Use dedicated thread for MAC timers

srsue/hdr/mac/mac.h

@@ -162,13 +162,24 @@ private:
   void            timer_alignment_expire();
   srslte::timers  timers;
 
-
   // pointer to MAC PCAP object
   srslte::mac_pcap* pcap;
   bool is_first_ul_grant;
 
+  mac_metrics_t metrics;
+
+  /* Class to run Timers in a dedicated thread */
+  class mac_timers : public periodic_thread {
+   public:
+    void init(srslte::timers *timers, srslte::log *log_h);
+   private:
+    void run_period();
+    srslte::timers *timers;
+    bool running;
+    srslte::log *log_h;
+  };
 
-  mac_metrics_t metrics; 
+  mac_timers mactimers;
 
   /* Class to process MAC PDUs from DEMUX unit */
   class pdu_process : public thread {

srsue/hdr/mac/ul_harq.h

@@ -246,7 +246,6 @@ private:
             } else {
               Warning("UL RAR grant available but no Msg3 on buffer\n");
             }
-            printf("Transmitted Msg3\n");
 
             // Normal UL grant
           } else {

srsue/src/mac/mac.cc

@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ bool mac::init(phy_interface_mac *phy, rlc_interface_mac *rlc, rrc_interface_mac
   started = true;
   start(MAC_MAIN_THREAD_PRIO);
 
+  mactimers.init(&timers, log_h);
 
   return started;
 }
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ void mac::stop()
   ttisync.increase();
   pdu_process_thread.stop();
   wait_thread_finish();
+  mactimers.stop();
 }
 
 void mac::start_pcap(srslte::mac_pcap* pcap_)
@@ -148,6 +150,17 @@ void mac::reset()
   bzero(&uernti, sizeof(ue_rnti_t));
 }
 
+void mac::mac_timers::init(srslte::timers *timers, srslte::log *log_h) {
+  this->timers = timers;
+  running = true;
+  this->log_h = log_h;
+  start_periodic(1000);
+}
+
+void mac::mac_timers::run_period() {
+  timers->step_all();
+}
+
 void mac::run_thread() {
   int cnt=0;
 
@@ -165,7 +178,6 @@ void mac::run_thread() {
     tti = ttisync.wait();
 
     log_h->step(tti);
-    timers.step_all();
 
     // Step all procedures
     bsr_procedure.step(tti);