Synchronized multi-threading in C++ (No MFC!)

/** ou_thread.h
  * declares the Thread interface and associated classes
  * Author: Vijay Mathew Pandyalakal
  * Date: 13-OCT-2003
**/

/* Copyright 2000 - 2005 Vijay Mathew Pandyalakal.  All rights reserved.
 *
 * This software may be used or modified for any purpose, personal or
 * commercial.  Open Source redistributions are permitted.  
 *
 * Redistributions qualify as "Open Source" under  one of the following terms:
 *   
 *    Redistributions are made at no charge beyond the reasonable cost of
 *    materials and delivery.
 *
 *    Redistributions are accompanied by a copy of the Source Code or by an
 *    irrevocable offer to provide a copy of the Source Code for up to three
 *    years at the cost of materials and delivery.  Such redistributions
 *    must allow further use, modification, and redistribution of the Source
 *    Code under substantially the same terms as this license.
 *
 * Redistributions of source code must retain the copyright notices as they
 * appear in each source code file, these license terms, and the
 * disclaimer/limitation of liability set forth as paragraph 6 below.
 *
 * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce this Copyright Notice,
 * these license terms, and the disclaimer/limitation of liability set
 * forth as paragraph 6 below, in the documentation and/or other materials
 * provided with the distribution.
 *
 * The Software is provided on an "AS IS" basis.  No warranty is
 * provided that the Software is free of defects, or fit for a
 * particular purpose.  
 *
 * Limitation of Liability. The Author shall not be liable
 * for any damages suffered by the Licensee or any third party resulting
 * from use of the Software.
 */

namespace openutils {
	class ThreadException;
	class Mutex;

	/** class Thread
	  * Represents a thread of execution
	  * in the process. To create a new Thread
	  * write an inherited class ot Thread and
	  * override the run() function
	**/
	class Thread {

	private:
		// unsigned long* to the low-level thread object
		unsigned long* m_hThread;
		// a name to identify the thread
		string m_strName;

	public:
		Thread();
		Thread(const char* nm);
		virtual ~Thread();
		void setName(const char* nm);
		string getName() const;
		void start();
		virtual void run();
		void sleep(long ms);
		void suspend();
		void resume();
		void stop();

		void setPriority(int p);

		bool wait(const char* m,long ms=5000);
		void release(const char* m);

	public:
		// Thread priorities
		static const int P_ABOVE_NORMAL;
		static const int P_BELOW_NORMAL;
		static const int P_HIGHEST;
		static const int P_IDLE;
		static const int P_LOWEST;
		static const int P_NORMAL;
		static const int P_CRITICAL;
	private:				
	};// class Thread	

	/** class Mutex
	  * Represents a Mutex object to synchronize
	  * access to shaed resources.
	**/
	class Mutex {
	private:
		// unsigned long* to the low-level mutex object
		unsigned long* m_hMutex;
		// name to identify the mutex
		string m_strName;
	public:
		Mutex();
		Mutex(const char* nm);
		void create(const char* nm);
		unsigned long* getMutexHandle();
		string getName();
		void release();
		~Mutex();
	};

	/** class ThreadException
	  * thrown by Thread and Mutex function 
	  * calls
	**/
	class ThreadException {
	private:
		string msg;
	public:
		ThreadException(const char* m);
		string getMessage() const;
	};	
} // namespace openutils

// global function called by the thread object.
// this in turn calls the overridden run()
extern "C" {
	unsigned int _ou_thread_proc(void* param);
}