Knowledge-Based Verification of Concatenative Programming Patterns Inspired by Natural Language for Resource-Constrained Embedded Devices

Abstract

We propose a methodology to verify applications developed following programming patterns inspired by natural language that interact with physical environments and run on resource-constrained interconnected devices. Natural language patterns allow for the reduction of intermediate abstraction layers to map physical domain concepts into executable code avoiding the recourse to ontologies, which would need to be shared, kept up to date, and synchronized across a set of devices. Moreover, the computational paradigm we use for effective distributed execution of symbolic code on resource-constrained devices encourages the adoption of such patterns. The methodology is supported by a rule-based system that permits runtime verification of Software Under Test (SUT) on board the target devices through automated oracle and test case generation. Moreover, verification extends from syntactic and semantic checks to the evaluation of the effects of SUT execution on target hardware. Additionally, by exploiting rules tying sensors and actuators to physical quantities, the effects of code execution on the physical environment can be verified. The system is also able to build test code to highlight software issues that may arise during repeated SUT execution on the target hardware.

Modeling and Verification of Symbolic Distributed Applications Through an Intelligent Monitoring Agent

“…To overcome these issues, symbolic distributed computation has been proposed as a promising solution that naturally supports interactive programming. This approach makes reprogramming deployed networks feasible [36] and, in turn, also permits tests to take place both during and after development, even on resource-constrained devices [37], [38]. The complexity of embedded system programming is supported by a high level of abstraction provided by existing software platforms [28].…”

Time-Constrained Node Visit Planning for Collaborative UAV–WSN Distributed Applications

“…These distributed applications may be useful when assessing the state of the nodes [ 23 ] and for maintenance operations in networks that are otherwise not serviceable. The symbolic distributed programming approach was also proven to be able to support the verification of both hardware proper functioning [ 24 ] and the correctness of distributed applications on deployed WSN [ 25 ].…”