Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An architectural approach to the analysis, verification and validation of software intensive embedded systems

  • Published:
Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

EAST-ADL is a domain specific Architecture Description Language (ADL) for safety-critical and software-intensive embedded systems. The language allows a formalized and traceable description of a wide range of engineering concerns throughout the entire lifecycle of system development. This makes it possible to fully utilize the leverage of state-of-the-art methods and tools for the development of correct-by-construction system functions and components in a seamless and cost efficient way. This paper focuses on the recent advancement of EAST-ADL in supporting an architecture-centric analysis, verification&validation of complex behaviors for the purposes of requirements engineering, application design, and safety engineering. The approach is architecture centric because all behavior descriptions are formalized and connected to a set of standardized design artifacts sitting at multiple levels of abstractions. We present the language design to support this, the theoretical underpinning and tool implementation. To show the capability of EAST-ADL, we also introduce an algorithm and its implementation for transforming the EAST-ADL behavior models to SPIN models for logic model checking. Exploiting mature state-of-the-art technologies from computer science, electronic engineering, and other related domains for a model-based incremental system development, the contribution enables the developers of embedded systems and software to maintain various engineering concerns coherently using EAST-ADL.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cuenot P, Chen D, Gérard S, Lönn H, Reiser O, Servat D, Kolagari RT, Törngren M, Weber M (2007) Towards improving dependability by using an architecture description language. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4615. Architecting dependable systems (ADS) IV: programming and software engineering. Springer, Berlin, pp 39–65

  2. ISO International Organization for Standardization: ISO/DIS 26262 (2011)

  3. AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR) (2012). http://www.autosar.org

  4. EAST-ADL domain model specification, Version M.2.1.9 2011–01-30 (2011). http://www.maenad.eu/public/EAST-ADL-Specification

  5. SysML (Systems Modeling Language), Object Management Group, OMG (2012). http://omgsysml.org

  6. UML (Unified Modeling Language), Object Management Group, OMG (2012). http://www.uml.org

  7. Chen D, Johansson R, Lönn H, Blom H, Walker M, Papadopoulos Y, Torchiaro S, Tagliabo F, Sandberg A (2011) Integrated safety and architecture modeling for automotive embedded systems. e &i, elektrotechnik und informationstechnik, vol 128, no. 6, Automotive Embedded Systems. Springer, Wien

  8. Sandberg A, Chen D, Lönn H, Johansson R, Feng L, Törngren M, Torchiaro S, Kolagari RT, Abele A (2011) Model-based safety engineering of interdependent functions in automotive vehicles using EAST-ADL2. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6351. Computer Safety, Reliability, and Security (SAFECOMP). Springer, Berlin , pp 332–346

  9. Mahmud N, Walker M, Papadopoulos Y (2012) Compositional synthesis of temporal fault trees from state machines. ACM SIGMETRICS Perform Eval Rev 39(4):79–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Anthony R, Chen D, Pelc M, Persson M, Törngren M (2009) Context-aware adaptation in DySCAS. Electronic communications of the EASST, vol 19: Context-aware adaptation mechanism for pervasive and ubiquitous services (CAMPUS) 2009. European Association of Software Science and Technology (EASST)

  11. Holzmann GJ (2003) The SPIN model checker: primer and reference manual. Addison Wesley, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  12. SPIN Website (2012). http://spinroot.com

  13. The Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (2004) MISRA-C:2004 Guidelines for the Use of The C Language in Critical Systems. MIRA Limited

  14. Lygeros J, Tomlin C, Sastry S (1999) Controllers for reachability specifications for hybrid systems. Automatica 35(3):349–370

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. Feng L, Chen D, Lönn H, Törngren M (2010) Verifying system behaviors in EAST-ADL2 with the SPIN model checker. In: IEEE international conference on mechatronics and automation. Xi’an, China, August 4–7

  16. Qureshi TN, Chen D, Lönn H, Törngren M (2011) From EAST-ADL to AUTOSAR software architecture: a mapping scheme. In: Proceedings of the 5th European conference on software architecture, 13–16 September, 2011, Essen, Germany

  17. Qureshi TN (2012) Enhancing model-based devolopment of embedded systems: architecture centric modeling, simulation and model-transformation in an automotive context. PhD Thesis, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

  18. Biehl M, Chen D, Törngren M (2010) Integrating safety analysis into the model-based development toolchain of automotive embedded systems. ACM Sigplan Not 45(4):125–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Sjöstedt C-J, Shi J, Törngren M, Servat D, Chen D, Ahlsten V, Lönn H (2008) Mapping simulink to UML in the design of embedded systems: investigating scenarios and structural and behavioral mapping. In: OMER 4 post workshop proceedings, April 2008

