DEAR-COTS: Distributed Embedded Architectures using Commercial Off-The-Shelf Components

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http://dear-cots.di.fc.ul.pt/

The main purpose of the DEAR-COTS project is the specification of an architecture based on the use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, able to support distributed computer controlled systems where safety and timeliness are major requirements.

Aims

The DEAR-COTS project will address two main problems:

  1. How to apply the distributed computing technology to the solution of computer controlled problems using commercial off-the-shelf field-buses?
  2. How to support inter-working and interconnection of several "field-bus clusters" and the possibility of remotely access these "clusters interface" for supervision and configuration?

Approach and Methods

A structured approach to the first problem needs to address several non-trivial issues, both at the communication and processing levels, such as: the impact of real-time and dependability requirements on the field-bus architecture, distributed fault-tolerant concurrent applications and the real-time support environment.

In order to solve the second problem, the proposal foresees the use of emerging information technologies to cope with heterogeneity issues while providing a dependable user-friendly man-machine interface. This calls for innovative solutions addressing issues such as replica determinism of WWW servers, the use of object oriented technologies, the downloading/uploading within field-bus clusters and ensuring fault-containment between the field-bus and the "open network" domain. The DEAR-COTS proposed architecture will be validated through the development and test of a prototype, which will be integrated in a semi-industrial environment, with stringent safety and timeliness requirements.

Progress and Results

Significant progress has been made during the first project year, namely by defining a suitable DEAR-COTS architecture. Several results have been published and two project workshops have been made. Cooperation among the several teams involved in the project has been carried out with evident success.

Publications

  • Paulo Verissimo, António Casimiro, “The Timely Computing Base”, Missing institution, Tech. Rep., May 1999. Technical Report DI/FCUL TR-99-2, Department of Informatics, University of Lisboa, May 1999

BibTeX

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