A Model for System Resources in Flexible Time-Triggered Middleware Architectures

Abstract

Middleware has become a key element in the development of distributed Cyber Physical Systems (CPS). Such systems often have strict nonfunctional requirements, and designers need a means to predict and manage non-functional properties. In this work, the authors present a mathematical model for the most relevant resources managed by FTT middleware architectures; namely, (1) processor, (2) memory, (3) energy and (4) network. This model can be used both off-line for simulation and designing purposes of a Cyber Physical System (CPS), or in run-time within an admission test or inside the algorithm of a specific scheduling policy executed by the middleware. In such case, the admission test is aimed at predicting whether a system fulfils the non-functional requirements or not before carrying out any modification in its execution plan at run-time.

FTT-MA: A Flexible Time-Triggered Middleware Architecture for Time Sensitive, Resource-Aware AmI Systems

“…It uses this information to analyze the stability of the system with the new configuration in terms of schedulability, and availability of memory and bandwidth. The admission algorithms are based on a mathematical model, such as that described in detail in [7]. Since SysMon is capable of tracking down changes in CPU usage and memory, the algorithm computes the current computational load and memory used at every node and anticipates whether introducing a new application will surpass the thresholds defined for every node.…”

“…Since SysMon is capable of tracking down changes in CPU usage and memory, the algorithm computes the current computational load and memory used at every node and anticipates whether introducing a new application will surpass the thresholds defined for every node. Regarding network resources, the admission control algorithm proposed in [7] applies to distributed systems that use the Event Channel over a shared communication network, only.…”

“…Addressing such limitations, this paper presents the Flexible Time-Triggered Middleware Architecture (FTT-MA), going beyond previous works on particular aspects of the architecture [7–10] and providing a broader and integrated view. In addition, this paper presents the methodology associated to using FTT-MA and a sample case study to illustrate how the proposed methodology and middleware architecture can be used to design and develop time-sensitive, resource-aware AmI systems.…”