  20. SPEEDS (Speculative and Exploratory Design in Systems Engineering) project EU FP6 (2012). http://www.speeds.eu.com

  21. Armengaud E, Zoier M, Baumgart A, Biehl M, Chen D, Griessnig G, Hein C, Ritter T, Kolagari RT (2011) Model-based toolchain for the efficient development of safety-relevant automotive embedded systems. In: SAE 2011 World Congress, April 2011, Detroit, USA

  22. TIMMO(TIMing Model) project, ITEA2 (2012). http://www.timmo.org

  23. Papadopoulos Y, Grante C (2005) Evolving car designs using model-based automated safety analysis and optimisation techniques. J Syst Softw 76(1):77–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Herbstritt M, Wimmer R, Peikenkamp T, Böde E, Adelaide M, Johr S, Hermanns H, Becker B (2006) Analysis of large safety-critical systems: a quantitative approach. REPORTS of SFB/TR 14, AVACS, automatic verification and analysis of, complex systems

  25. Bozzano M, Villafiorita A, et al (2003) ESACS: an integrated methodology for design and safety analysis of complex systems. In: ESREL European safety and reliability conference, Balkema, pp 237–245

  26. Arnold A, Griffault A, Point G, Rauzy A (2000) The Altarica formalism for describing concurrent systems. Fundamenta Informaticae 40:109–124

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  27. MARTE (Modeling and Analysis of Real-time and Embedded systems), Object Management Group, OMG (2012). http://omgmarte.org

  28. AADL (Architecture Analysis and Design Language), SAE standard (2012). http://www.aadl.info/aadl/currentsite

  29. Darwin (An Architectural Description Language) (2012). http://www-dse.doc.ic.ac.uk/Software/Darwin

  30. Giannakopoulou D (1999) Model checking for concurrent software architectures. PhD Thesis, Imperial College of London, London, UK

  31. Kramer J, Magee J, Uchitel S (2003) Software architecture modeling and analysis: a rigorous approach, formal methods for software architectures. LNCS 2804:44–51

    Google Scholar 

  32. Magee J, Kramer J, Giannakopoulou D (1999) Behaviour analysis of software architectures. In: Donohoe P (ed) Software architecture. Kluwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht, pp 35–49

  33. CHARMY (Checking ARchitectural Model consistencY) (2012). http://www.di.univaq.it/charmy/

  34. Pelliccione P, Inverardi P, Muccini H (2009) CHARMY: a framework for designing and verifying architectural specifications. IEEE Trans Softw Eng 35(3):325–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Inverardi P, Muccini H, Pelliccione P (2001) Automated check of architectural models consistency using SPIN. In: Proceedings of the 16th IEEE international conference on, automated software engineering, pp 346–349

  36. He X, Ding J, Deng Y (2002) Model checking software architecture specifications in SAM. In: Proceedings of the 14th international conference on software engineering and knowledge engineering, pp 271–274, Ischia, Italy

  37. He X, Yu H, Shi T, Ding J, Deng Y (2004) Formally analyzing software architectural specifications using SAM. J Syst Softw 71(1–2):11–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. UPPAAL (2012). http://www.uppaal.org

  39. Allen R, Garlan D (1997) A formal basis for architectural connection. ACM Trans Softw Eng Methodol 6(3):213–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Hansson H, Åkerholm M, Crnkovic I, Törngren M (2004) SaveCCM–a component model for safety-critical real-time systems. In: Proceedings of the 30th EUROMICRO conference, pp 627–635

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Machine Design, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

    DeJiu Chen & Tahir Naseer Qureshi

  2. Volvo Group Trucks Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Lei Feng & Henrik Lönn

  3. Continental Automotive GmbH, Babenhausen, Germany

    Frank Hagl

Authors
  1. DeJiu Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lei Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tahir Naseer Qureshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henrik Lönn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Frank Hagl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to DeJiu Chen.

Additional information

This work is supported by the projects MAENAD (EU FP7, Grant 260057), DFEA2020 (VINNOVA, Grant 2009-00629), and MBAT (ARTEMIS-JU, Grant 269335).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, D., Feng, L., Qureshi, T.N. et al. An architectural approach to the analysis, verification and validation of software intensive embedded systems. Computing 95, 649–688 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00607-013-0314-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00607-013-0314-4

Keywords

Mathematics Subject Classification

Search

Navigation