Parameterised extra-functional prediction of component-based control systems - Industrial experience

Abstract

Delivering and maintaining dependable component-based systems within budget is a significant practical challenge. Best practice even in large organisations is only just starting to move beyond simple testing for verification of performance and reliability. The eCAP(-CBCS) project, a collaboration between ABB Corporate Research and Monash University, Australia, seeks to extend research in architectural modelling and analysis, and apply it to distributed, embedded control systems. Background theory developed by Monash's Distributed Systems and Software Engineering group includes generic models for composing parameterised component interaction protocols, behaviours, types and properties such as reliability and execution time. The project produced a prototype to detect and diagnose excessive peak load in controllers caused by high task worst-case execution time / interval time ratios. Development incorporated typical business and technical requirements, both functional and extra-functional, e.g., integration into an existing development platform, prediction strategy to cope with components without source, usability, and adequate analyser performance. Lessons learned and observations include: applications for software metrics and profile visualisation techniques; design refinements such as component type parameterisation for accurate, context-sensitive component property analyses, and; ideas for exploiting underlying theory such as context-sensitive model-driven performance testing. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.