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Combining static worst-case timing analysis and program proof

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Abstract

This paper describes SPATS—a new toolset for the development of safety-critical and hard real-time systems. SPATS integrates the analysis traditionally offered by program proof and static timing analysis tools through analysis of program basic-path graphs. This paper concentrates on SPATS' facilities for high-level static timing analysis and analysis of worst-case stack usage. The integration of timing analysis and program proof allows timing analysis to be performed where worst-case execution time (WCET) depends on a program's input data, and allows timing annotations to be formally verified. The approach is developed and illustrated with a worked example. The implementation and experimental application of SPATS to realistic industrial case-studies are also described. We conclude that SPATS offers a novel new approach to static timing analysis, offers several new analyses not seen in previous systems, and can be implemented in a useful and efficient toolset.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Praxis Critical Systems, 20 Manvers St., BA1 1PX, Bath, U.K.

    Roderick Chapman

  2. Department of Computer Science, University of York, Heslington, YO1 5DD, York, U.K.

    Alan Burns

  3. Department of Computer Science, University of York, Heslington, YO1 5DD, York, U.K.

    Andy Wellings

Authors
  1. Roderick Chapman
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  2. Alan Burns
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  3. Andy Wellings
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Additional information

This work was completed while Rod Chapman was with the Dependable Computing Systems Centre at the University of York.

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Chapman, R., Burns, A. & Wellings, A. Combining static worst-case timing analysis and program proof. Real-Time Systems 11, 145–171 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00365316

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