphics
that supports a 160 x 220 nominal display resolution. The Cell Phone/Smart
Phone configuration includes the Standard Windows CE Shell, and may
optionally include Pocket Internet Explorer, Inbox client for Pocket Outlook®,
and Microsoft ActiveSync® technologies.
Web Pad
The Web Pad configuration is targeted to provide functionality for portable
devices that are primarily intended for accessing the Internet. The Web Pad
configuration focuses on providing the necessary support structure for Internet-
based applications, including communications and networking features. The
Web Pad configuration provides support for a mouse-based user interface (UI)
and a stylus-based touch screen and UI.
The Web Pad configuration allows a wide range of functionality. There are
three variants of the Web Pad configuration that may be selected during the
creation of the platform from the New Platform Wizard:

Web Pad
Web Pad variant provides the basic functionality for a consumer Web pad

Additionally, this configuration supports the Standard Windows CE Shell and
12 Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET applications, which may be customized or substituted for a browser-based user
interface.
There are two variants of the Internet Appliance configuration:

Internet Appliance with Browser
Internet Appliance with Browser variant provides the basic functionality for
a consumer Internet Appliance with mouse-based UI and 640x480 or larger
display. It includes the Standard Windows CE Shell, Microsoft Internet
Explorer 5.5, Microsoft Windows Media™ player, the necessary wireless
networking, communications, and mobile-device support features.

Internet Appliance with Browser and Applications
Internet Appliance with Browser and Applications variant provides the basic
functionality for a consumer Internet Appliance with touch UI and 640x480
or larger display. It is identical to the browser-only version, with the
addition of Pocket Word, Inbox client for Pocket Outlook®, Help for
Windows CE, and Microsoft ActiveSync®.

Media Appliance
The Media Appliance configuration provides the starting point for a wide range
of devices for which media delivery is the key feature. Media appliances
include electronic book readers, electronic picture frames, audio devices, and
media storage devices.
The Media Appliance configuration allows a wide range of functionality. There
are five variants of the Media Appliance configuration that may be selected
during the creation of the platform from the New Platform Wizard:


Digital Still Camera includes the base operating system, the Standard
Windows CE Shell, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), and optional wireless
networking support.

Network Printer or Multifunction Peripheral
Network Printer or Multifunction Peripheral includes the base operating
system, the Standard Windows CE Shell, and networking support.

Projector
Projector includes the base operating system, the Standard Windows CE
Shell, a Web server, storage card support, and networking support.

14 Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET Basic Configurations (continued)

Set-top box
z
Connects to a TV for display of Internet / media content

Residential gateway

Connects to the Internet and shares that connection with a wired or
wireless home network

Industrial automation device
z
Human Machine Interface (HMI) or Programmable Logic Controller

functionality for industrial automation devices, whether geared toward helping
people work with machinery or toward automated processes that need no
human intervention.
There are two variants of the Industrial Automation Device configuration:

Human Machine Interface panel
Human Machine Interface (HMI) panel includes the Standard Windows CE
Shell, touch-screen user interface, Internet Explorer 5.5, Distributed
Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET 15 Component Object Model (DCOM), Message Queuing, and Microsoft .NET
features.

Programmable Logic Controller
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is a headless-based device that
includes networking, DCOM, and Message Queuing.

Retail Point-of-Sale Device
The Retail Point-of-Sale Device configuration is targeted to provide
functionality for a range of devices, from self-service kiosks and electronic
payment terminals, to retail point-of-sale terminals. There are three variants of
the Retail Point-of-Sale Device configuration:

Retail Point-of-Sale Workstation
Retail Point-of-Sale Workstation includes the Standard Windows CE Shell,
Internet Explorer 5.5, Windows Media Player, DCOM, Message Queuing,
and universal serial bus (USB) support.

Electronic Payment Terminal

and the required support features.

16 Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET Basic Configurations (continued)

Tiny Kernel
z
Smallest functional Windows CE image
z
Starting point for the most compact, headless devices

Custom Device
z
The most fully customizable configuration
z
Allows you to choose from all operating system features
z
Also a variant for devices without displaysTiny Kernel
The Tiny Kernel configuration is targeted to provide functionality for the
smallest possible Windows CE device. Due to its small size, the Tiny Kernel
configuration is designed for devices which do not require display capabilities.
The only required catalog features (and sysgen variables) associated with this
configuration are:

Debug Shell (SYSGEN_SHELL)

SA11X0BD
BSP Name
National Geode
Reference Platform
NS Geode
CEPCP5/P4/PIII/PII/
CelK6x/Athlon
x86
Hitachi SH3
Keywest SDB
SH3-7729
Hitachi SH4
Aspen SDB
SH4-7750SHx
NEC DDB-Vrc5476
Boston SDB
NEC Vr5432
NEC DDB-Vr4122
Eagle SDB
NEC Vr4122MIPS
Intel Lubbock SDBIntel Xscale
ARM1020
ARM Integrator
AP SDB
ARM920
Intel SA111x
Assabet SDB
Intel SA1110ARM
SDBCPUProcessor Family

files, or both. A BSP is used to rapidly bring up an embedded operating system
on an SDB and quickly evaluate the features of the operating system.
A BSP in Windows CE contains an OAL for initializing and customizing the
OEM's specific hardware, device drivers for peripherals, and a corresponding
set of configuration files. In most cases, you will be able to configure the BSP
to select desired peripherals, operating system features, file systems, and
memory types by editing a header file or similar construct.
Out-of-the-box BSP support is provided for nine commercial off-the-shelf
(COTS) hardware reference platforms that cover the full range of supported
microprocessors. The generic CEPC platform is also supported. This out-of-the-
box support allows OEMs to quickly evaluate their operating system features
on their reference hardware and cut down on time to market issues while
designing products with Windows CE.
The table in the slide displays a sample BSP that is shipped for each of the
SDBs.
Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET 19 



Core Operating System Architecture
Hardware
OAL
Device Drivers
GWES
Kernel

piece of the operating system that can, along with the OAL, run on
hardware.

GWES
Graphics, Windowing, and Events Subystem (GWES) includes the Graphics
Device Interface (GDI) and user interface components.

Filesys
Filesys module is responsible for the object store, including file systems,
registry, and database storage.

In addition to discussing each of these five elements, this section will also
discuss the nature of Windows CE .NET as a Real-time Operating System
(RTOS) with advanced Power Management capabilities.
20 Module 1: Overview of Windows CE .NET The OEM Adaptation Layer

Layer between the Kernel and the hardware

Set of functions related to system startup, interrupt
handling, power management, profiling, timer, and clock

Included in BSPs for supported SDBs

Coded by OEMs to adapt windows CE to their own
custom platforms

Linked with code provided by Microsoft to build the

z
NK.EXE contains Kernel code and Coredll.dll is the operating system
core DLL module

Saving system resources
z
CE loader is designed to save system resources by loading
application pages as and when needed and by keeping only one
physical copy of a DLL

Demand paging
z
Loads virtual memory pages into physical memory when needed

Multiple execute in place regions
z
Allows applications to execute code directly from read-only memory Portable Across Supported Processors
Because most of the Windows CE operating system is written in the C
language, the kernel is easily portable to new processors. Microsoft provides a
kernel implementation for each of the supported processors.
NK.EXE and COREDLL.DLL
The kernel code is contained in a file called NK.EXE. NK stands for new
kernel, which indicates that the Windows CE kernel is not simply a port of
another kernel from a desktop version of windows, but is a new kernel.
Coredll.dll is the operating system core DLL module. It is made up of different
selectable components. This DLL exports most of the Win32 API functions.
Saving System Resources

Device driver
z
Links an operating system and a device

Built-in Drivers vs. Installable Drivers
z
Built-in drivers are installed by the platform manufacturer
z
Installable drivers are third-party peripheral devices that end users can
connect to a Windows CE-based platform

Native Drivers vs. Stream Drivers
z
All of the device drivers managed by GWES are native device drivers
z
Device manager loads stream interface drivers when the system boots,
if those drivers are listed in the registry

Monolithic Drivers vs. Layered Drivers
z
Monolithic drivers implement interface directly in terms of actions on the
device they control
z
Layered drivers separate the implementation into two layers Like other operating systems, Microsoft® Windows® CE implements software
called device drivers, whose purpose is to manage, or drive, hardware devices.
A device driver links an operating system and a device, making it possible for
the operating system to recognize the device and to present the device's services

Device Driver
DDSI functions
Device Driver
DDSI functions
MDD layer
PDD layer
MDD layer
PDD layer
DDI functions
Stream interface
functions
DDI functions
GWES Device Manager
Monolithic
device driver
Hardware
Device Driver
DDSI functions
Device Driver
DDSI functions
MDD layer
PDD layer
MDD layer
PDD layer
DDI functions
Stream interface
functions
DDI functions
z
Window management: message routing

Graphic Device Interface (GDI)
z
Is the drawing subsystem of GWES
z
Controls how text and graphics are displayed
z
Uses a device context to store drawing attributes for a
specified device GWES is the interface between the user, the application, and the operating
system, and contains most of the core Windows CE functionality. GWES is an
integrated graphics device interface (GDI), window manager, and event
manager. The GWES module is the most highly componentized portion of the
Windows CE operating system and consists of two subgroups: User and GDI.
User refers to that part of GWES that handles messages, events, and user input
from the keyboard and mouse or stylus. GDI refers to the part of GWES that is
responsible for graphical output.
Minimally-featured configurations build a basic version of Windows CE that
includes the core operating system or kernel (Core.dll) and selected GWES
support, such as messaging, user input, and power management. Minimally-
featured configurations do not display a UI or contain window management
features.
Graphics Device Interface
The Graphics Device Interface (GDI) is the GWES subsystem that controls how
text and graphics are displayed. Use GDI to draw lines, curves, closed figures,
text, and bitmap images.